As noted yesterday, the FCC announced in a robocall proceeding that all individuals and entities that have a Federal Registration Number (FRN) in the FCC’s CORES database are now required to update it within ten business days of any change in the associated information. In the underlying Order, the FCC…
Articles Posted in Ownership Law & Regulation
Have a Federal Registration Number? Better Update It Now
Let’s state the obvious. The FCC’s use of mandatory Federal Registration Numbers was a bad idea from the start. It became monumentally worse today, when the FCC quietly announced that anyone whose Federal Registration Number contact information isn’t updated within 10 business days is subject to a $1,000 per day…
FCC Temporarily Suspends Biennial Ownership Reporting Requirement
While at this stage it is only a temporary win, in the spirit of Chairman Carr’s Delete, Delete, Delete proceeding, the FCC today released a Public Notice announcing that the Commission is suspending the requirement that broadcasters file Biennial Ownership Reports until June 1, 2027 or further notice, whichever occurs…
FCC Enforcement Monitor March 2025
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: Puerto Rico Broadcaster Agrees to $4,500 Consent Decree for Unauthorized LPTV Operation Eleventh Circuit Rejects FCC’s Rationale for Broadcast…
The 2025 Broadcasters’ Calendar: A Touchstone for Broadcasters Contemplating Trump 2.0 and the Very Unpredictable Year
One thing about being part of a heavily regulated industry—you know well in advance most of the regulatory obligations and deadlines you’ll be facing in the year ahead. While that brings no solace to broadcasters, it does lend a certain level of predictability to an often unpredictable industry. For more…
FCC 2018 Quadrennial Order Largely Maintains Status Quo, But Local Television Ownership Rule Modifications Create New Uncertainty
Bookending the Christmas weekend, the FCC’s long-awaited 2018 Quadrennial Review Report and Order was adopted on Friday, December 22 and released Tuesday, December 26. The Commission is required by Congress to conduct a regulatory review of its broadcast ownership rules every four years and was directed by the U.S. Court…
Broadcast Station Biennial Ownership Reports Due December 1, 2023
The filing window for broadcast station Biennial Ownership Reports (FCC Form 323 for commercial stations and 323-E for noncommercial stations) opened on October 2, 2023. All licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, full-power TV, Class A TV and Low Power TV stations must submit their Ownership Reports by December…
FCC Enforcement Monitor August 2023
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: FCC Proposes $12,500 Fine for False Certification That FM Translator was Constructed as Authorized Telecommunications Company Warned Over Apparent Transmission…
FCC Enforcement Monitor July 2023
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: Foreign Ownership Violation by Telecommunications Provider Leads to $50,000 Penalty and Four-Year Compliance Plan Arizona LPFM Station Hit with $20,000…
2023 Pillsbury Broadcasters’ Calendar
With the end of another year soon upon us, we have begun to look forward to the highs, lows, joys, and filings that 2023 has in store. In accordance with a Pillsbury holiday tradition, earlier this month we published our annual Broadcasters’ Calendar of upcoming regulatory deadlines for broadcasters–a compendium…