1/6/2009
The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by January 10, 2009, reflecting programming aired during the months of October, November and December 2008.
January 2009
On December 23, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing creation of a new replacement digital television translator service. This service will permit full-power television stations to continue to provide service to viewers who have lost or will lose service as a result of a station’s digital transition. In the NPRM, the FCC announced that it will begin accepting applications in the coming days, although processing of these applications will be withheld pending the outcome of the proceeding. In the interim, the FCC proposed that stations could request Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to operate replacement television translator facilities during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding.
December 2008
On December 24, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the recently enacted Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness (SAFER) Act. The SAFER Act directs the Commission to develop a “nightlight” program to permit stations to continue to broadcast analog signals for 30 days after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition deadline for the limited purpose of providing public safety and digital television (“DTV”) transition information. The Notice describes the FCC’s framework for implementing the nightlight program and establishes an expedited public comment period. The notice was published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2008, thereby establishing Monday, January 5, 2009 as the deadline for comments, and Thursday, January 8 as the deadline for reply comments.
December 2008
On December 24, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement the recently enacted Short-Term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness (SAFER) Act. The SAFER Act directs the Commission to develop a “nightlight” program to permit stations to continue to broadcast analog signals for 30 days after the February 17, 2009 DTV transition deadline for the limited purpose of providing public safety and digital television (“DTV”) transition information. The Notice describes the FCC’s framework for implementing the nightlight program and establishes an expedited public comment period. The notice was published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2008, thereby establishing Monday, January 5, 2009 as the deadline for comments, and Thursday, January 8 as the deadline for reply comments.
December 2008
This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule.
December 2008
This Advisory is designed to aid commercial, as well as noncommercial educational, radio and television station broadcasters in complying with the FCC’s public inspection file rules. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 73.3526 and 73.3527. This Advisory tracks the public access, content, retention and organizational requirements of those regulations, as well as summarizes the public information requirements mandated by passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
November 2008
Commercial and noncommercial Radio stations licensed to communities in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota must file their Biennial Ownership Reports with the FCC by December 1, 2008. Commercial and noncommercial Television stations licensed to communities in the States of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont must also file their Biennial Ownership Reports by the same deadline.
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.
November 2008
All commercial and noncommercial educational digital television broadcast station licensees and permittees must file FCC Form 317 to report whether their stations provided ancillary or supplemental services at any time during the twelve-month period ending on the preceding September 30. The FCC Form 317 is due by December 1, 2008. Electronic filing of FCC Form 317 is mandatory. Paper versions will not be accepted for filing unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver.
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.
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