On July 24, 2017, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing a nationwide Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) test on September 27, 2017, and reminded EAS Participants, which includes all cable television systems, TV stations,...more
By July 10, 2017, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during April, May and June...more
By April 10, 2017, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during January, February...more
On March 31, 2017, Frontier Media, LLC will close on its purchase of 15 radio stations (8 FM/7 AM) in Alaska, Texas and Arkansas, becoming the first 100 percent foreign owned entity to own U.S. broadcast stations. The Federal...more
After consistently calling for more transparency in the FCC rulemaking process during his time as a minority Commissioner, now Chairman Ajit Pai is making good on his promise. In a significant departure from the secrecy that...more
New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai chaired his first Commission meeting yesterday with a slimmed-down Commission consisting of two Republicans (Pai and Michael O’Rielly) and one Democrat (Mignon Clyburn). The FCC will likely be back...more
By Jan. 10, 2017, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during October, November...more
On Nov. 16, 2016, the FCC issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order that extended the deadline to comply with Section 79.2(b)(2)(ii) of the FCC’s rules for 18 months. This rule requires that emergency information provided...more
On September 30, 2016, the FCC issued a 51-page Public Notice describing the FCC’s proposed plan to repack broadcast television stations over a 39-month transition period subsequent to the completion of the incentive auction....more
By October 10, 2016, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during July, August and...more
The FCC has released its annual Report and Order showing the regulatory fees due for the 2016 fiscal year. Fees must be paid by 11:59 pm Eastern time on September 27, although the FCC‘s Fee Filer is accepting fees now. As in...more
After failing to complete the required Quadrennial Review of its media ownership rules for nearly a decade, on August 25, 2016, the FCC released a Second Report and Order signaling the completion of both its 2010 and 2014...more
As the summer winds down and the weather cools off, action around the Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) is heating up. Hopefully by now, if you are an EAS participant, which includes all cable television systems, radio...more
All Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) Participants must complete EAS Test Reporting System (“ETRS”) Form One on or before August 26, 2016. This would include all cable television systems, TV stations, radio stations and low...more
By July 10, 2016, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during April, May and June...more
In our Memorandum of January 28, 2016, we described the FCC’s expansion of the online public file requirement to cable TV, DBS, broadcast and satellite radio stations. Until now, only TV stations have been required to keep...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM” or “Proposed EAS Rules”) in January, proposing improvements to the Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) and Wireless Emergency Alerts...more
3/29/2016
/ Cable Operators ,
Comment Period ,
Digital Communications ,
Emergency Alerts ,
FCC ,
FEMA ,
Mobile Devices ,
Multichannel Video Programming ,
NPRM ,
Social Media ,
Wireless Technology
By April 10, 2016, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during January, February...more
The online public file requirement has been applicable to broadcast TV stations only. At its open meeting today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously agreed to expand the requirement to keep public and...more
In previous advisories dated Aug. 6, 2015 and Aug. 13, 2015, we provided an overview of the FCC’s incentive auction due to begin next year. The FCC has now released a lengthy Public Notice describing the application...more
By October 10, 2015, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during July, August and...more
The FCC has released its annual Report and Order showing the regulatory fees due for the 2015 fiscal year. The fees must be received by the FCC by 11:59 PM EDT on September 24, 2015. The FCC’s electronic payment system is...more
As noted in our recent advisory on this subject, the FCC adopted procedures for next year’s scheduled incentive auction at its open meeting on Aug. 6. The FCC has now released the details in a 156-page Public Notice,...more
8/14/2015
/ Auction ,
Broadband ,
Broadcasting ,
Cell Phones ,
FCC ,
Mobile Devices ,
Smartphones ,
Television Broadcast Stations ,
Television Service Providers ,
Wireless Industry ,
Wireless Technology
At its open meeting today, the FCC adopted its much-anticipated Incentive Auction Procedures Public Notice, providing details about the auction officially scheduled to begin March 29, 2016. Although the actual Public Notice...more
By April 10, 2015, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired during January, February...more