On February 21, 2024, an FHH attorney, Thomas F. Urban II, won an important victory for the firm’s client, Jane Doe, to protect her right to pursue her civil claims against her rapist without having to expose her identity. Due to Urban’s efforts and those of his co-counsel, Walter Steimel of Steimel Counselors Law Group, … Continue Reading
In an order released on November 17, 2022, the FCC dictates in detail the specific words that an Internet service provider must use when communicating with its customers. The FCC has adopted new rules requiring specific information (referred to as the broadband consumer label) to be displayed at the point of sale when offering mass-market … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or the “Commission”) recent rejection (FCC statement here) of a petition submitted by Free Press to demand FCC action with regard to broadcasters’ coverage of governmental statements about the COVID-19 epidemic has received a great deal of coverage. What may have escaped attention, however, is that, aside from some sharp … Continue Reading
On June 7, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) released a Report and Order (“R&O”) revising the Commission’s rules under which independent programmers may lease cable TV channels to retransmit their programming (“Leased Access Rules”). Leased Access has rarely been used, due to concerns by both cable operators and programmers, and the … Continue Reading
Just when you think you have a beat on the Supreme Court, they always seem to surprise you. Take the decision issued in Carpenter v. U.S., issued last Friday, June 22. The court held that a judicial warrant, based on probable cause, is required before law enforcement officials can call up your cellphone company and … Continue Reading
Last Monday, during his monologue on the Late Show, Stephen Colbert made a number of jokes at President Donald Trump’s expense, including lobbing a series of insults at the President. (The full monologue is available here; check around 11:15 for the portion that has gotten folks talking). One of these insults, which included a joking … Continue Reading
DMCA requires consideration of “fair use” before infringement can be alleged. Thanks to digital technology, copyright infringement is easier than ever – and the Internet provides a tempting place to display infringing uses of copyrighted material. Recognizing that, Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), creating a simple mechanism by which copyright owners could … Continue Reading
The Commission has fined a TV licensee a whopping $325,000 for a single three-second instance of unintended indecency during a newscast. It looks like the FCC wants to send a signal to broadcasters.… Continue Reading
A petitioner has asked the FCC to deny a broadcast license renewal because the station uses the term "Redskins". Should the FCC really be involved with this?… Continue Reading
When it comes to telemarketing (and especially robocalling), the FCC is loaded for bear and on the hunt - with a $2.9 million trophy already in the bag.… Continue Reading
The FAA is still "looking into" the use of drones for TV newsgathering. Meanwhile, a Texas search-and-rescue group has asked the D.C. Circuit to weigh in.… Continue Reading
The Ninth Circuit en banc has affirmed the constitutionality of Section 399b's ban on advertising - including political and "issue" advertising - on noncommercial stations. But a vigorous dissent could have major implications for broadcasters' First Amendment protections.… Continue Reading
Something - it's hard to say exactly what - recently occurred on the indecency front. It had to do with alleged indecency on a Spanish-language TV station.… Continue Reading
If you're champing at the bit to toss in your two cents' worth on the FCC's indecency policy (whatever that policy may be), you now have a little more time within which to hone your prose.… Continue Reading
