OMB has approved some relatively modest changes to FCC Forms 314 and 315 to advance implementation of the Tribal Priorities adopted last year with respect to AM and FM stations.… Continue Reading
The revised versions of Section 73.3573 and Form 301 adopted in connection with the FCC's Tribal Priority process relative to the allotment of commercial FM channels have received OMB's seal of Paperwork Reduction Act approval.… Continue Reading
The FCC has adopted a process to assure that Native American tribes get first dibs on commercial FM channels allotted pursuant to Tribal Priorities.… Continue Reading
The AM and FM channel allotment priorities adopted in the Rural Radio proceeding are now fully effective -- meaning that OMB has signed off on the "information collection", or certification, aspects of those new priorities.… Continue Reading
If you've got anything you'd like to say to the Feds about the FCC's new rural radio certification requirements, your last chance to do so is fast approaching. The Commission has just announced the deadline for what is likely to be the last round of public comments before those requirements formally take effect.… Continue Reading
The effective date for some, but not all, of the rules adopted in the Rural Radio Second Report and Order has been set. But the real attention-grabber in the Second R&O was the Commission's overhaul of Section 307(b) policies. When do those new policies become effective?… Continue Reading
The Commission has signaled that the recently adopted certification requirements for AM/FM applications proposing changes in community-of-license need to be approved by OMB. The process of seeking that approval has now started.… Continue Reading
If you're looking to move an AM or FM radio station from a small community to a different, bigger, community, your job probably just got a boatload harder.… Continue Reading
The art of moving FM channels around to achieve a preferable (and, at least for some, more valuable) channel arrangement has suffered a set-back with the announcement of a change in allotment policy.… Continue Reading
Revised versions of Forms 301, 314, 315, 316 and 340 have been approved by OMB. The changes reflect the Commission's actions adopted in the rural radio proceeding last Winter.… Continue Reading
Comment deadlines have been set in the Tank Radar proceeding (ET Dkt. No.10-23) and the "Rural Radio" (MB Dkt. No. 09-52) proceeding relating to the new 307(b) "tribal priority". And the rule changes adopted in that latter docket will be effective April 5.… Continue Reading
Remember the "rural radio" rulemaking, launched in April, 2009, which looked to overhaul the FCC's Section 307(b) standards? The initial Report and Order in that proceeding has been released - but those standards were largely untouched. On the other hand, the rules have been changed to assist Native American Tribes get an upper hand in some AM and FM allotment proceedings.… Continue Reading
That was quick. The Commission has announced that it is postponing the upcoming opportunity to file for certain vacant NCE-reserved channels just a week after it first announced that opportunity.… Continue Reading
The FCC has announced an immediate freeze on certain FM allotment proposals -- and an eventual freeze on ALL FM applications -- in light of the upcoming December filing window for 67 FM channels reserved for non-commercial use.… Continue Reading
The Commission has announced that, between December 11-18, 2009, it will open a filing window opportunity for certain vacant FM allotments. The channels up for grabs are in the commercial portion of the FM band, BUT they have been reserved for NON-commercial use.… 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
We've been hearing grumbling among some minority representatives who are not at all happy about the proposed limitations in the AM/FM allocations area.… Continue Reading
In a sweeping notice of proposed rulemaking, the FCC has proposed a major re-vamp of the AM and FM allocations process. A vast array of allotment-related elements, including 307(b) analyses, auction niceties, translator band-hopping and codification of terrain roughness policies, are on the table.… Continue Reading
