Republican campaign committees are preparing an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court after a federal appeals court blocked an FCC order that would have required broadcast television stations to give political parties and joint fundraising committees the same lowest advertising rates available to individual candidates. The dispute matters because it could substantially affect the cost and volume of television election advertising ahead of the forthcoming election period.

US law grants candidates the “lowest unit charge” during the 60 days before an election, with this year’s period beginning on 4 September, but the Fourth Circuit ruled that extending the discount to parties and fundraising committees conflicts with the law’s wording. Republicans argue that campaigns need urgent certainty while contracts and adverts are being finalised; opponents, including FCC Democrat Anna Gomez, warn the change could channel more coordinated campaign money into broadcast advertising and worsen broadcasters’ financial pressures.