On Friday, January 7, after the sun had set and the FCC’s doors were locked for the night, the agency released two decisions addressing complaints that a dozen TV stations did not provide sufficiently complete information about political advertising in their public inspection files during the 2016 Presidential campaign. That sounds kind of like a … Continue Reading
As we reported a few days ago, most large market radio stations are required to have their complete (but for a few exceptions) local public inspection files posted online by no later than Christmas Eve. Perhaps moved by the spirit of the holidays, the Commission has now granted a narrow exception to that requirement for … Continue Reading
While the FCC is moving unusually fast on this, we probably shouldn't be surprised. But the Commission's proposal is not without its ironies.… Continue Reading
The decision of a federal judge in New York may pave the way for judges in other states to hop on the bandwagon being driven by Flo and Eddie in support of public performance rights for pre-1972 sound recordings.… Continue Reading
Flo and Eddie, two veteran members of the Turtles, recently walked all over SiriusXM, relying on state law to support their argument that, by playing Turtles tunes, the satcaster infringed their exclusive public performance rights.… Continue Reading
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, each spring brings a new set of proposed regulatory fees from the FCC - and this year is no exception.… Continue Reading
The effective date of the FCC's new schedule of application fees has been announced -- but if you're marking that date in your calendar, you might want to use a pencil for the time being.… Continue Reading
Two well-placed members of Congress are thinking about updating the Communications Act. They'd like to hear from you . . . real soon.… Continue Reading
When we posted Mitchell Lazarus's item concerning the need for the FCC last week, we anticipated push-back. And sure enough, our colleague Jon Markman has stepped up.… Continue Reading
The government shutdown was applauded by some who believe that small government is better, and so, by extension, that no government at all must be better still. That got us thinking.… Continue Reading
The Commission has posted its plans for an "orderly" shutdown of operations in the event the government closes tonight because of the budget impasse.… Continue Reading
Because it's in the process of a much-needed update of its calculation methodology, the Commission isn't sure what regulatory fees to charge -- so it has invited comments on two alternative proposals.… Continue Reading
In the wake of the Worst Congress Ever, our long-time friend Catherine McCullough -- guest blogger, commentator, pundit and lobbyist -- takes a look at the prospects for the113th Congress.… Continue Reading
Section 1.17(b) prohibits what we have referred to as "misrepresentation lite", which seems to say that any mistake in anything you file with the FCC could subject you to a very substantial penalty, even if the mistake is purely unintentional. An AM licensee in Texas found out about this the hard way.… Continue Reading
We here at CommLawBlog are lawyers, not economists, but we are pleased to see the FCC thinking creatively about the problem of working new entrants into the spectrum.… Continue Reading
Meet NOITALS. It enables the Commission to see what's going on in each and every individual computer, nationwide, without tipping off the computer's user.… Continue Reading
