The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking looking toward relaxing restrictions on Distributed Antenna Systems (“DTS”) for full-power television stations and making DTS newly available to Class A and Lower Power Television (“LPTV”) stations.… Continue Reading
When the FCC released its Next Gen TV Report and Order in November 2017, we wrote about how this authorized television broadcasters to use the “Next Generation” broadcast television transmission standard (also known as ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. The rules from that Order became effective on February 2, 2018, except for the … Continue Reading
In a decision issued Tuesday, Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved the proposed merger of AT&T and Time Warner. In doing so, he rejected the “must-have” programming theory that was the core of the government’s antitrust case seeking to block the merger. The “must-have” programming theory asserts … Continue Reading
New Opportunities for Next Gen Broadcasters and Simulcast “Host” Stations, but Controversies Remain. Yesterday, the FCC adopted a Report and Order authorizing television broadcasters to use the “Next Generation” broadcast television (Next Gen TV) transmission standard (also called “ATSC 3.0”) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. This Order may herald a revolutionary change in TV broadcasting, opening … Continue Reading
The FCC has adopted its anticipated Notice of Proposed Rule Making looking toward allowing television broadcasters to transition from the present ATSC 1.0 technical standard to the new, recently developed ATSC 3.0 standard. ATSC 3.0 is Internet Protocol (IP) based and offers many potential benefits, including both multiple broadcast streams and non-broadcast IP services; but it … Continue Reading
New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing rules that would authorize television broadcasters to use the Next Gen TV transmission standard on a voluntary basis. Chairman Pai released the NPRM to the public prior to its presumed adoption at the upcoming FCC open meeting as part of his … Continue Reading
ATSC-designed transmission system promises lots of upside, minimal downside – as long as the FCC and marketplace cooperate. The broadcast television industry is resilient. Its core over-the-air technology was fundamentally changed with the transition from analog to digital transmission in 2009 and its spectrum habitat is about to shrink dramatically thanks to the Incentive Spectrum … Continue Reading
Theoretically, anybody currently facing a December 13, 2014 deadline for CALM Act compliance may be able to get a further extension. But we wouldn't count on it.… Continue Reading
The CALM Act standards are in the process of evolving, and TV licensees and MVPD providers (along with the Commission) will be having to play catch-up ball.… Continue Reading
If you're one of the 170 or so TV stations who got a one-year waiver of the CALM Act requirements last year, the clock is ticking down.… Continue Reading
If you're a "small" TV station or MVPD operator who missed the October deadline for filing for waiver of your obligations under the CALM Act, but you're still not going to be in compliance with the Act when it takes effect on December 13, don't panic.… Continue Reading
Unless you're confident that you will be in compliance with the CALM Act requirements by December 13, you should NOT neglect the October 15 deadline for waiver requests.… Continue Reading
Getting ready to comment on the FCC's CALM Act rulemaking proposals? Be sure to check out the just-announced successor to ATSC's A/85 Recommended Practice.… Continue Reading
The FCC has just extended the reply comment deadline in its CALM Act proceeding -- because, as it turns out, there's a new version of the proposed core technical standard in the works.… Continue Reading
Barely a week after the release of the CALM Act Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, it's been published in the Federal Register -- so we now have comment/reply comment deadlines to pass along.… Continue Reading
The CALM Act, intended to tone down "loud commercials", directed the FCC to adopt new rules for that purpose by December, 2011. The Commission has now taken the first formal step to that end with the issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.… Continue Reading
Just two steps to go in the legislative process before the awesome power of the federal government puts its regulatory finger to its regulatory lips and issues a regulatory "Shhhhhh".… Continue Reading
