Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC’s new rules that permit AM broadcasters to convert to all-digital operations became effective April 29. The new rules… Continue Reading…
FCC Rules for All-Digital AM Radio Become Effective – Will There Be a Flood of Applications?
The FCC’s order adopted in late October authorizing AM stations to voluntarily convert to operations in a fully-digital mode became effective yesterday when the approval of its information-collection obligations under the Paperwork Reduction Act was announced in the Federal Register. This means that AM stations can opt for full-digital operations, which many have argued will… Continue Reading…
May Regulatory Dates: Auction Applications for AM and FM Construction Permits for New Radio Stations, New DTS Rules, License Renewals and More
May is somewhat lighter on broadcast regulatory dates and deadlines than some recent months, but there are still dates to note. Among other things, the FCC will begin the process of auctioning 140 construction permits for new AM and FM radio stations across the country. Also, broadcasters in several states, with an eye on the… Continue Reading…
Missing Music On Streamed TV Programs Highlights Rights Issues for Podcasters and Video Producers
Last week, the NY Times ran an interesting article, here, about how many old TV programs now available on streaming services are missing music that was featured on the original broadcast. This was because when the music rights were initially purchased, their use was limited to over-the-air broadcasts or was limited to a short period… Continue Reading…
Effective Date Set for New Rules on TV Distributed Transmission Systems (Single Frequency Networks) – An Assist in the Roll-Out of Next Gen TV
In January, the FCC adopted new rules for Distributed Transmission Systems (DTS) for TV broadcasters (the FCC’s order is available here). Last week, the rules were published in the Federal Register, setting the effective dates of these new rules as May 24, 2021 (except as they apply to Class A TV, LPTV and TV translators,… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: April 17, 2021 to April 23, 2021
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. At the FCC’s regular monthly Open Meeting, the Commissioners voted to adopt new rules mandating sponsorship identification of foreign government-provided… Continue Reading…
FCC Announces that Window to Apply for New Noncommercial FM Stations Will Open in November
The FCC released its decision to limit to 10 the number of applications that can be filed by one party in the next window for new noncommercial FM stations in the reserved FM band (those channels below 92.1 on the FM dial). No party can have attributable interests in more than 10 applications filed in… Continue Reading…
FCC Being Anything but CALM About Congressional Letter – Asks for Public Comments on CALM Act Enforcement
Earlier this week, we highlighted a letter sent last week from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo asking the FCC to review CALM Act compliance. The letter noted that the FCC has received thousands of complaints about loud commercials in the decade that the law has been in effect without having taken any enforcement action. The FCC wasted no time in reacting,…
A New TV Station in Your Future? Lifting of TV Freeze Brings Proposals for New Allotments
While the pandemic has focused much attention on streaming television services, at least some companies believe that over-the-air television still has a future, as evidenced by recent proposals to allocate new TV channels which, if adopted, could result in brand new TV stations. As we wrote here, last year the FCC lifted the freeze on… Continue Reading…
Congressional Letter to FCC on CALM Act Violations Puts Focus on FCC Enforcement Issues
As we highlighted yesterday in our weekly summary of regulatory issues for broadcasters, last week saw a letter from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to the FCC asking for the FCC to review the enforcement of the rules established by the CALM Act, which prohibits loud commercials on TV stations. The letter cites news reports of thousands… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: April 10, 2021 to April 16, 2021
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. According to press reports, broadcasters should pencil in August 11, 2021 on their calendars for the next national test of… Continue Reading…
Reminder: Issue Ads Require Public File Disclosures Even Outside Political Windows
Back in January, we reminded broadcasters that state and local elections, even those held in “off-years” like 2021, still fall within the FCC’s political broadcasting rules. Virtually all FCC rules, with the exception of reasonable access, apply to candidates for the local school board or town council just as they do for candidates for President… Continue Reading…
