Lightning Strikes Transmitter Causing Severe Damage
During a thunderstorm earlier this month, lightning struck the transmitter building of Harbert Hills Academy’s radio station, WDNX, in Savannah, TN, resulting in a fire that [...]
FCC Releases Final Regulatory Fees With Some Relief for Broadcasters
The FCC has released its finalized schedule of annual Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2019, and thanks to the collective efforts of all 50 State Broadcasters Associations and the National Association of Broadcasters, there is some good news for radio stations and satellite television stations. But before we get to that, some information for you […]
Correction: FCC Regulatory Fees Due September 24 – And You Can Start Paying Now
The FCC issued a Public Notice today, announcing that its regulatory fee filing system was now taking payments – and that payments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, on September 24. Yesterday, we indicated that the fees were due on September 30. We based that on a sentence in the FCC’s Order that said... Continue Reading…
Revised Children’s TV Rules Effective in Part Soon – Current Paperwork Requirements Still in Place, Further Comments Requested
As we previously reported, many of the revised children’s TV rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or the “Commission”) in July are to go into effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, and we now know what that effective date will be: September 16, 2019. That effective date will apply to...… Continue Reading
2019 FCC Regulatory Fees to be Due By September 30 – Commission Issues Fee Order
The FCC on Tuesday released its Report and Order on regulatory fees. The Order says that the fees will be due by September 30. The FCC should soon issue additional guidance about the exact filing dates and procedures. In the Order, the FCC did reduce the fees for radio somewhat from those proposed in their... Continue Reading…
When a Broadcast Advertiser Becomes A Political Candidate, What is a Station to Do?
In many states, we are in election season for local offices, which has resulted in a question that has come up repeatedly in the last few weeks about local candidates – usually running for state or municipal offices – who appear in advertisements for local businesses that they own or manage. Often times, these individuals... Continue Reading…
Upcoming FCC Broadcast and Telecom Deadlines for September – November
Broadcast Deadlines: September ??, 2019: Annual Regulatory Fees – On a date not yet determined but certainly before September 30, 2019, annual regulatory fees will be due. These will be due and payable for Fiscal Year 2019, and will be based upon a licensee’s/permittee’s holdings on October 1, 2018, plus anything that might have been...… Continue Reading
September Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Reg Fees, Children’s TV Rule Changes, EEO Comments, EAS Reports, License Renewal Obligations and More
With the summer winding down, you can expect that come September, like everywhere else, Washington will leap back to life and the government will try to accomplish what they can before the end of the year. That will no doubt mean some regulatory actions (and potentially court actions and legislative actions) affecting broadcasters this Fall,... Continue Reading…