The FCC issued an Order last Friday reinstating the collection of workforce composition data for television and radio broadcasters, requiring broadcast licensees to file Form 395-B, which collects race, ethnicity, and gender information about the licensee’s employees, on an annual
Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC
Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C. is a media and telecommunications law firm, experienced in all aspects of communications law and regulation, and represents clients operating in all sectors of the media and telecommunications industry. The firm serves as counsel to broadcast stations, local and long distance telephone companies, major banking institutions, telecommunications equipment suppliers, technological start-ups, private and common carrier fixed and mobile radio spectrum users, cable television systems, wireless cable entities, satellite communications service providers, computer and Internet companies, scientific research organizations, trade associations, universities, state and local governments and corporate users of telecommunications and information technology services.
Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC Blogs
Latest from Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC
FHH Protects Client Rape Victim’s Privacy in U.S. Fourth Circuit
On February 21, 2024, an FHH attorney, Thomas F. Urban II, won an important victory for the firm’s client, Jane Doe, to protect her right to pursue her civil claims against her rapist without having to expose her identity. Due…
FCC Clarifies that AI-Generated Voices are Subject to TCPA
Given the increasing power of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate content that mimics human voices, the FCC issued a unanimous Declaratory Ruling clarifying that current AI technologies that generate human voices constitute “artificial or prerecorded voices” subject to the…
Corporate Transparency Act Triggers New Federal Filing Requirement for Most Small and Medium Companies.
The federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), enacted by Congress on January 1, 2021, established new ownership disclosure and reporting requirements for most small and medium sized U.S. companies (“Reporting Companies”), including both existing and newly created companies. The deadline for…
FCC Releases NPRM Seeking Comment on Proposal to Require Subscriber Rebates for Retransmission Consent Blackouts
On January 17, 2024, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on a newly proposed requirement for cable operators and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) providers, which, if enacted, would require those cable operators and DBS providers…
FCC Proposes to Prioritize Application Processing for Stations that Provide Locally Originated Programming
On January 17, 2024, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on a proposed rule that would prioritize review of certain broadcast applications filed by stations that certify that they provide locally originated programming.
Eligible Stations…
FCC Releases NPRM Proposing New Reporting Requirements for Retransmission Consent Blackouts
On December 21, 2023, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing new reporting requirements for multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”). The amendments to the FCC’s rules, if enacted, would give MVPDs 48 hours to notify the FCC…
FCC Releases Report and Order Concluding Its 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review
After receiving a mandated deadline from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the FCC presented its long-awaited Christmas gift to the broadcast industry with the December 26 release of the 2018 Quadrennial Review Report and Order (“R&O”). …
FDA Adopts New Rules Requirements for “Side Effects” Statements in Prescription Drugs Ads on Broadcast Stations
The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has adopted a Final Rule requiring that when a direct-to-consumer TV or radio ad for a prescription drug makes statements relating to side effects of the drug, those statements must be presented in a “clear,…
FCC Adopts Report and Order Allowing Certain LPTVs to Convert to Class A Television Stations
On December 12, 2023, the FCC adopted a Report and Order (“R&O”) providing certain qualifying Low Power TV (“LPTV”) stations with a limited opportunity to convert to Class A status. The R&O came after the FCC circulated a draft last…