Broadcaster’s Legal Considerations for Early Season Political Ads

By |2023-09-22T10:06:47-05:00September 22nd, 2023|Legal News|

With the 2024 election looming, broadcasters are already receiving requests for political advertising time, from PACs and other issue groups, and from both established candidates and newcomers eager to make an early splash to enhance their public standing.  Some of these potential buyers advance unique policy positions and, sometimes, unusual ad buying strategies.  How are... Continue Reading…

2023 Third Quarter Issues/Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

By |2023-09-18T16:47:57-05:00September 18th, 2023|Legal News|

The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by October 10, 2023, reflecting information for the months of July, August, and September 2023. Content of the Quarterly List The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to significant community needs, issues, and […]

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: September 11-September 15, 2023

By |2023-09-17T07:51:44-05:00September 17th, 2023|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. This coming week, Annual Regulatory Fees must be paid by commercial broadcast stations through the FCC’s CORES database by 11:59... Continue Reading…

Reminder: September 15 Deadline for Updating ETRS Form One in Preparation for Nationwide EAS Test, and an FCC Notice on the Accessibility of EAS Messages

By |2023-09-11T11:02:34-05:00September 11th, 2023|Legal News|

On the anniversary of September 11, it seems appropriate to highlight the upcoming October 4 Nationwide Test of the EAS system.  While EAS was not activated during the September 11 emergency, the events of that date have provided much impetus for federal emergency authorities to strengthen the EAS system.  Part of that effort has been... Continue Reading…

And Then There Were Five – Senate Approves Anna Gomez as Fifth FCC Commissioner – What Broadcast Issues Could a Full FCC Consider? 

By |2023-09-08T10:41:35-05:00September 8th, 2023|Legal News|

The Senate this week approved Anna Gomez for the open Democratic FCC seat that has been vacant since the start of the Biden Administration.  As we wrote in May when the President first nominated her, Gomez is experienced in government circles, having worked at NTIA (a Department of Commerce agency dealing with federal spectrum use... Continue Reading…

FCC Annual Regulatory Fees are Due September 20 – Flurry of FCC Notices and Fact Sheets Detailing Payment Procedures

By |2023-08-29T11:04:10-05:00August 29th, 2023|Legal News|

The FCC issued its Public Notice announcing that Annual Regulatory Fees must be paid by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on September 20, 2023.  As we noted two weeks ago, the FCC earlier this month released its Report and Order setting the amount of the annual regulatory fees that broadcasters must pay, but the Commission had not, until yesterday,... Continue Reading…

FCC Sets September 20 Payment Deadline for Reduced Radio and TV Regulatory Fees

By |2023-08-28T20:50:07-05:00August 28th, 2023|Legal News|

Today the Federal Communications Commission released its annual Public Notice setting the deadline for paying annual regulatory fees.  Payments can be made via the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES) beginning today through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 20, 2023. In addition to marking this deadline on their calendars, broadcasters should note with some satisfaction […]

Go to Top