⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Sherrod Brown v. FCC — 4th Cir. (Aug 7, 2026)

No. 26-1785 Argued August 7, 2026 Published August 10, 2026; updated August 22, 2026

The Fourth Circuit hears four federal candidates challenge FCC guidance on the lowest unit charge—the lowest rate a broadcaster offers for comparable airtime during an election period. The guidance says that rate covers qualifying candidate-party coordinated ads and certain joint-fundraising committee ads. The candidates say Section 315 reserves it for candidate use; the FCC and two Republican campaign committees disagree. First, the court must decide whether it may review the Media Bureau notice while the candidates' application remains before the full Commission. If so, it will decide what counts as candidate use.

Sherrod Brown v. FCC (No. 26-1785) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued August 7, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/26-1785-20260807.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files
Argument calendar — Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/cal/internetcalAug72026.pdf
Case filings — Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/DataBriefs.aspx?CASENUM=26-1785
Petition for review — filed Fourth Circuit record:https://elias.law/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/06.22.2026-Petition-for-Review.pdf
Order granting expedited schedule — Fourth Circuit:https://elias.law/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-06-30-Court-Order-dckt-.pdf
Lowest-unit-charge guidance — FCC Media Bureau:https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-300A1.pdf
Brief for the FCC and United States — FCC:https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423259A1.pdf
47 U.S.C. § 315 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title47-section315
47 U.S.C. § 155 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title47-section155
28 U.S.C. § 2342 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title28-section2342
David Fox — Elias Law Group:https://elias.law/bio/david-fox/
Thomas McCarthy — Consovoy McCarthy:https://consovoymccarthy.com/team-member/thomas-r-mccarthy/
Thomas McCarthy counsel listing — U.S. Supreme Court docket:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-568.html
Opinion search — Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/search-opinions

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