David Oxenford, Author at Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

Two Million Dollar Fine for Pirate Radio – Don’t Cross the Commission Again After You’ve Been Caught Once, Especially as More Enforcement Appears to be on the Way

By David Oxenford|2023-03-17T11:29:33-05:00March 17th, 2023|Legal News|

This week, the FCC released two Notices of Apparent Liability proposing to impose big fines on two pirate radio operators. Using the enforcement tools – particularly the higher fines – authorized by the PIRATE Act passed by Congress in 2020, the FCC proposed a to impose a fine of $2,316,034 on one alleged operator of... Continue Reading…

Gigi Sohn Withdraws from Consideration for Open Seat as FCC Commissioner – What that Means for Broadcast Regulation

By David Oxenford|2023-03-08T09:19:39-06:00March 8th, 2023|Legal News|

Yesterday’s big news across the broadcast press was that Gigi Sohn, who had for well over a year been the nominee of the Biden administration to fill the open seat at the FCC, withdrew her name from consideration. This may have been in reaction to circulated stories that there were several Democratic Senators who still... Continue Reading…

Parties to TEGNA Deal Seek Full Commission Review of Hearing Designation Order – Looking at the Process They are Trying to Avoid

By David Oxenford|2023-03-07T11:04:32-06:00March 7th, 2023|Legal News|

Last week, broadcasters and broadcast journalists were abuzz with discussions of the FCC’s Media Bureau issuing a hearing designation order referring to an Administrative Law Judge questions about the proposed acquisition of the TEGNA broadcast stations by Standard General Broadcasting. This week brings news that the parties have filed a Motion asking that the Judge... Continue Reading…

Regulatory Bits and Pieces – ETRS Form One and Delayed Public File Uploads Due by February 28, Updated EAS Handbook Required for All Stations

By David Oxenford|2023-02-23T11:44:38-06:00February 23rd, 2023|Legal News|

With a number of upcoming regulatory deadlines approaching, we thought that this would be a good time to remind broadcasters of regulatory obligations that they may have, with the passage of time, forgotten. One of those obligations is the requirement to file EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) Form One by February 28, 2023 – next... Continue Reading…

Direct from The FCC – What’s on the Agenda for Broadcast Regulation?

By David Oxenford|2023-02-22T09:44:01-06:00February 22nd, 2023|Legal News|

Early this year, we provided our look into the crystal ball to see what was on the FCC’s agenda for broadcasters in the coming year. Yesterday, the FCC published in the Federal Register its own list – its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda – listing an inventory of the matters at the FCC awaiting Commission action. The... Continue Reading…

$504,000 Proposed Fine for Improper Use of EAS Tones – How Little Things Can Add Up to Big FCC Penalties

By David Oxenford|2023-02-15T09:16:15-06:00February 15th, 2023|Legal News|

The recent $504,000 fine proposed to be levied on Fox for the use of simulated EAS tones in an NFL football promotion (see FCC’s Notice of Apparent Liability here) is obviously a message to broadcasters to remember that EAS tones can only be used for real alerts or authorized tests of the system – and... Continue Reading…

5 Questions on the FCC’s EEO Obligations for Broadcasters

By David Oxenford|2023-02-01T09:13:18-06:00February 1st, 2023|Legal News|

The Indiana Broadcasters Association recently asked me five questions to highlight the requirements of the FCC’s EEO rules. As these questions are applicable to all broadcasters, we are posting my response here. My answers are below. Beyond the general requirement that all broadcasters (and all other businesses) avoid discrimination in hiring, promotion, and all other... Continue Reading…

FCC Extends End of January Deadlines for LMS and Online Public File Documents Due to Filing System Technical Issues

By David Oxenford|2023-01-28T10:40:04-06:00January 28th, 2023|Legal News|

The FCC yesterday issued a Public Notice, extending the deadlines for all filings that were due to be made next week in the FCC’s LMS or online public file systems. The new deadline is February 28, 2023. While we don’t usually post articles on this blog on Saturday, given that there may be broadcasters around... Continue Reading…

CRB Releases Proposed ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR Rates for Noncommercial Broadcasters

By David Oxenford|2023-01-27T10:55:38-06:00January 27th, 2023|Legal News|

The Copyright Royalty Board yesterday published in the Federal Register the proposed rates for the public performance of musical compositions by noncommercial broadcasters for the period 2023 through 2027. The rates reflect settlements between ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR with various organizations representing noncommercial broadcasters. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting agreed to one set of rates paid to cover... Continue Reading…

About David Oxenford