From Broadcast Law Blog

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice announcing that applications for new noncommercial Reserved Band (88.1 to 91.9 MHz) FM translators can be filed during a window between 12:01 a.m.,

In January, the FCC announced it would be opening a filing opportunity for new FM translators to operate in the FM Reserved Band (88.1-91.9 MHz) (see our article here).  Applications can only be filed by existing noncommercial station operators.  Subsequently, the FCC’s Media Bureau announced that applicants would be limited to 10 applications nationwide – and low power FM operators would be allowed to file for only 2 translators (4 if they were a Tribal group)(see our article here). 

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled “Examining the Sports Broadcasting Act.”  The hearing featured testimony from several industry members and government officials,

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The FCC released a draft Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which, if adopted at its June 25 Open Meeting,

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice reminding broadcasters that new foreign government sponsored programming identification requirements take effect on June 7. 

This week, the FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice to remind broadcasters that new foreign sponsorship identification requirements go into effect June 7, 2026.  These rules clarify the existing obligations of broadcasters to determine whether buyers of program time on a station are foreign governments or their representatives.  The obligation to get certifications from buyers of program time  as to whether they are foreign governments or their agents has actually have been in effect since 2022 (see our article here). 

Though school may be letting out for many, the FCC does not take a summer recess.  Instead, regulation continues with the filing of Annual EEO Public File Reports due for some broadcasters on June 1.  There are also several other regulatory and comment deadlines coming up this June, including the deadline for all commercial full power TV, Class A TV,

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The language of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would mandate the inclusion of AM radios in all cars sold in the United States,

Several recent broadcast trade press articles summarized a Public Notice released this past week by the FCC’s Media Bureau.  The Notice deals with the processing of certain broadcast applications when a licensee has a pending “remedial” petition for declaratory ruling seeking to correct noncompliance with the Commission’s foreign ownership rules.  The articles suggest that the Public Notice would have wide impact,

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• The FCC announced that it will hold Auction 114, beginning on February 2, 2027, making available 132 channels on which new FM stations can be built. 

The FCC this week proposed an auction for the rights to construct new FM stations on 132 FM channels – the first such auction of new FM stations since 2021.  The auction is proposed for February 2027, although interested parties will need to submit “short form” applications to participate in the auction at some point prior to that date.  The proposed procedures for the auction are set out in a Public Notice – and those procedures contain new wrinkles from those of past FM auctions.

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

• Disney/ABC filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling, at the order of the FCC’s Media Bureau, concerning the status of “The View” as a bona fide news interview program exempt from the FCC’s equal opportunity rules.