On October 5, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission, as part of its ongoing efforts to revitalize AM radio, released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking(SFNPRM) seeking comment on revised proposals regarding interference protection to Class A AM stations (so-called “clear channel” stations). The SFNPRM is a follow-up to the Commission’s Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking… Continue Reading
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NPRM Proposes Momentous Changes to the Children’s Television Programming Rules
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn July 13, 2018, the FCC released the text of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that, consistent with the draft item released in June, proposes sweeping changes to the current children’s television programming rules. Comments on the FCC’s proposals are due September 24, 2018 and replies are due October 23, 2018. In the NPRM,… Continue Reading
New FDA Warnings Requirement for Cigar Ads – Effective Date Delayed
Posted in Advertising IssuesThe start date for the FDA’s new warnings requirement for cigar ads and labels, set to go into effect on August 10, 2018, has been delayed. Earlier this month, a federal judge issued an injunction that temporarily prohibits the FDA from enforcing its new warnings requirement on cigar and pipe tobacco products. As we wrote… Continue Reading
When the Commission Says Certified Mail, It Means Certified Mail
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, MVPD RegulationAs lawyers, we frequently receive questions along the lines of, “I know the rule says [x], but what if I do [y] instead? That’s consistent with the spirit of the rule, right?” We now have further proof that complying with the “spirit of the rule” may not be good enough. In a recent decision, the… Continue Reading
Elimination of Main Studio Rule Effective on January 8, 2018
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn December 8, 2017, the Order eliminating the FCC’s main studio rule was published in the Federal Register. As a result, the rule change will be effective on January 8, 2018. Requirements associated with the main studio rule, such as having at least two employees (one manager and one staff) present on a full-time basis… Continue Reading
FCC Authorizes Voluntary Transition to ATSC 3.0
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, Broadcast TechnologyOn November 20, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission released a Report & Order (Order) authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Gen TV standard (a/k/a ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. The Order also includes a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that seeks further comment on three specific issues related to the ATSC… Continue Reading
FTC Issues Enforcement Policy Statement Clarifying Verifiable Parental Consent Requirement for Audio Files
Posted in FTCOn October 20, 2017, the Federal Trade Commission issued an Enforcement Policy Statement regarding the applicability of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to the collection and use of children’s voice recordings, such as those collected when a child uses an internet-enabled device to perform a search via voice commands. The Enforcement Statement clarifies… Continue Reading
FCC Draft Order Would Authorize Voluntary Transition to ATSC 3.0
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, Broadcast TechnologyOn October 26, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission released a draft Report & Order (“Draft Order”) that would allow television broadcasters to use the Next Gen TV standard (a/k/a ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis. The Draft Order will be voted on at the Commission’s November 16th Open Meeting. Below, we summarize the key… Continue Reading
FCC Votes to Eliminate Main Studio Rule
Posted in Broadcast RegulationAt its October 24, 2017 Open Meeting, the FCC voted to eliminate its 78-year-old main studio rule, requiring each radio and television station to maintain a main studio located in or near its community of license. Commissioners voted along party lines, with Chairman Pai and Commissioners O’Rielly and Carr voting in favor of eliminating the rule… Continue Reading
Bill Would Expand Reporting and Disclosure Requirements for Online Political Ads
Posted in Advertising Issues, Broadcast Regulation, Political BroadcastingOn October 19, 2017, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced a bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John McCain (R-AZ), aimed at regulating online political advertising. The bill, dubbed the “Honest Ads Act,” would require online platforms to identify the purchasers of certain political ads, maintain a “public file” containing specific information… Continue Reading
Effective Date Announced for Recordkeeping Requirements for Non-CPB NCEs Conducting Third Party Fundraising
Posted in Broadcast RegulationEffective November 13, 2017, NCE stations must comply with the recordkeeping requirements established by the new rule that allows them to conduct limited on-air fundraising activities that interrupt regular programming to benefit third-party non-profit organizations. Specifically, non-CPB NCE stations that conduct third-party fundraising must place in their public files, on a quarterly basis, the following… Continue Reading
Reminder: 2017 Must-Carry and Retransmission Consent Elections
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn or before October 1, 2017, each full-power commercial television station must make an election between must carry and retransmission consent. In addition, although noncommercial television stations do not have retransmission consent rights, they must send carriage notices to DBS (and other satellite operators) on or before October 1, 2017 in order to obtain (or maintain) carriage on… Continue Reading
FCC Releases Orders Eliminating FRN/RUFRN Requirement for NCEs and Allowing NCEs More Flexibility to Conduct Third Party Fundraising
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn April 20, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission released the final text of two items adopted at the Commission’s April Open Meeting that reduce regulatory burdens on noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcasters. The first item is an Order on Reconsideration (Recon Order) that allows NCE filers to utilize so-called “Special Use” FRNs (SUFRNs) when filling out… Continue Reading
FCC Releases Draft Orders that Would Eliminate FRN/RUFRN Requirement for NCEs and Allow NCEs More Flexibility to Conduct Third Party Fundraising
Posted in Broadcast Attribution, Broadcast RegulationOn March 30, 2017, the FCC or Commission released two draft items that, if adopted at the Commission’s April Open Meeting, would reduce regulatory burdens on noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcasters. FCC Form 323-E and Permissive Use of SUFRNs The first item is a draft Order on Reconsideration (Draft Recon Order) that would roll-back a requirement… Continue Reading
Commission Releases Circulation Version of ATSC 3.0 NPRM
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, Broadcast TechnologyOn February 2, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission released the proposed text of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Circulation NPRM) in the Next Gen TV (a/k/a ATSC 3.0) proceeding in which the agency proposes to authorize television broadcasters to use the Next Gen TV transmission standard on a voluntary, market-driven basis, while continuing to deliver… Continue Reading
FCC Eliminates Public File Requirement for Letters/Emails from the Public
Posted in Broadcast AttributionOn January 31, 2017, the newly Republican-majority Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to eliminate the requirement that commercial TV and radio stations retain in their public files copies of letters and emails from the public. (Non-commercial educational broadcasters are not required to do so.) Chairman Pai noted in a Statement accompanying the Report and Order… Continue Reading
FCC Commissioners Pai and O’Rielly Rebuke NCE FRN Decision
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn January 4, 2017, the FCC’s two Republican Commissioners, Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly, issued a scathing statement against the Media Bureau’s decision, issued that same day, to deny petitions for reconsideration regarding FCC Registration Number (FRN) reporting requirements for non-commercial educational (NCE) broadcasters. Those requirements, imposed in January 2016 (the 2016 Order), oblige board… Continue Reading
FCC Suspends Biennial Ownership Reports for NCE Stations with February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1, or October 1 Filing Deadlines
Posted in Broadcast RegulationThe FCC has suspended the existing 2017 filing deadlines for non-commercial educational (NCE) stations’ biennial ownership reports. As a result, NCE licensees with biennial report filing deadlines on February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1, or October 1, 2017 are not required to file the existing form 323-E by those deadlines. Instead, NCE licensees will… Continue Reading
FCC Considers Prohibiting Unconditional MFNs and Unreasonable ADMs
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, MVPD RegulationAt its September 29, 2016 open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in which it proposes rules prohibiting “certain practices some multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) use in their negotiations for carriage of video programming” that the Commission believes “may impede competition, diversity, and innovation in… Continue Reading
The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same… FCC Tweaks Broadcast Ownership Rules in 2014 Quadrennial Review Order
Posted in Broadcast RegulationOn August 25, 2016, the FCC released the text of a Second Report & Order that concludes both its 2010 and 2014 “quadrennial review” proceedings (the “2016 Order”). The Commission is required by statute to review its rules governing the ownership of broadcast radio and television stations every four years to determine whether they “are… Continue Reading
New Certification Requirement for TV Closed Captioning Not Yet Effective
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, CaptioningOn Tuesday, the FCC’s new TV closed captioning quality rules, which we discussed in detail here, were published in the Federal Register. Fed Reg publication often signals that new rules are effective, or will be soon. Such is not the case for the video programmer registration and captioning certification requirements, which are subject to approval… Continue Reading
Reminder: EAS-Related Registration and Filing Deadline
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, Broadcast TechnologyOn Friday, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a Public Notice reminding EAS Participants of mandatory filing deadlines related to an up-coming nationwide EAS test. Specifically, EAS Participants must register with the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) and file Form One on or before August 26, 2016. EAS Participants have until September… Continue Reading
New E-Cig Advertising Rules To Go Into Effect on August 8, 2016
Posted in Advertising IssuesOn August 8, 2016, new rules issued by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) will go into effect concerning radio, television and online advertisements for electronic cigarettes (“e-cigs”) and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (including e-hookah, vape pens, advanced refillable personal vaporizers, and electronic pipes), regular size or large cigars, pipe tobacco, and certain other… Continue Reading
FCC Proposes Expanding Video Description Requirements
Posted in Broadcast Regulation, MVPD RegulationUPDATE: The NPRM has been published in the Federal Register. Comments are due on June 27, 2016; Reply Comments are due July 26, 2016. On April 1, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on whether to expand its video description requirements to cover additional networks, to increase… Continue Reading