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 consent decree, including the payment of a $60,000 penalty, with an LPTV station operator… Continue Reading…
FCC Issues Annual Reminder on the Need for Accessibility of Emergency Information from Video Providers
FCC staff earlier this week released a Public Notice reminding TV stations and other video programming providers, including cable and satellite television providers, of their obligation to make emergency information accessible for all viewers. With a few tweaks, the reminder is very similar to what the FCC has issued in past years. Here is what we wrote… Continue Reading…
FCC and FEMA Warn Broadcasters and MVPDs that EAS Systems Have Security Vulnerability
Last week, both the FCC and FEMA issued notices to broadcasters, cable and other EAS participants that there was a vulnerability in the EAS technologies that could make those systems subject to hacking, potentially allowing bad actors to send out messages to the public using the alerting system (see FCC notice here and FEMA notice… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 30, 2022 to August 5, 2022
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. Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC released public notices, available here and here, alerting broadcasters and… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 23, 2022 to July 29, 2022
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. A bill was introduced in the US Senate proposing to prohibit any FCC or criminal action against a broadcaster who… Continue Reading…
August Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: Regulatory Fees, EEO Reports, Many Rulemaking Comment Dates, and More
With the end of summer upon us, we begin to look forward to the regulatory issues that will face broadcasters as we barrel toward the end of the year. One date on many broadcaster’s minds is the date by which the annual regulatory fees will be due to be paid. While the payment date is… Continue Reading…
Looking at Legislative Proposals that Would Allow Broadcasters to Accept Marijuana Advertising
As more and more states revise their laws to decriminalize or legalize marijuana use (for medical and recreational purposes), and more and more cannabis businesses in those states begin operations, broadcasters have been looking to provide their advertising services to these new companies. But, as we’ve written before (see, for instance, our articles here and here) ,… Continue Reading…
Why Federal and State Issue Ads Have Different Broadcast Public File Requirements
Recently, I’ve received many calls from broadcasters about the FCC public file obligations for issue ads (those ads not bought by legally qualified candidates or their authorized committees) – particularly concerning the different treatment between issue ads dealing with federal candidates or federal matters, and those dealing with state and local matters. There was much… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 16, 2022 to July 22, 2022
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. July 18, 2022 was the reply comment deadline for the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the its proposed regulatory… Continue Reading…
New Copyright Royalty Board Chief Judge Named – Looking at the Issues Considered by the CRB of Importance to Media Companies
A new Chief Copyright Royalty Judge of the Copyright Royalty Board has just been named by the Librarian of Congress. According to the Press Release announcing his appointment, David Shaw will fill that position after having previously served as an administrative law judge on the International Trade Commission for over 10 years. There, he heard… Continue Reading…
FCC Cracking Down on Long Periods of Station Silence – Short-Term Renewals for Radio Stations Silent More than 25% of License Term
The FCC’s Audio Division, in the latter part of the license renewal cycle for radio stations, seems to have adopted a more aggressive position on stations that were silent for extended periods of time during their license term. In our summary of last week’s events of importance to broadcasters, we noted one case where an… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 9, 2022 to July 15, 2022
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 US Court of Appeals this week determined that the FCC’s requirement that broadcasters confirm by searching DOJ and FCC… Continue Reading…
