We are fast approaching the deadline for applications of the upcoming Auction 79, featuring 122 vacant FM channels up for grabs. The Commission will be holding a freebie pre-auction seminar to demonstrate the basics of their online bidding system. The seminar will be at 10:30 a.m. on June 16. Check our post for more information.… Continue Reading
Check out these links for possible insight into how the appointment of Judge Sotomayor to replace Justice Souter might affect broadcasters and other media.… Continue Reading
The NAB is running a cool new contest designed to encourage radio stations to help in the fight against the move for performance rights. Check it out.… Continue Reading
The Commission has asked for further comment on a proposal to increase the maximum digital power for FM stations using HD Radio™ technology. As of this writing the deadlines for comments and replies haven't been announced, but the time frames are likely to be short.… Continue Reading
The order overhauling the ownership reporting requirements for commercial broadcasters (and proposing a corresponding overhaul on the noncommercial side) has been published in the Federal Register. The new rules are NOT yet effective, but the FedReg publication does set deadlines for comments on the NCE proposals AND for comments on the Paperwork Reduction Act aspects of both the adopted and proposed rules.… Continue Reading
The Commission has kicked off an investigation into Arbitron's Portable People Meter (PPM) audience measurement system. But we wonder whether the FCC's full-tilt leap into the PPM fray will ultimately solve the problem, and it could turn out to have significant unintended consequences for all concerned.… Continue Reading
We have been advised by a Media Bureau representative that biennial Ownership Reports currently due to be filed by June 1 and August 1 will still have to be filed on or before those dates. We are also told that the Commission is still considering whether to suspend the requirement for reports due to be filed by October 1.… Continue Reading
The Replacement Digital Translator rules adopted by the Commission earlier this month were published in the Federal Register on May 20. The new rules go into effect on June 19, except for Section 74.787(a)(5)(i).… Continue Reading
If you're the person in your organization responsible for buying sophisticated software-controlled products, you routinely face a host of complex considerations, many of them unique to your operation. But no matter what unique features you deal with, it is important to recognize that certain issues and concerns apply to virtually all such transactions.… Continue Reading
Last week, I delivered to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter urging her to look into the impact on minority broadcasters of the Performance Rights Act (PRA) pending before Congress.… Continue Reading
A four-person contingent from NTIA came to the NTA Convention in Denver last week to talk about their grant program for digital transmitters for Class A, LPTV, and TV Translator stations. They cleared up a couple of points and left at least one major question still unresolved.… Continue Reading
The Commission has reduced the porting interval for simple wireline and simple intermodal port requests. Previously, such requests had to be completed within four business days; now, in most instances, they must be completed in only one day.… Continue Reading
The Commission has released its proposed 2009 regulatory fees. To no one's great surprise, for the second year in a row all but one of the 61 categories of broadcast-related fees are proposed to go up. And when we say "up" we mean "UP".… Continue Reading
Last month we reported on the Commission's proposed re-vamp of the AM/FM allocation process. The NPRM has now been published in the Federal Register, which means that the dates for comments and reply comments have been set.… Continue Reading
Recent anecdotal observations indicate that the "new" application filing fees are finally being automatically generated by the Commission's CDBS on-line application filing/fee payment systems.… Continue Reading
NTIA has finally issued a "Notice of Availability of Funds" for grants for upgrading Class A, Low Power TV (LPTV), TV Translator and TV Booster transmitters to digital operation. Bypassing any rulmaking proceeding, NTIA has simply declared that it has cash up for grabs. The Notice is NTIA's way of saying "come and get it." The fun starts July 13, 2009.… Continue Reading
The House Judiciary Commitee passed an amended version of the "Performance Rights Act", but the number of Representatives on record as opposing this legislation has now increased to 192.… Continue Reading
The House Judiciary Committee is poised to "mark up" (vote on) HR 848, the Performance Rights Act, this Wednesday, May 13. With HR 848 currently boasting 41 co-sponsors, and the opposition movement claiming formal support from 184 Representatives who have signed on to H Con Res 49, the Local Radio Freedom Act, the future of this legislation … Continue Reading
If you think you might be needing to build a tower in the next several years, listen up. The birding lobby has opened a new offensive in its long-running effort to force the FCC to give greater consideration to bird-related concerns when it authorizes tower construction.… Continue Reading
Faithful readers will recall that we titled the last installment of our "Pursestring Updates" series the "final chapter". We spoke too soon.… Continue Reading
A lawsuit filed on May 5 in federal district court in Northern California by a former college football quarterback is the latest extension of a series of cases that have defined who "owns" sports statistics, facts and personal image rights.… Continue Reading
The FCC has created a new replacement DTV translator service, and the doors are open and the welcome mat is out for applications in the new service. Check out the hightlights of the Commission's Report and Order.… Continue Reading