In Washington DC this week, many in the communications world are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Five years ago, we noted the changes that the Act made in the broadcast regulatory world – changes that are still being debated 20 years later. To show how little things… Continue Reading
Starting March 31, Form 398 will be filed through the Licensing and Management System portal Attention, all you Class A and commercial TV licensees. The Commission has announced that the next time you go to file a quarterly Children’s Programming Report (that would be Form 398), you’ll have to do it through the work-in-progress Licensing … Continue Reading
In an order released last month which has not received much attention, the FCC clarified its requirements for the filing of Biennial Ownership Reports. Much of the order deals with fixes to the report itself that will, for the most part, make the completion of the report administratively easier in terms of the physical data… Continue Reading
In a decision released earlier this week, the FCC dismissed an application for a new noncommercial FM station based on a change in the majority of the applicant’s board of directors within a one-year period after the application was filed. The change was deemed a major change in ownership, which the FCC rules says requires… Continue Reading
Upcoming tests seek to predict whether Wi-Fi can survive cell companies’ using its frequency bands. (Like it says in that disclaimer over to the right, this post reflects the opinions of its author – not his law firm, its other lawyers, or its clients.) Wi-Fi may be one of the best ideas anybody ever had. … Continue Reading
It’s that time of year again – time for our annual reminder to most (but not necessarily all) telecommunications carriers and interconnected VoIP providers that your CPNI certifications are due by March 1, 2016. As described by the Enforcement Bureau, CPNI – Customer Proprietary Network Information to the uninitiated – includes “some of the most … Continue Reading
Last week, we wrote about the FCC’s decision to require that radio stations move their public inspection files online. Stations with 5 or more full-time employees that are located in Top 50 markets need to make the transition to the online file later this year once the FCC gets its new rules approved by the… Continue Reading
As we reported just a couple of weeks ago, the last element of the AM Revitalization rulemaking that had not yet taken effect was Section 73.1560 (along with the related Form 338, a/k/a the AM Station Modulation Dependent Carrier Level (MDCL) Notification Form), which still awaited OMB approval. No longer. The FCC has announced that … Continue Reading
It’s February, and we’re back to the normal cycle of FCC filings. Due to be placed in the public files of radio and TV stations with 5 or more full-time employees are EEO Public Inspection File Reports for radio and TV stations in the following states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York,… Continue Reading