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
CommLawBlog
CommLawBlog, published by Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC, focuses on legal developments affecting the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. The blog covers regulatory updates from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including enforcement actions, application fee adjustments, and reporting requirements for broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). It also addresses issues related to retransmission consent disputes, administrative law challenges, and compliance with communications statutes. The blog provides analysis of court decisions impacting agency authority and administrative procedures, as well as insights into government affairs and litigation relevant to communications law practitioners and industry stakeholders.
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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
By Daniel Brown
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
By Mark Malonzo
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
By Daniel Brown
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
By Daniel Brown
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
By Sara Hinkle
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
By Daniel Brown
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…
FCC Adopts Final Deadlines for Submission of C-Band Reimbursement Claims
By Daniel Brown
On December 5, 2023, the FCC released a Public Notice adopting two final reimbursement claims submission deadlines for eligible incumbents and stakeholders as part of the ongoing transition of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (“C-band”). Claimants seeking reimbursement for all claims…