Tag Archives: NCE Television

Noncommercial Stations Out West Back to Being Noncommercial . . . For Now

By FHH Law on December 4, 2013 Posted in First Amendment, Media

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

NCE On-Air Fund-Raising For Oklahoma Tornado Relief Efforts

By FHH Law on May 21, 2013 Posted in Media

Trying to make it easy for noncommercial TV and radio stations to raise funds for relief efforts related to the recent Oklahoma tornado, the FCC has spelled out the easy steps necessary for noncoms to obtain waivers of the general prohibition against on-air fund-raising for non-licensees.… Continue Reading

NCE On-Air Fund-Raising For Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts

By FHH Law on November 6, 2012 Posted in Media

Trying to make it easy for noncommercial TV and radio stations to raise funds for Superstorm Sandy-related relief efforts, he FCC has spelled out the easy steps necessary for noncoms to obtain waivers of the general prohibition against on-air fund-raising for non-licensees.… Continue Reading

FCC Eyes Easier NCE Fundraising for Third Parties

By FHH Law on June 25, 2012 Posted in Deadlines, Media

The Commission is asking whether NCE stations should be routinely permitted to interrupt their regular programming for fundraising activities for the benefit of non-profit entities other than the station itself.… Continue Reading

NCE LMAs: Profit-generating Monetization Not Allowed

By FHH Law on June 10, 2012 Posted in Media

NCE stations are now officially on notice that, when they broker airtime to a third-party programmer, the collection of any fees in excess of "reimbursement of operating expenses" is verboten.… Continue Reading

9th Circuit Opens Noncoms to Political Spots

By FHH Law on April 27, 2012 Posted in Media

Just as the political advertising season is about to shift into overdrive, the Ninth Circuit has opened the competition for candidates' cash to a universe of broadcasters previously excluded from that potential revenue stream.… Continue Reading

NCE On-Air Fund-Raising For Japan Relief Efforts

By FHH Law on March 16, 2011 Posted in Media

To facilitate the ability of noncommercial broadcasters to undertake on-air fund-raising in support of relief efforts for victims of the earthquake/tsunami in Japan, the FCC has spelled out the easy steps necessary for noncoms to obtain waivers of the general prohibition against on-air fund-raising for non-licensees.… Continue Reading

NCE Fund-raising For Haiti Relief Efforts

By FHH Law on January 14, 2010 Posted in Media

As the horrific stories and images reach the mainland from earthquake-devastated Haiti, broadcast stations may want to undertake fund-raising efforts to support relief efforts.… Continue Reading

FCC Opens Amendment Window for a Handful of NCE Applications . . . At Last

By Anne Goodwin Crump on October 1, 2009 Posted in Deadlines, Media

In a proceeding that has moved at glacial speed, even by FCC standards, the Commission has opened a window to allow noncommercial applicants that are mutually exclusive with certain commercial applicants to amend their applications to specify commercial operations by October 30, 2009.… Continue Reading

FCC to NCE’s: Ixnay on the “Cold Refreshing Beer”

By FHH Law on June 27, 2009 Posted in Media

The Commission has added to the lexicon of things you can't say on the radio, if you're a noncommercial broadcaster and you're referring to people or companies who have provided you with underwriting support. This time around, the target is nothing less than (cue ominous music) . . . "cold refreshing beer".… Continue Reading

LPFM Stuck With $20K Fine for “Advertisements”

By FHH Law on March 19, 2009 Posted in Media

The Enforcement Bureau has come down hard - very hard - on a low power FM station for broadcasting prohibited advertisements. Total fine: a cool $20,000. Ouch!… Continue Reading

FCC to Open Amendment Window for a Handful of NCE Applications

By FHH Law on December 4, 2008 Posted in Media

A lucky few, very patient, noncommercial educational (NCE) applicants got an early Christmas present this year: the Commission has reconsidered its Grinch-like 2003 decision to summarily dismiss their applications. But they're not out of the woods yet.… Continue Reading

Commercial Mobile Alert System: NCE TV stations must play; NCE radio gets a pass

By FHH Law on July 11, 2008 Posted in Media

In the latest step toward implementing the Commercial Mobile Alert System ("CMAS"), the FCC has adopted rules requiring NCE television stations to install equipment on their digital transmitters within the next two years (approximately). In keeping with its "technological neutrality" posture, the Commission has not specified particular equipment or technologies which must be utilized, BUT … Continue Reading

NCE-FM Fined $9K for Families and Ice Cream

By FHH Law on May 12, 2008 Posted in Media

By Peter Tannenwald
703-812-0404
email

The FCC is on the prowl again, this time striking at a station for going over the line with "underwriting" announcements before it gave up the noncommercial ship and switched to commercial status. And the attack was on the sacred national treasure -- Tastee Freeze ice cream.

You will recall that noncommercial stations may acknowledge funding but may not use qualitative terms or suggest that listeners should make a purchase.

The announcements on this station (WCVZ, South Zanesville, Ohio) said that Tastee Freez products are "tastefully decorated" -- whoops, that says they are of good quality -- ...… Continue Reading