As we head into Summer, it’s important for TV broadcasters to remember the upcoming deadlines this Fall associated with notifying multichannel video program distributors (“MVPDs”) – primarily cable TV and direct broadcast satellite operators – of the station’s election of either must-carry or retransmission consent carriage status on the MVPD systems. Two critical deadlines are … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has issued a Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, largely leaving intact the rules it adopted in 2017 authorizing television broadcast stations to implement the ATSC 3.0 technical standard, now known as “NextGen” TV.… Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has invited comments on it’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) on whether it should update its rules that determine whether a television broadcast station is “significantly viewed” in communities outside of its Designated Market area (“DMA”) for purposes of carriage on Multichannel Video Program Distribution (“MVPD”) systems, both cable and … Continue Reading
Last year, a new law, the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 (“TVPA”), was enacted, requiring Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (“MVPDs”) and providers of fixed broadband services to disclose all charges that a consumer will have to pay before he or she signs up for service. The statute requires compliance by June 20, 2020, but … Continue Reading
On March 16, 2020, we wrote that the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has proposed to eliminate the rule that requires cable television systems to post in their online public inspection file (“OPIF”) information about the nature and extent of their attributable interests in video program services and which of those services they own are carried on … Continue Reading
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has invited comments as to whether it should grant a six-month extension of time for Multichannel Video Program Distributors (“MVPDs”) to comply with the “Right to Transparency” provisions of the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 (“TVPA”). This proceeding will be a quick one, with Comments due April 6, and … Continue Reading
In Report and Orders released in July of 2019 and February of 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has converted the system for television broadcast stations to notify multichannel video program distributors (“MVPDs”), of their election of must-carry or retransmission status from paper sent by certified mail to electronic notices posted on the FCC’s website, … Continue Reading
Last month, the FCC launched a new proceeding with an extremely broad goal of modernizing its media regulations. The very brief (less than three page) Public Notice launching the proceeding, which Chairman Pai previewed in his speech at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, asks for comment on almost any media regulation considered “outdated, unnecessary, … Continue Reading
If you’re the owner of a full-power or Class A broadcast television station or are a multichannel video program distributor, and anticipate receiving a winning bid or seeking reimbursement funds from the Commission post-incentive auction, how will you get your money? The FCC has created an online tutorial to explain how this will work. To … Continue Reading
Earlier this week, two broadcasting companies petitioned the FCC to revise its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) rules to allow broadcasters to rely on Internet recruitment sources when filling job openings. The Commission’s current EEO rules, which date back to 2002, require broadcasters employing five or more full-time employees, and MVPDs employing six or more full-time … Continue Reading
Last October we reported on a number of changes in the Commission’s market modification processes, changes made at the direction of Congress (in the STELA Reauthorization Act (STELAR) back in 2014). But as we pointed out when most of those changes took effect, a couple of the revisions could not kick in until OMB had … Continue Reading
STELAR-mandated changes permit market modifications for satellite carriage; some cable matters tweaked, too The market modification process is about to get, um, modified, and thanks to Congress, it will be more inclusive as a result. In fact, the FCC has already signed off on the changes and some, but not all, of them are set … Continue Reading
Thanks to Congress, we can be expecting some old and some new standards governing MVPD and satellite market modification proceedings,… Continue Reading
If you're planning to chip in your two cents' worth on the FCC's proposed redefinition of the MVPD universe, you're in luck: the comment deadlines have been extended.… Continue Reading
The MVPD universe is set to be redefined to include services "untethered" from any infrastructure-based definition ... if, that is, a proposal laid out by the FCC takes hold. The deadlines for comments on the proposal have just been announced.… Continue Reading
If you've been wondering whatever happened to TV Max -- the Houston-area MVPD that was on the wrong end of a multi-million dollar fine for unauthorized retransmission of TV signals -- wonder no more.… Continue Reading
We now know when the recently-adopted restrictions on joint retransmission consent negotiations are set to take effect. We also know when petitions for reconsideration and petitions for judicial review are due.… Continue Reading
The FCC has proposed tossing its network nonduplication and syndicated exclusivity rules. We now know the deadlines for comments on that proposal.… Continue Reading
The FCC has barred non-commonly-owned Top Four ranked stations in a given market from engaging in joint retransmission consent negotiations.… Continue Reading
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you retransmitted the programming of TV stations without their consent, and then dissembled about it to the FCC, listen up.… Continue Reading
Touted by advocates as "Wi-Fi on steroids," TV Band Devices can now boot up in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and North Carolina. The FCC expects to extend authorization nationwide by mid-January.… Continue Reading
When the FCC established rules for TV Band Devices, it required them to avoid interfering with other equipment operating on TV frequencies. The most populous of those, by far, are the wireless microphones that are ubiquitous in TV, stage, and film production.… Continue Reading