The Media Bureau has reminded commercial broadcasters that their biennial Ownership Reports (Form 323) are due to be filed by December 1, 2012. But the Bureau doesn't mention some information that we think all Form 323 filers are entitled to know.… Continue Reading
The captioning requirements will apply only to programming that was previously shown with captions over traditional media such as broadcast or cable. But they represent a stunning expansion of FCC jurisdiction over a vast host of consumer devices not previously regulated. Device manufacturers may well become alarmed.… Continue Reading
New E911 rules designed to make it easier to locate you (and anybody else with a personal communications device) are now set to take effect in November.… Continue Reading
A couple of FCC actions from last August have made it into the Federal Register. As a result, we now have effective dates for most (but not all) of the wireless backhaul and iTRS rules adopted back then.… Continue Reading
The Media Bureau is facilitating a cost-saving opportunity for AM broadcasters that could their reduce power consumption (and thus, presumably, their power bills) by 20%-40%.… Continue Reading
The FCC seeks to maintain consumer services such as cellular, Wi-Fi, and Internet. This would allow the public to stay in touch and informed, notwithstanding widespread damage from natural or man-made disasters.… Continue Reading
If you paid attention to our post yesterday, you won't be surprised to learn that the net neutrality order has now been published in the Federal Register, specifying an effective date of November 20, 2011.… Continue Reading
Sixteen months after they were adopted, rules designed to promote technical harmony between the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service operators and their immediately adjacent electromagnetic neighbors, the Wireless Communications Service licensees, have finally taken effect.… Continue Reading
Each of ten separate "white space" databases will automatically extract information on protected services from the FCC's licensing databases, and will share information entered manually.… Continue Reading
The FCC is looking to expand the use of unlicensed auditory assistance devices in the 72-76 MHz band to include simultaneous language translation for both disabled and non-disabled persons.… Continue Reading
As it waves a metal detector over every inch of the country's economy, looking for any stray nickel or dime with which to fund its ambitious American Jobs Act, the Obama Administration apparently thinks it's hit a minor jackpot: spectrum fees.… Continue Reading
Word out of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could be bad news for Mission Abstract Data -- the folks who are looking to obtain "licensing fees" from pretty much any radio broadcaster using automated programming software.… Continue Reading
Already already looking ahead to Spring, 2012, the FCC has announced that, come March 27, 2012, 123 new FM construction permits will be trotted out on the auction block. We've posted a link to the list of permits that will be up for grabs.… Continue Reading
Mark your calendar: another "virtual roundtable" designed to assist the government and industry in prepping for the upcoming nationwide EAS test is set for September 30.… Continue Reading
With the Federal Register publication of an order deleting the Fairness Doctrine from the FCC's rules, we have reached the end of an era of sorts. Two of our bloggers -- Don Evans and Harry Cole -- share their thoughts on the occasion.… Continue Reading
Let's have a big "welcome back" for the video description rules - gone for years, but Congress figured it was time to bring them back and now, voilà!… Continue Reading
If an FCC inspector stops by your station, notices something amiss, and tells you to turn your station off, you're probably better off following that particular instruction. About $7,000 better off.… Continue Reading