September 2007 Radio stations licensed to communities in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Florida, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico must file their Biennial Ownership Reports with the FCC by October 1, 2007. Reports for Television stations licensed to communities in Iowa and…
Comm Law Center
Webcaster Royalties Update: Discount Offer for Small Webcasters, Fee Caps for the Largest
8/28/2007 On Tuesday, August 21, SoundExchange–the organization representing copyright owners in connection with statutory licenses for broadcasting music on the Internet–began sending formal offers of discounted royalty rates through the year 2010 to qualified small webcasters. These are generally those webcasters earning $1.25 million or less in gross revenues. A…
Emergency Broadcasting Readiness in the Midst of Hurricane Season
Obligation to Provide Emergency Information to Persons with Hearing Disabilities August 2007 Mindful of Hurricane Dean, and with three months left in this year’s hurricane season, it is imperative that television station broadcasters ensure they have adequate policies in place and reliable procedures tested to insure that persons with hearing…
FCC Enforcement Monitor
June 2007 Topics include: FCC Fines Radio Station $4,200 for Lack of Effective Tower Fences FCC Fines Television Station After Discovering Deserted Main Studio FCC Fines Radio Station for Airing Prank Phone Call FCC Officially Increases Maximum Fine for Indecency and Profanity A PDF version of this entire article can…
Broadcasters Pay $12.5 Million to Settle Payola Allegations
4/13/2007 The FCC today released four Orders adopting Consent Decrees with CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (“Citadel”), Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (“Clear Channel”), and Entercom Communications Corp. (“Entercom”). Pursuant to the Consent Decrees, the broadcasters agreed to pay a combined $12.5 million to close investigations into possible violations of the…
FCC Enforcement Monitor
December 2006 Topics include: FCC Upholds Fines Assessed Against Broadcasters for Violating Radio Frequency Radiation Maximum Permissible Exposure Limits FCC Fines Kentucky Radio Station for Violating the Commission’s Antenna Structure, Public Inspection File, and Emergency Alert System Rules A PDF version of this entire article can be found at FCC…
Licensing and Royalty Basics for “Broadcasting” Music over the Internet
December 2006 The digital world can seem confusing and intimidating to those who want to “broadcast” music over the Internet, but moving into cyberspace also presents exciting new opportunities. There are myriad ways that music is used on the Internet. There are companies that operate Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licensed…
FCC Enforcement Monitor
November 2006 Topics include: FCC Fines Puerto Rico Radio Station $15,000 for Violating Antenna Structure and Public Inspection File Rules, and Failing to Operate Within the Terms of Its License FCC Admonishes Florida Radio Station for Public Inspection File Violation FCC Takes Action to Enforce Environmental and Historic Preservation Rules…
Broadcast Station EEO Advisory
November 2006 This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO rule. A PDF…
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein Continues to Make “News” Regarding Video News Releases
November 2006 On November 14, 2006, FCC Commissioner Adelstein issued a statement commending The Center for Media Democracy and Free Press for its continued study regarding video news releases (VNRs). The Commission has described VNRs as “essentially prepackaged news stories, that may use actors to play reporters and include suggested…