Sen. Daniel Akaka is one of eight Democratic senators who sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission to urge implementation of a rule aimed at making political ads more transparent. 

The rule would require broadcast stations to file information about people and groups behind political ads, and to make that information available in a searchable online database. The idea is that voters have a right to know who is purchasing airtime to support or oppose candidates. 

“The creators of campaign ads often hide behind confusing organizational names that do not provide adequate information about who is actually paying for the ads, or worse, can actually mislead the public about the identity or purpose of the advertisement,” the senators wrote. 

Even when it’s clear who is behind an ad, it’s not always easy for citizens to determine how much money is involved. One recent example came amid the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s recent “television ad blitz” to support former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle in her bid for U.S. Senate. A spokesman for the chamber declined to say how much it paid to run the statewide advertisement.  

“We’ll discuss issues but not spending,” wrote J.P. Fielder in an email. 

In their letter to the FCC, Akaka and other senators wrote that the online posting of information related to campaign ads “cannot wait until months after the election.”