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180 Days to Implement EAS Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)? Not So Fast!

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in a public notice released today that it has adopted the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) v1.2 Standard for FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS). Under the FCC’s Rules, Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants (e.g., radio and television stations,…

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White Spaces and the FCC: A Decision Behind It and a Challenge Ahead

The FCC today released an order refining, but largely reaffirming, its earlier decision to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the TV band as long as they do not cause interference to existing users such as TV stations and wireless microphone operators. While many refer to this spectrum as “white…

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Broadcast Station EEO Advisory

9/22/2010 This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Mariana Islands, Missouri, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Washington, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule. Introduction October 1, 2010…

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2010 Third Quarter Children’s Television Programming Documentation Advisory

September 2010 The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by October 10, 2010, reflecting programming aired during the months of July, August and September, 2010. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements As a result of the Children’s Television Act…

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2010 Third Quarter Issues/Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

September 2010 The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local public inspection files by October 10, 2010, reflecting information for the months of July, August and September, 2010. Content of the Quarterly List The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of…

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Client Advisory: Biennial Ownership Reports Are Due by October 1, 2010 for Noncommercial Educational Radio Stations in IA and MO, and for Noncommercial Educational Television Stations in AK, AS, FL, GU, HI, MP, OR, PR, VI and WA

The staggered deadlines for filing Biennial Ownership Reports by noncommercial educational radio and television stations remain in effect and are tied to their respective anniversary renewal filing deadlines. Noncommercial educational radio stations licensed to communities in Iowa and Missouri, and noncommercial educational television stations licensed to communities in Alaska, American…

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EAS False Alerts in Radio Ads and Other Reasons to Panic

One of the great things about being a communications lawyer is the wide array of issues you deal with over the course of a day. Contract lawyers negotiate contracts, and litigators litigate, but communications lawyers negotiate contracts, litigate, argue government policy, and generally are thrown into the breach whenever a…

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Is It Game Time or Gambling? Prize, Chance, Consideration, NCAA Tickets and Your Next Promotion

Anyone who has enjoyed March Madness knows that Lady Luck often intervenes in a team’s journey to the NCAA Final Four. But is getting to the game a literal roll of the dice for spectators too? The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago has recently ruled that a lawsuit…