The Sunlight Foundation, along with Common Cause and the Campaign Legal Center, have filed with the FCC complaints against 18 TV stations claiming that these stations violated the FCC’s sponsorship identification rules by not identifying former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg as the true sponsor of issue ads bought by the Independence USA political… Continue Reading
The FCC this week issued a Public Notice announcing that the FAA has issued a new Advisory for the marking and lighting of new or altered communications towers – highlighting one change that towers above 350 feet above ground will need to have flashing lights, rather than “L-810 steady burning side lights” which were determined… Continue Reading
Some things to think about before you commit to buying that whiz-bang interconnected device Much has been made about the “Internet of Things” this year, in both the trade press and the popular media. As we’re placing our Amazon and Best Buy orders for holiday gifts, debating the merits of iOS vs. Android, i3 or … Continue Reading
The rule says to take precautions, but not what precautions to take. The licensee says it took precautions, but they didn’t work. The Enforcement Bureau says, “$25,000, please”. Suppose the rules governing operation on shared two-way channels are unspecific, mostly saying operators must take reasonable precautions to avoid interference. The rules don’t actually prohibit interference; … Continue Reading
The US District Court in Washington DC last week decided that FilmOn X could not rely on the compulsory license of Section 111 of the Copyright Act to retransmit the signal of over-the-air television stations to consumers over the Internet. The compulsory license allows a system to rebroadcast copyrighted material without getting express permission from… Continue Reading
If you’ve got three hours to kill (and who doesn’t?), and you don’t feel like spending $15 for a movie (and who does?), we have a suggestion. Curl up next to your computer (or laptop, or tablet or smartphone, or other mode of Internet access) and listen to the oral argument in the Net Neutrality … Continue Reading
Our articles routinely contain links to FCC decisions, and otherwise refer to information on the FCC’s website. Next Thursday, December 10, the FCC will be unveiling a new and improved site – a prototype of which is available here. The FCC will begin revamping the site at 8 PM Eastern on December 9, so plan… Continue Reading
With the January 12 deadline for the Form 177 incentive auction filings by broadcasters coming ever closer, there is more information from the FCC providing guidance to broadcasters on their participation in the process. The folks at the FCC running the auction posted an article on the FCC blog yesterday, promising an online tutorial available… Continue Reading
With the broadcast and cable news (and the monologs of TV talk show hosts) already dominated by discussions of the 2016 elections, broadcasters thoughts may be turning to that election and the expected flood of money that may come into the political process. We are, after all, only two months away from the first ballots in… Continue Reading