CommLawCenter

July 31, 2012

Television stations with locally-produced programming whose signals were carried as distant signals by at least one cable or satellite system in 2011 are eligible to file royalty claims for compensation with the Copyright Office in Washington, DC by this date. Under the federal Copyright Act, cable systems and satellite operators must pay "compulsory license" royalties to carry distant TV signals on their systems. The royalties are used to compensate the owners of copyrighted works broadcast on those signals. Stations that do not file claims by the deadline will not be able to collect royalties for carriage of their signals during 2011.

July 19, 2012

July 15, 2012

Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for the month ending May 31, 2012.

July 10, 2012

Class A television stations are required to maintain documentation in their public inspection files sufficient to demonstrate continuing compliance with the FCC's Class A eligibility requirements. We recommend that by this date Class A television stations generate such documentation for the period April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012 and place it in their public inspection files.

July 10, 2012

Commercial full-power and Class A television stations must by this date electronically file FCC Form 398, demonstrating their responsiveness to "the educational and informational needs of children" for the period April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012, and place a copy of the form as filed with the FCC in the station's public inspection file.

July 10, 2012

Commercial full-power and Class A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date records "sufficient to verify compliance" with the FCC's commercial time limitations in children's programming broadcast during the period April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

July 10, 2012

All full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date the Quarterly Issues/Programs List covering the period April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

July 1, 2012

The FCC is expected to release a Public Notice this month indicating the dates by which annual regulatory fees must be filed with the FCC and the amounts of those fees. Broadcasters should remain alert for this announcement.