On March 30th, the FCC launched a proposed rulemaking to implement the Low Power Protection Act (LPPA) which became effective on January 5, 2023. The Act provides a means by which existing low power television stations can qualify for and apply for Class-A station status. Congress required the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to implement […]
Read More →On March 6, 2023, the FCC published the FY 2023 Media Bureau Filing Guide, which reflects the increase in filing fees (and some new filing fees) that became effective March 2, 2023. These filing fees will auto-populate into feeable applications during the preparation process in LMS. In the draft phase of preparation, the fee should […]
Read More →The FCC issued heavy fines against two pirate radio operators, one in New York and the other in Oregon. These are the first proposed fines under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act). The New York pirate operator has fines of over $2.3 million, while the Oregon pirate operator has an $80,000 […]
Read More →The FCC has issued a new 2023 EAS Operating Handbook. A copy (with the blanks for your station specific information filled in) is to be maintained at normal duty positions or EAS Equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty, and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating […]
Read More →The Media Bureau used to require broadcasters that met certain employee thresholds to file the Form 397 Mid-Term EEO Report. In 2019, the FCC eliminated the filing requirement, but indicated that its staff would still conduct “reviews using publicly available information” for EEO compliance by those radio station employment units with 11 or more full-timers, […]
Read More →Earlier this month when it became clear that Gigi Sohn’s nomination to be the third Democratically appointed FCC commissioner did not have enough votes in the Senate, she formally withdrew her nomination. In the immediate aftermath of that action, the White House did not have any prospective names as potential new nominees. Further, we have […]
Read More →January 10, 2023 (Extended to February 28, 2023) TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): deadline to complete and upload to online public file the 4th Quarter 2022 issues/program lists and any foreign sponsorship identification reports. Class A TV Stations Only: deadline to complete and post to your online public file the […]
Read More →Stations that are EAS participants have had two months to complete and submit EAS Form One in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS). Today, February 28, 2023, is the deadline for completing those submissions. We have heard anecdotally of some access or ETRS stability issues for these filings, so if you have not yet […]
Read More →The FCC has issued a new 2023 EAS Operating Handbook. A copy (with the blanks for your station’s specific information filled in) is to be maintained at normal duty positions or EAS Equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty, and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating […]
Read More →The FCC recently assessed a $13,500 monetary forfeiture to the owner of nine low power television stations in Utah that filed renewal applications for the stations 71 days later than the required deadline. Though the base forfeiture for late-filed renewals is $3,000 per station, the FCC lowered the amount per station to $1500 because the […]
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