The FCC has released a draft Report and Order to amend its broadcast radio rules to allow the use of computer models to verify antenna directional patterns. Barring unexpected developments, the Report and Order will be adopted during the Commission’s May 19th open meeting This proposed rule changes are great news for applicants – under … Continue Reading
The FCC announced this week that various additional applications must soon be submitted through the LMS online electronic system. Specifically, commencing May 17, 2022, the following filings are required to be submitted through LMS: FM Engineering Special Temporary Authority (STAs) Request for Silent STA Extension of Silent and Engineering STA Suspension of Operations Notification Resumption … Continue Reading
June 1, 2022 Television License Renewal Applications Due – Applications for renewal of license for television stations located in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming must be filed in LMS. These applications must be accompanied by Schedule 396, the Broadcast EEO Program Report, also filed in LMS, regardless of the number of full-time … Continue Reading
On April 21, 2022, the FCC will be hosting its monthly open meeting. The docket includes improving receiver performance, wireless emergency alerts, and two restricted adjudicatory matters. The FCC will consider a Notice of Inquiry to promote more efficient use of spectrum through improved receiver interference immunity performance, thereby facilitating the introduction of new and innovative services. … Continue Reading
Last Friday, the FCC expanded its list of companies it believes pose a risk to U.S. national security. The new additions include equipment and services from three companies: Russia’s AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas), and China Mobile International USA Inc. Since March of 2021, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has maintained a … Continue Reading
FCC rules requiring radio and television stations to broadcast disclosures for programming provided by foreign governmental entities go into effect today over the objection of some broadcast groups. Broadcasters are required not only to fully comply moving forward, but must also ensure that their existing airtime lease agreements come into compliance as soon as reasonably … Continue Reading
FCC License renewal applications and associated EEO Program Reports are due on or before Friday, April 1st for radio licensees located in Delaware and Pennsylvania and television licensees in Texas. Radio and television stations must file renewals regardless of commercial or noncommercial status in the FCC’s licensing Management System (LMS). Both television and radio licensees … Continue Reading
On February 24, 2022, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth attorneys Frank Montero and Sara Hinkle teamed up with Bobby Baker, Gary Schonmen, and Sima Nilsson of the FCC’s Political Programming Staff to present a webinar on the FCC’s political broadcasting rules. The webinar, presented in collaboration with over twenty state broadcast associations, addressed a number of … Continue Reading
On Wednesday, February 16, the FCC adopted a Report & Order to eliminate and amend “outdated or unnecessary” broadcast radio technical rules. As you will see, some of the rule changes do not create new policy or requirements. Rather, the primary purpose of this proceeding is to ensure that all of its rules are consistently with … Continue Reading
Recently we posted a blog alerting that the FCC was updating aspects of its political programming and recordkeeping rules. That FCC Order revised the definition of “legally qualified candidate for public office”, and also amended the political file rules. The revised rules are effective 30 days after publication of a summary of the order in … Continue Reading
The FCC announced this week that Auction 112, an auction of 27 construction permits for full power TV stations, is set to begin on June 7, 2022. The auction procedures were set forth in a Public Notice, and participation will require certification that “the applicant has read the public notice adopting procedures for the auction … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission is cracking down on stations that are off the air for a majority of its license term. In June of 2021, Snake River Radio, LLC, applied to renew the license of KPCQ (AM) in Chubbuck, Idaho. However, the FCC’s review of the application and station records found that the station had … Continue Reading
On February 2, 2022, FCC nominee Gigi Sohn was to attend a nomination hearing, but after Democratic Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico suffered a stroke, the Senate Commerce Committee rescheduled Sohn’s hearing. The rescheduled nomination hearing will be on February 9, 2022, and will likely address concerns over Sohn’s former position on the … Continue Reading
Today, the FCC released a Report and Order (Order), updating the political programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees. The Order revises the definition of “legally qualified candidate for public office” to add the use of social … Continue Reading
FCC License renewal applications and associated EEO Program Reports are due on or before Tuesday, February 1st for radio licensees located in New Jersey and New York and television licensees in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Radio and television stations must file renewals regardless of commercial or noncommercial status in the FCC’s licensing Management System (LMS). Both television and radio … Continue Reading
Effective at 5 p.m. EST today, Wednesday, January 12, the FCC’s Media Bureau will no longer accept filings in the Consolidated Database System (CDBS). This move by the Media Bureau is part of the ongoing transition to the Licensing and Management System (LMS) database. The Media Bureau’s sunsetting of CDBS filings will be permanent. The … Continue Reading
On January 27, 2022, the FCC will hold its monthly open meeting. The meeting will address increasing the transparency of internet access service providers, amending the definition of a library to clarify that Tribal libraries are eligible for support from the E-Rate program, and resolving issues associated with white space devices and databases. The most … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability proposing to fine Beasley Media Group Licenses, LLC $20,000.00 after KDWN(AM) in Las Vegas, Nevada apparently transmitted Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) Tones during one of its radio shows – without there being an actual emergency, EAS test, or PSA. Broadcasters … Continue Reading
On Tuesday December 12, the Senate voted 68 to 31 confirming Jessica Rosenworcel for a third five-year term. The vote came just weeks before her term ended and officially confirmed Rosenworcel as the first female chair of the FCC in the 86-year history of the agency. Although the confirmation of Rosenworcel blocked the GOP from … Continue Reading
Last Friday, the Federal Communications Commission released a Public Notice listing radio and television licensees from whom the FCC has accepted applications for license renewal filed on or before the December 1 deadline. Radio licensees located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and television licensees in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, … Continue Reading
Recently, many broadcasters have been discovering that their stations’ on-line public file hyperlinks are failing to connect. We have learned that this is likely due to recent modifications to the FCC’s internal servers. The hyperlinks currently direct viewers to a webpage that reads as follows: “We’re Sorry. We couldn’t find the page you were looking … Continue Reading
On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the FCC will host its November Open Meeting. The headlining item this month addresses the ability to text 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 3-digit number. The FCC adopted an item that assigned 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and required certain providers to support calling to that number … Continue Reading
FCC License renewal applications and associated EEO Program Reports are due on or before Wednesday, December 1st for radio licensees located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and television licensees in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Radio and television stations must file renewals regardless of commercial or noncommercial … Continue Reading
Upcoming FCC Broadcast and Telecom Deadlines for December – February December 1, 2021 Biennial Ownership Reports – All licensees and entities holding an attributable interest in a licensee of one or more AM, FM, TV, Class A television, and/or Low Power TV (LPTV) stations must file a biennial ownership report reflecting information as of October … Continue Reading
