Here are some of the regulatory actions of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations: FEMA announced that it has canceled the 2020 test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), which is… Continue Reading…
FCC Seeking Comment on the Origination of Programming by FM Translators
Should broadcasters be able to originate programming on FM translators? Playing off the proposal to allow limited amounts of programming on FM boosters – basically the insertion of local ads, news, or emergency alerts – in the zonecasting proposal on which the FCC took comments earlier this year (see our summary here), a group of… Continue Reading…
FEMA Calls Off Nationwide EAS Test for This Year
The year of the pandemic claimed another victim – this one being what has become a regular event – the nationwide test of the EAS system (see our articles here and here about the last two tests – tests which are required to assess the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System – IPAWS – at… Continue Reading…
This Week at the FCC for Broadcasters: June 13, 2020 to June 19, 2020
Here are some of the legal and regulatory actions of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC released a Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration regarding Next Gen TV (ATSC 3.0)…. Continue Reading…
This Week at the FCC for Broadcasters: June 6, 2020 to June 12, 2020
Here are some of the FCC regulatory and legal actions of the last week—and a congressional action in the week ahead—of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC on June 9 held an Open Meeting where it… Continue Reading…
Facebook Defends Not Censoring Political Ads – Looking at the Differences In Regulation of Political Speech on Different Communications Platforms
The question about what to do with the protections offered by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act took another turn this week, when Joe Biden suggested that online platforms needed to take responsibility for the content posted on them and correct misinformation in those ads. That position is seemingly the opposite of the President’s… Continue Reading…
Rule Changes on LPFM and Interference Protections for Channel 6 TV from Reserved Band FM to Become Effective on July 13
In April, the FCC modified a number of its rules regarding LPFM stations, and also modified its processing policies as to considerations of interference between Channel 6 TV stations and noncommercial FM stations operating on the reserved band (the low end of the FM dial). We wrote about those changes here and here. The changes… Continue Reading…
FCC Adopts Declaratory Ruling and Starts Rulemaking on ATSC 3.0 TV Datacasting Issues – the Broadcast Internet
The FCC at its open meeting this week adopted the Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that we wrote about here when the draft order was released. The Declaratory Ruling makes clear that the leasing of television spectrum for datacasting uses does not trigger FCC multiple ownership issues (in other words, one entity can… Continue Reading…
FCC Releases EEO Audit for 35 Radio Stations – A Good Reminder to Review Your EEO Compliance
The FCC yesterday released another of its regular EEO audit notices (available here), this time targeting only about 35 radio stations. Those stations and the station employment units (commonly owned stations serving the same area) with which they are associated must provide to the FCC (by posting the information in their online public inspection file) their last two year’s EEO… Continue Reading…
This Week at the FCC for Broadcasters: May 30, 2020 to June 5, 2020
Here are some of the FCC regulatory and legal actions of the last week of significance to broadcasters — with a quick look at the week ahead— with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. As protests and civil unrest over George Floyd’s… Continue Reading…
Looking at the President’s Executive Order on Online Media – Part 2, What Real Risk Does It Pose for Media Companies?
We summarized the provisions of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act on Monday, looking at the application of the law that the President has sought to change through the Executive Order released last week. Today, it’s time to look at what the Executive Order purports to do and what practical effects it might have… Continue Reading…
Understanding the Minority Tax Certificate and its Potential for Promoting Diversity in Broadcast Ownership
An intense national conversation on racial justice and equity has been thrust upon the country by the events of the last week. While our focus here on this blog is narrow, it is certainly worth looking at some of the issues that are within our broadcast world that are relevant to this conversation. In recent… Continue Reading…
