Tag Archives: Television

Time to Test Drive the New and Improved Online Public File System!

By Harry Cole and Anne Goodwin Crump on Posted in Cable, Deadlines, Media, Satellite
“Local” no more – as of June 24, new “OPIF” will be up and running … but a demo can – AND SHOULD – be checked out NOW Last January we reported on the FCC’s decision to expand its online public inspection file (now officially referred to as “OPIF”) requirement to include radio broadcasters, cable … Continue Reading

“Local” No More: Radio, Cable, Satellite All Moving their (Previously) Local Public Inspection Files to the Internet

By Harry Cole on Posted in Cable, Deadlines, Media, Privacy, Satellite
Concluding a proceeding begun a mere 18 months ago, the Commission has extended its online public file requirement well beyond the broadcast TV industry. To no one’s real surprise, the FCC has decided to expand its online public inspection file requirement – first imposed on television broadcasters in 2012 – to include radio broadcasters, cable … Continue Reading

New DTV Search Page Unveiled on CDBS

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Another omen of the coming DTV Transition – the FCC has added a new search option to its CDBS Public Access menu. Now you have the option of clicking on “Search for DTV Station Information”, which will whisk you to a query page that permits searches based on call sign, facility ID number, channel, city/state of … Continue Reading

Ordure in the Court?

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Fox oral argument in Supremes set for November 4 In planning your Election Day activities this Fall, you might want to pencil in a stop by the U.S. Supreme Court to catch the oral argument in the Fox v. FCC indecency case. (Read about the case in our earlier post.)  It’s currently scheduled for the … Continue Reading

The Commissioners Are Coming!! The Commissioners Are Coming!!

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Vacuum the red carpet, gas up the welcome wagon, get a couple of keys to the city copied up and notify the media.  The FCC has announced that, between now and February 17, 2009, the Commissioners themselves are hitting the road, “fan[ning] out” across the country to “raise awareness and educate consumers” about the coming … Continue Reading

A Midsummer Surprise From The FCC: A Revised Version Of The Public and Broadcasting!!!

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
The Commission has released a new version of The Public and Broadcasting, revised as of July, 2008. All full-service radio and television licensees (commercial and noncommercial) and Class A television licensees should have a copy of this latest version in their local public inspection files. You can download a PDF copy from the Commission’s website, … Continue Reading

Third Circuit Decision in CBS/Jackson Appeal

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Indecency appeals – FCC now 0-2 – In a long-awaited decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed the FCC’s order holding that CBS and its affiliates had broadcast indecency in the notorious 2004 Super Bowl half-time show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.  The Court found that the FCC had had … Continue Reading

Embedded Advertising Proceeding Deadlines Set

By FHH Law on Posted in Deadlines, Media
Last month, we reported on the Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NOI/NPRM) launched by the Commission to examine "embedded advertising" in light of the dramatic increase in the use of "product placement" and "product integration." Advertisers have become increasingly reliant on such techniques as technology has enabled viewers to circumvent traditional … Continue Reading

Federal Appeals Court Overturns CBS Super Bowl Indecency Fine

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Earlier today, the federal court of appeals for the 3rd Circuit overturned the FCC’s $550,000 fine on CBS for the broadcast of Janet Jackson’s infamous 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show. The Third Circuit overturned the FCC’s decision on much the same grounds as the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned the FCC’s "Golden … Continue Reading

Embedded advertising in the cross-hairs

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
By Harry Cole
703-812-0483
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The Commission has released a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NOI/NPRM) in which it expresses concern about the practice of "embedded advertising"- and its two primary components, "product placement" and "product integration"- in current programming, particularly as those practices implicate the sponsorship identification rules.  According to the Commission, "product placement" involves the mere use of commercial products as props, while "product integration" entails the inclusion of such products in the ...

… Continue Reading

A Legacy for Broadcasters

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
Comedian George Carlin has passed away, but he will live on in many ways.  For broadcasters, Carlin’s most noteworthy legacy is the FCC’s indecency policy in all its tortured, blurred inconsistency.  It was Carlin, after all, who created the notion that there might be seven words that you couldn’t say on the public airwaves.  The Commission had … Continue Reading

DTV Freeze Lifted

By FHH Law on Posted in Deadlines, Media
By Lee Petro
703-812-0453
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 The FCC has lifted the freeze on the submission of DTV maximization applications and channel changes, effective May 30, 2008.  Applications which expand the previously-authorized service area of the post-transition DTV station, or propose the change in the post-transition DTV channel, can now be submitted.  All applications and petitions submitted between May 30, 2008, and June 20, 2008, along with those previously-filed applications and petitions which also included a request for waiver of the filing freeze (in place since 2004), will be given the same cut-off date.  After June 20, 2008, applications and ...… Continue Reading

New Version of Mandatory Public File Document Released

By FHH Law on Posted in Media
By Ron Whitworth
703-812-0478
email

An updated version of "The Public and Broadcasting," a Commission publication which all broadcasters must place in their public inspection files, was released on April 24.  All broadcasters must replace the former version of the document with the revised version immediately and also must be prepared to provide copies to any member of the public who requests one.
 
The Commission also announced that it will provide two "Broadcast Information Specialists," one in the Media Bureau's Audio Division and the other in its Video Division, to serve as contact points for the public to ...… Continue Reading

Form 355 and Website Public File Posting: Soon in the Crosshairs at OMB

By Anne Goodwin Crump on Posted in Deadlines, Media
By Anne Goodwin Crump
703-812-0400
email

Last November, the FCC announced that it had adopted a new "enhanced" programming report for TV licensees, and also that it would require TV licensees to post pretty much all of the local public files on their respective websites.  From March 13 until May 12, we all have an opportunity to send comments on the resulting paperwork to the FCC, which will then pass the comments on to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to let them how we feel about these new burdens.

OMB gets involved because the new ...… Continue Reading
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