On March 13, 2009, and in response to the Congressional extension of the digital transition deadline from February 17 to June 12, 2009, the FCC released an R&O which, among other things, revised the rules associated with its requirements for DTV Consumer Education Initiatives. Those significant revisions, which became effective…
6/19/2009 The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2009, reflecting programming aired during the months of April, May and June 2009. A PDF version of this entire article can be found at 2009 Second…
5/19/2009 The FCC’s Notice of Inquiry seeks answers to the controversial question raised by “broadcasters, media organizations and others” whether Arbitron is undercounting the audience for stations that air programming targeted to minority audiences, potentially harming the financial viability of those stations. At issue is Arbitron’s commercial use of equipment…
5/1/2009 A PDF of this entire article can be found at >EEO in 2009 and Forward: A Legal Guide to the FCC’s Equal Employment Opportunity Rule and Policies for Broadcasters.
Court Ordered Remand May Force the Supreme Court to deal with the First Amendment Issue 4/28/2009 In a 5-4 decision released today, the Supreme Court upheld the FCC’s so-called “fleeting expletives” policy which bans the radio and television broadcast of single so-called four-letter words that are considered indecent. However, the…
April 2009 The FCC has released a new Federal Register notice indicating that the increase in certain FCC application fees will become effective April 28, 2009. A PDF version of this entire article can be found at Reminder: Increased FCC Application Filing Fees Will Become Effective April 28, 2009
3/24/2009 This Advisory is intended specifically to help guide individuals and companies, that wish to distribute recorded music over the Internet for pleasure or profit, through the maze of licenses and royalties required for such “webcasting” activities. It discusses the recent settlement agreements entered into between SoundExchange and the Corporation…
March 2009 The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be electronically filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by April 10, 2009, reflecting programming aired during the months of January, February and March 2009. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements As a result of the Children’s Television…
March 2009 The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local public inspection files by April 10, 2009, reflecting information for the months of January, February, and March 2009. The FCC’s action adopting the new program report Form 355, which is intended to replace the Quarterly…
March 2009 This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule. April 1, 2009 is the deadline for stations licensed to communities in the…