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 wants to refresh the record on its collection of information about the race and gender of broadcast employees…. Continue Reading…
August Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: National EAS Test, License Renewals, EEO Reporting, Political Broadcasting Rules Proposals, Media Ownership Comments, Annual Regulatory Fees, and More
While the regulatory deadlines in August may be a bit lighter than other months, there are still several important regulatory dates to keep track of, some of which are detailed below. All broadcasters should have August 11 circled and highlighted on their calendars as the date of the next National EAS Test. And there are… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 17, 2021 to July 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. The four television network affiliates groups have asked the FCC to clarify its new rules for sponsorship identification of programming… Continue Reading…
FCC To Clarify Political Advertising Rules – No Significant Changes Proposed
Last week, it was announced that the FCC would be considering some changes to its political broadcasting rules at its monthly open meeting in August. In some quarters (see, for example, this article), that raised concern that significant changes were coming in time for the 2022 Congressional elections. But, when the draft of the proposed… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 10, 2021 to July 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. The FCC’s Video Division of its Media Bureau has begun to release decisions on TV license renewal applications filed in… Continue Reading…
Using Photos on Your Website – Court Decision Highlights Problems with a Creative Commons License and Other Copyright Issues
We’ve written many times about the perils of posting a photo on your website without getting permission from the photo’s owner (see, for instance, our articles here and here). Copyright protects photos, even when they are shared on the Internet. Just by posting a photo to some website does not mean that the owner has… Continue Reading…
Could a Supreme Court Decision Affect Disclosure Obligations on Political Advertising?
Last week, we wrote about two dissenting opinions in a Supreme Court decision that highlight the debate that is underway on the principles that govern defamation liability in the United States. While we are reviewing Supreme Court decisions that could have an impact on broadcasters, including on political advertising, we thought that we should highlight… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 3, 2021 to July 9, 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. This week all but ends analog television operations in the US. The FCC’s Media Bureau reminded all low power television… Continue Reading…
Two Supreme Court Justices Try to Ignite Debate on Defamation Standards – What A Change Would Mean for Broadcasters News and Political Ad Sales
For well over 50 years, the Supreme Court’s New York Times v. Sullivan decision has governed the principles applied by the courts when assessing any claim of defamation. That standard requires that, to find a statement about a public figure to be defamatory, not only does the statement need to be false, but it also… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: June 26, 2021 to July 2, 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. The FCC this week reminded television broadcasters of their obligation to make televised emergency information accessible to persons with disabilities…. Continue Reading…
FCC Publishes Annual Reminder on Accessibility Obligations for Broadcast of Emergency Information
The FCC yesterday released a Public Notice reminding TV stations and other video programming providers including cable and satellite television providers of their obligations on making emergency information accessible for all viewers. With a few tweaks, including emphasizing that more hurricanes and wildfires occurred in the last year, the reminder is very similar to what… Continue Reading…
New Legislation to Impose Sound Recording Performance Royalty on Over-the-Air Radio – What Does It Provide and What Would the Royalty Cost?
Last week, Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced the American Music Fairness Act ( see their Press Release for more details) which would impose a new music royalty on over-the-air radio stations. The royalty would be payable to SoundExchange for the public performance of sound recordings. This means that the money collected would… Continue Reading…
