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.
December 1, 2022
Television License Renewal Applications Due – Applications for renewal of license for television stations located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island must be filed in LMS. These applications must be accompanied by Schedule…
With midterm elections fast approaching, candidates for public office and advocates for a variety of political issues are looking to radio and television broadcasters to get their message out. However, broadcasters need to keep in mind that airing these ads…
In the latest salvo of the back and forth fight over requiring broadcasters to verify foreign governmental sponsorship of programming, on October 6, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) released a Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Second NPRM”)…
This week, the Commission imposed a $13,000 fine on Radiant Light Broadcasting (RLB), the licensee of two low-power television (LPTV) stations for failing to timely file license to cover applications, and thus operating without licenses for four years.
The stations,…
Last week, the FCC issued a ruling finding that 21 broadcast licensees, including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, had violated the Commission’s rules regarding commercial programming on children’s television. The Commission assessed penalties against these licensees totaling nearly…
Today, the FCC released a Public Notice extending the deadline for all regulatory fee payors to submit payment for their annual regulatory fees from September 28 to September 30 at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Accordingly, payors have an additional…
Recently, the Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) issued a Consent Decree detailing the $38,000 settlement reached with a telecommunications company relating to its failure to complete required environmental and historic preservation reviews before beginning construction on new wireless telecommunications towers and…
2022 Upcoming Broadcast Deadlines
September
Annual Regulatory Fees – On a date not yet determined, but certainly before September 30, 2022, annual regulatory fees will be due. These will be due and payable for Fiscal Year 2022 and…
Earlier this year, new FCC rules went into effect requiring radio and television stations to broadcast Sponsorship ID disclosures for programming provided by foreign governmental entities. Yesterday, the federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down one part…
The FCC has just released a Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-47A1.pdf seeking comments on the state of the Next Generation Television (“Next Gen TV” or “ATSC 3.0”) transition, and on the scheduled sunset of two rules adopted…
