November 2008
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.
10/1/2008
On September 30, the U.S. Senate approved the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008, a bill giving SoundExchange and webcasters authority to finalize an agreement on performance royalty rates. The bill amends section 114 of the Copyright Act to give SoundExchange until February 15, 2009, to reach a deal over the statutory royalties owed by Internet radio stations, and other non-interactive online music services, to performers and sound recording copyright owners (generally record labels) when their music is performed publicly by means of a digital transmission. The legislation, which was passed by the House of Representatives on September 27, is expected to be signed into law by President Bush.
10/1/2008
On November 20, 2002, the FCC released a Second Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Second R&O”) in which it adopted new equal employment opportunity rules and policies for broadcasters and for multi-channel video programming distributors (the “EEO Rule”). A complete copy of this EEO Rule as it relates to broadcasters is attached hereto as Attachment A.
9/24/2008
On Tuesday, September 23, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Digital Media Association (DiMA), the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and several songwriters’ associations announced the details of a landmark deal on mechanical royalties for interactive music streaming and limited music downloads.
September 2008
Commercial and noncommercial Radio stations licensed to communities in Iowa and Missouri must file their Biennial Ownership Reports with the FCC by October 1, 2008. Commercial and noncommercial Television stations licensed to communities in the States of Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington and in the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands must also file their Biennial Ownership Reports by the same deadline.
September 2008
The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local public inspection files by October 10, 2008, reflecting information for the months of July, August and September. The FCC’s action adopting the new program report Form 355, which is intended to replace the Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists for full-power and Class A television stations, will not have any effect on this third quarter public file requirement.
9/4/2008
On September 2, 2008, the FCC released a Public Notice Warning Regulatory Fee Filing Payers About Potential “Phishing.”
8/26/2008
The Commission has announced that full payment of all applicable Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008 must be received no later than September 25, 2008.
8/5/2008
In July 2008, the FCC released the latest edition of “The Public and Broadcasting” manual, its second update in three months.
July 2008
This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule.
Comm Law Center