Public TV Looks Toward ’92 Elections : Broadcasting: PBS hopes to give candidates free air time and to make them speak without interruption.

Public television plans to cover the next election the old-fashioned way: by making candidates speak without interruption from spin doctors, commercials or even posturing reporters.

Alvin Perlmutter, head of the 1992 public television election project, said that he hopes to provide free air time to presidential candidates during the 1992 race, a concept long discussed in political circles but never dared on television. The idea is to allow both candidates and voters to be less dependent on paid political announcements--which come in 30- to 60-second bites and have been criticized for sensationalizing and oversimplifying election issues.

“It was proposed way back in 1936 (to allow candidates unencumbered time on radio),” Perlmutter said. “In fact, we may be the only democracy on Earth that does not do it.”

Perlmutter said plans for the free air time have not yet been formally approved, but PBS programming chief Jennifer Lawson said she supported the idea.

However, if Perlmutter has his way, the offer will apply only to Democratic and Republican party candidates. PBS is currently seeking a court-approved exemption to federal equal-time provisions, which require broadcasters to give equal access to all candidates.

“It’s possible that minor candidates will be included, but in a more minor way,” Perlmutter said. “It’s a question of time.”

In addition to air time for candidates, Perlmutter said that he hopes to arrange call-in programs for voters to express their views and ask questions of candidates.