David Oxenford, Author at Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

June 2020 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: License Renewals, EEO Reports, Broadcast Internet Consideration, and Comments on Significant Viewing, DTS, White Spaces, Regulatory Fees, and Video Description

By David Oxenford|2020-05-28T10:54:56-05:00May 28th, 2020|Legal News|

With many people now entering their third month of complying with stay-at-home orders and social distancing and summer being right around the corner, it would be easy for broadcasters to look past their regulatory obligations to focus on the day when they can ramp up operations and profits. As you can read below, however, June... Continue Reading…

Reminder: PSAs Featuring Candidates Can Give Rise to Equal Time and Public File Obligations

By David Oxenford|2020-05-26T10:46:00-05:00May 26th, 2020|Legal News|

In recent weeks, with so many government officials looking to get messages out about the coronavirus pandemic, we have received many questions about issues that arise when political candidates appear on public service-type announcements – either free PSAs provided by the station or paid spots purchased by some governmental entity. While such announcements can be... Continue Reading…

This Week at the FCC: May 16, 2020 to May 22, 2020

By David Oxenford|2020-05-24T11:00:35-05:00May 24th, 2020|Legal News|

Here are some of the FCC regulatory and legal actions of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC released the agenda for its June 9 Open Meeting announcing that it will consider an... Continue Reading…

Comments Dates Set on Proposals to Expand Video Description Requirements of TV Stations and MVPDs

By David Oxenford|2020-05-22T11:12:56-05:00May 22nd, 2020|Legal News|

The FCC currently requires what they now call “video description” by commercial television broadcast stations that are affiliated with one of the top four commercial television broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC) and located in the top 60 television markets. Video description is also required of MVPDs with 50,000 or more subscribers passing through... Continue Reading…

FCC to Consider Exemption of TV Broadcast Internet Services from Broadcast Ownership Rules and Regulations for ATSC 3.0 Non-Broadcast Services

By David Oxenford|2020-05-21T11:10:49-05:00May 21st, 2020|Legal News|

The transition to ATSC 3.0, the next generation of television transmission, is underway as authorized by the Commission in 2017 (see our post here and our posts here, here and here on subsequent actions making that order effective and allowing TV stations to file to convert to the new standard). This week, the FCC released... Continue Reading…

S-Town Podcast Lawsuit Settled – Reminder on Getting Releases from Podcast Subjects

By David Oxenford|2020-05-20T10:25:06-05:00May 20th, 2020|Legal News|

Rights of publicity and privacy can present issues for podcasters and other media companies who feature people in their productions. Almost two years ago, we wrote about the lawsuit brought by the surviving family members of the character who was central to the S-Town podcast. The podcast focused much of its attention on the life... Continue Reading…

Looking at Changes to the FCC’s Public Notice Requirements for Broadcast Applications

By David Oxenford|2020-05-19T10:55:47-05:00May 19th, 2020|Legal News|

When a broadcaster files certain types of applications with the FCC, the public must be informed. Last week, the FCC issued an Order which will change the rules regarding the public notice that must be given – consolidating what was a confusing process with different language and timing for notice about different types of applications... Continue Reading…

The Law of Defamation and Political Advertising Argued in Trump Suit Against Wisconsin TV Station

By David Oxenford|2020-05-18T10:37:49-05:00May 18th, 2020|Legal News|

Political “issue advertising” – advertising run by groups like PACs and political parties rather than a candidate’s authorized campaign committees – is a rough and tumble world in which broadcasters can often find themselves in the middle. We’ve written extensively (here, here and here) about how issue advertising can impose additional public file obligations on... Continue Reading…

Comments Due June 12 on Proposal to Expand the Use of Distributed Transmission Systems by TV Stations Operating with ATSC 3.0 Transmission Systems – What is Being Asked?

By David Oxenford|2020-05-13T12:19:38-05:00May 13th, 2020|Legal News|

The FCC’s proposal to expand the use of Distributed Transmission Systems by television stations operating with the new ATSC 3.0 transmission system was published in the Federal Register today (here). That publication announces that the comment deadlines on the FCC’s DTS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are due by Friday, June 12, 2020, and reply comments... Continue Reading…

About David Oxenford