The Federal Communications Commission introduced the Electioneering Communications Database to determine whether a communication sent via a broadcast station, cable system and/or satellite system can or cannot reach 50,000 or more people in a particular Congressional District or State. If the communication can reach 50,000 or more people in a particular Congressional District or State, it may qualify as an "electioneering communication," as defined in Section 304 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
The Act requires that every person who spends more than $10,000 on an electioneering communication (which does not include communications purchased by candidates) during any calendar year file a statement with the Federal Election Commission that includes certain information regarding the communication.
The information in the Electioneering Communications Database is current as of November 2003 and will remain unchanged through the end of the 2004 election cycle in November 2004.
The database can be accessed online at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecd/.