News – Page 162 – Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

$2000 Fine Proposed for Translator That Failed to Inform FCC of Its Primary Station and Seek Approval for Serving Same Area as Another Commonly Programmed Station

By David Oxenford|2019-12-09T10:43:48-06:00December 9th, 2019|Legal News|

With more and more stations relying on FM translators to provide local service, a decision released last week emphasizes the importance of following the rules about the operations of these stations. In the decision, the FCC’s Audio Division proposed to issue a $2,000 fine for an FM translator owner that failed to advise the FCC... Continue Reading…

Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition Honors Julius Knapp

By FHH Law|2019-12-06T10:03:02-06:00December 6th, 2019|Legal News|

The Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) has adopted a resolution commending Julius Knapp of the FCC on his long and distinguished career. Mr. Knapp announced his retirement recently after over 40 years in government service, most recently as the FCC’s Chief Engineer and head of its Office of Engineering and Technology. Mr. Knapp established a...… Continue Reading

Franken FMs – The FCC Asks if It Should Continue to Allow Channel 6 LPTV Stations to Operate as FM Broadcasters

By David Oxenford|2019-12-06T09:57:48-06:00December 6th, 2019|Legal News|

The audio from analog channel 6 TV stations can be heard on the FM dial at 87.7 – which is below the lowest official point on the standard FM band in the US (which ends at 88.1) but is nevertheless tunable on most FM radios. Over the last decade, many LPTV stations on channel 6,... Continue Reading…

Radio Stations Receive Inquiries from GMR on the Production of Interim Licenses – What Is this All About?

By David Oxenford|2019-12-06T09:54:26-06:00December 6th, 2019|Legal News|

In the last week, we have received many inquiries from radio stations that received a notice from attorneys for Global Music Rights (GMR) about document production in GMR’s litigation with the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC). As we have written before (see, for instance, our articles here, here and here), RMLC and GMR have for... Continue Reading…

Is it Time for All-Digital AM Radio?

By Peter Tannenwald|2019-12-05T11:30:05-06:00December 5th, 2019|Legal News|

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has invited comments on whether it should allow AM radio broadcast stations to abandon their analog signals in favor of an all-digital signal format. Preliminary tests have shown that all-digital signals provide improved audio quality and immunity from interference. While the FCC does not propose to require any AM station...… Continue Reading

More on Required Public File Disclosures of Issue Ads – Comment Dates on NAB Petition for Reconsideration and Another Admonition for Inadequate Disclosures

By David Oxenford|2019-12-05T10:23:21-06:00December 5th, 2019|Legal News|

The FCC on Friday issued a Public Notice seeking comment on a petition for reconsideration by the NAB and several broadcast groups seeking review of the FCC’s October decision, deemed a “clarification” of the public file disclosure rules for federal political issue ads requiring that all candidates and issues mentioned in any political issue ad... Continue Reading…

To Be or Not to Be – That is the Channel 6 Analog LPTV Question

By Peter Tannenwald|2019-12-04T16:05:14-06:00December 4th, 2019|Legal News|

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has invited a new round of comments on the fate of analog Low Power Television (“LPTV”) stations that transmit on Channel 6 and target their audio channel to FM radio receivers. Nearly all of the television broadcast industry has already converted to digital operation. There are no more analog full...… Continue Reading

FCC Opens New Filing Window For Displaced Rural LPTV Applicants

By Lee G. Petro|2019-12-02T15:36:47-06:00December 2nd, 2019|Legal News|

The FCC announced the opening of a new filing window to modify pending applications proposing new digital Low Power TV and TV translator service in rural areas. This filing window will permit applicants with long-pending applications who have subsequently been displaced by the Incentive Auction and the repacking process to submit amended proposals, subject to […]

AMFM Act Introduced in Congress to Impose Sound Recording Performance Royalty on Broadcast Stations

By David Oxenford|2019-12-02T12:05:09-06:00December 2nd, 2019|Legal News|

Late last month, the Ask Musicians For Music Act (the “AMFM Act”) was introduced in both the House and Senate. If enacted, the AMFM Act would impose on over-the-air broadcast radio stations a performance royalty for the use of sound recordings in their programming. This is yet another bill proposing that the current royalty that... Continue Reading…