Q: I noticed during the Atlanta United win over Portland on Dec. 8 that the field was being watered at halftime. What is the purpose of this?
LARRY COLEMAN, POWDER SPRINGS
A: The field is watered so that the ball rolls faster.
Q: Since President Donald Trump has officially filed for re-election in 2020 and is actively campaigning, is Fox News now legally required through the opportunity provision of the Communications Act to grant equal on air time to any other person declaring themselves a candidate for president, or someone campaigning for Democratic party votes for the 2020 Presidential election?
TINA BUDNITZ, PEACHTREE CORNERS
A: There was once something called the "Fairness Doctrine," which would have required equal time for candidates to talk about controversial issues, but that was repealed in 1987, Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, told Q&A on the News.
“Today, the equal time rule really only requires an equal opportunity to purchase airtime,” he wrote. “There’s an exemption to equal time requirements for news coverage and interviews.”
Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; AJC staff writer Doug Roberson contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
