Sec. 73.1920  Personal attacks.

    (a) When, during the presentation of views on a controversial issue 
of public importance, an attack is made upon the honesty, character, 
integrity or like personal qualities of an identified person or group, 
the licensee shall, within a reasonable time and in no event later than 
one week after the attack, transmit to the persons or group attacked:
    (1) Notification of the date, time and identification of the 
broadcast;
    (2) A script or tape (or an accurate summary if a script or tape is 
not available) of the attack; and
    (3) An offer of a reasonable opportunity to respond over the 
licensee's facilities.
    (b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply 
to broadcast material which falls within one or more of the following 
categories:
    (1) Personal attacks on foreign groups or foreign public figures;
    (2) Personal attacks occurring during uses by legally qualified 
candidates.
    (3) Personal attacks made during broadcasts not included in 
paragraph (b)(2) of this section and made by legally qualified 
candidates, their authorized spokespersons, or those associated with 
them in the campaign, on other such candidates, their authorized 
spokespersons or persons associated with the candidates in the campaign; 
and
    (4) Bona fide newscasts, bona fide news interviews, and on-the-spot 
coverage of bona fide news events, including commentary or analysis 
contained in the foregoing programs.

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    (c) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section shall be 
applicable to editorials of the licensee, except in the case of 
noncommercial educational stations since they are precluded from 
editorializing (section 399(a), Communications Act).

[ 43 FR 45856 , Oct. 4, 1978, as amended at  44 FR 45956 , Aug. 6, 1979]