Two months ago we reported that the FCC was looking to fine-tune aspects of its procedural rules and its ex parte rules. Comment deadlines have now been established for those proceedings.… Continue Reading
The FCC has adopted frequency coordination requirements between GSO/NGSO satellite services and terrestrial BAS/CARS stations in the 7, 10, and 13 GHz frequency bands.… Continue Reading
You may be getting a letter from the FCC in the next couple of days saying that the deadline for this year's regulatory fees is September 22. Don't necessarily believe it.… Continue Reading
It appears that some TV stations are getting a free reg fee ride this year. According to the Commission, "stations that were broadcasting in digital only on October 1, 2008 would not be assessed regulatory fees for their digital license for FY 2009."… Continue Reading
The D.C. Circuit has affirmed the performance royalty rate set by the CRB for satellite radio services. No big surprise there. But a separate concurring opinion from one member of the three-judge panel could spell trouble for any decision coming out of the CRJ for the foreseeable future.… Continue Reading
The Commission has released its proposed 2009 regulatory fees. To no one's great surprise, for the second year in a row all but one of the 61 categories of broadcast-related fees are proposed to go up. And when we say "up" we mean "UP".… Continue Reading
Recent anecdotal observations indicate that the "new" application filing fees are finally being automatically generated by the Commission's CDBS on-line application filing/fee payment systems.… Continue Reading
Faithful readers will recall that we titled the last installment of our "Pursestring Updates" series the "final chapter". We spoke too soon.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court has issued its long-awaited decision in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. The good news here is that the Supreme Court's ruling changes very little on the indecency front. But the bad news is that the decision effects a major shift in a seemingly mundane legal doctrine, a shift that could affect FCC regulatory activity in all respects for years to come.… Continue Reading
It is NOT a good idea to try to play cute with the FCC's bidding rules in an effort to secure undeserved bidding credits. A little-known Federal law provides both a major league financial incentive to blow the whistle on such misconduct and a non-FCC forum in which to blow that whistle.… Continue Reading
Word is that the Commission is embarking on a quest for what some might view as the bureaucratic equivalent of the Impossible Dream: an Uber-consolidated on-line licensing system to unify the balkanized collection of existing systems currently in use. Paul Feldman was recently invited to participate in a brainstorming session with FCC representatives. Read his report here.… Continue Reading
In an APRIL 1 announcement, the word is out: the FCC has eloped with Internet auction giant eBay, forming a "strategic partnership" under which eBay will run all the Commission's spectrum auctions!… Continue Reading
It looks like we've come to the end of the line. The Commission has now formally announced that the revised application fee schedule first adopted last September (has it really been that long?) will take effect on April 28, 2009.… Continue Reading
With several trillion dollars' worth of bills stacking up on the kitchen table, the Senate is thinking about searching for quarters under the sofa cushions. In these dire economic times, some Senators have proposed that Congress get ready for a Federal spectrum yard sale by making a list of all the spectrum controlled by NTIA and the FCC.… Continue Reading
A line item in President Obama's budget proposal provides for a "spectrum license user fee." But don't be scared just yet -- it's probably just that annual Washington ritual of budget politics.… Continue Reading
We have put together a "To Do" List for Julius Genachowski when he takes over as Chairman. But what do we know? We merely have our fingers on the pulse of the Regulated Nation; you, our readers, ARE the pulse of the Regulated Nation. What do YOU think?… Continue Reading
Back in December, Congress told the FCC to start an inquiry into "advanced blocking technologies and existing parental empowerment tools" so, sure enough, that's what the FCC has done. On March 2 the Commission released a Notice of Inquiry just like it was ordered to.… Continue Reading
