On January 17, 2024, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on a newly proposed requirement for cable operators and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) providers, which, if enacted, would require those cable operators and DBS providers to make available rebates to their subscribers for programming blackouts caused by failed retransmission consent … Continue Reading
On December 21, 2023, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing new reporting requirements for multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”). The amendments to the FCC’s rules, if enacted, would give MVPDs 48 hours to notify the FCC when a blackout of 24 hours or more of a broadcast television station, or stations, … Continue Reading
While it’s only July, TV station licensees should be mindful of an October 1st deadline for uploading to their station online public information file (“OPIF”), the station’s election of cable TV/satellite must-carry or retransmission consent status. Under the FCC’s rules, for full power and certain Class A/Low Power commercial TV stations, there is a three-year … Continue Reading
Tuesday, August 22, 2017 – 2:00-3:15 p.m. (EDT) For all full power TV stations, October 1, 2017 is a critical deadline for electing between must-carry and retransmission consent for the next three years. What should you consider before electing must-carry or retransmission consent? What has changed in the three years since elections were last made? … Continue Reading
Chairman blogs that FCC will not be modifying “totality of the circumstances” test on his watch. In the long-running retransmission consent war pitting broadcasters against MVPDs, a major threat to the status quo has been averted: according to a blog posted on the FCC’s website by Chairman Tom Wheeler, the Commission has opted not to … Continue Reading
Here’s your chance to let the FCC know how to assess the “good faith” of parties to a retrans negotiation. While many (if not most) television licensees are likely trying to sift through the several hundreds of pages of FCC materials laying out the fast-approaching incentive auction process, it’s important not to lose sight of … Continue Reading
Christmas is coming early this year ... if, that is, you're a direct broadcast satellite (DBS), cable or other MVPD operator, or a low power TV licensee.… Continue Reading
FHH cable gurus Paul Feldman and Dan Kirkpatrick will be presenting a free webinar on "Cable TV Must-Carry & Retransmission Consent: Negotiating Agreements & Enforcing Rights" on October 23.… Continue Reading
Despite - or, supposedly, because of - its own 2010 TV channel-sharing proposal, FCC has summarily rejected a similar approach that's been pending since 2008.… Continue Reading
All you STELA watchers who have been waiting on tenterhooks for more than six months can now breathe easy: the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved Section 73.686(e).… Continue Reading
The Copyright Office is exploring the possible elimination of the compulsory copyright licenses that form the core of the must-carry system.… Continue Reading
The FCC has released the long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking kicking off its review of the thorny issue of retransmission consent.… Continue Reading
The last piece of the STELA constellation of rule changes is out for Paperwork Reduction Act comments before heading to OMB. This one involves the procedures for measuring the field strength of digital television signals.… Continue Reading
The effective date of most of the recent revisions to the Commission's procedures for measuring DTV signal strength has been established.… Continue Reading
The effective date for the STELA-induced changes to the method for predicting DTV signal strength at particular locations has been set, as have comment deadlines relative to some aspects of that changed methodology.… Continue Reading
Just in time to meet its Congressionally-imposed deadline, the Commission has released three orders and a public notice affecting satellite carriage of local TV signals, as required by STELA.… Continue Reading
Hey, STELA!!! Thanks to the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), the FCC has released two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) addressing distinct aspects of satellite carriage, within a DMA, of broadcast signals from outside that DMA.… Continue Reading
