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. Broadcast operations that use uninterruptable power supply (UPS) devices as either a primary or backup power source should be alert… Continue Reading…
House of Representatives Passes MORE Act to Remove Marijuana from Schedule I – Don’t Rush to Start Airing Pot Ads Yet
Last week, the US House of Representatives passed the MORE Act which, if enacted, would take marijuana off the list of Schedule I drugs – those drugs whose possession and distribution is a federal felony, as is the use of the radio waves to promote their use. As we have warned before (see, for instance,… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 26, 2022 to April 1, 2022
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 US House of Representatives, in a bipartisan vote, passed the MORE Act, a bill to decriminalize marijuana at the… Continue Reading…
April Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: TV and Radio Renewals, Quarterly Issues, New Foreign Government Sponsorship ID Rules, Revised Radio Technical Rules, EEO Audits and Filings, and More
Though this April is somewhat lighter than other months on regulatory deadlines for broadcasters, there are still dates to which broadcasters should pay attention. As noted below, all stations need to pay close attention to the quarterly obligation to post issues/programs lists to your online public file. Here is more on that date and information… Continue Reading…
April Fool’s Day and the FCC’s Hoax Rule – Be Careful Out There
As life slowly returns to something approaching normal after the last two years, radio stations may be inclined to go big on some April Fool’s Day stunt. But remember that not everyone may be in on the joke and a prank that may seem funny to some could trigger concerns with others. As we do every… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 19, 2022 to March 25, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, and two important deadlines in the week ahead, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC Enforcement Bureau this week announced its latest round of random… Continue Reading…
NPR Story Says That You are Allowed to Lie in Broadcast Political Ads – Half the Story?
Last week, NPR ran a story with the provocative headline – “The Truth In Political Advertising – You’re Allowed to Lie.” The story talked about how the FCC does not regulate candidate advertising to decide the truth of political ads, and then quoted a former FCC Chair to say that candidates can “lie” in their… Continue Reading…
FCC Releases First EEO Audit of 2022 – Notices Sent to Over 250 Radio and TV Stations
The FCC yesterday released another of its regular EEO audit notices (available here), this time targeting over 250 radio and TV 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… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 12, 2022 to March 18, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, and a look ahead at an important deadline next week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. New FCC sponsorship identification rules that impose obligations on almost… Continue Reading…
New Rules on the Identification of Foreign Government-Provided Programs Affects All Broadcasters – Now in Effect
The FCC this week announced that broadcasters must now comply with new rules designed to identify when programming is run on U.S. stations that was provided by a foreign governmental entity pursuant to a lease of airtime. While this seems like a narrow purpose, the new rules will impose a burden on broadcasters. Because of… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 5, 2022 to March 11, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, and a look ahead to events of importance next week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The Media Bureau this week released the first of what… Continue Reading…
$250,000 Fine and Surrender of 100 LPTV Authorizations Shows FCC Insistence on Permanent Construction of Stations Authorized by Construction Permits – “Serial Moves” Can Be Abuse of Process
In a Consent Decree released earlier this week, the FCC showed how serious it is about requiring that when a broadcaster applies for and receives authority to construct a new station or a modification of an existing station, it really plans to construct the station and operate on a permanent basis. In this case, a… Continue Reading…


