News – Page 290 – Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

The Location of the Public Inspection File of a College Radio Station When the Station’s Main Studio is in a Building Not Open to the General Public Addressed in FCC Consent Decree

By David Oxenford|2015-08-25T09:36:57-05:00August 25th, 2015|Legal News|

How to deal with a noncommercial radio station’s public inspection file when the station is licensed to a college and has a main studio in a restricted-access student residence hall is a question that I have received repeatedly when I have conducted sessions on FCC rules at noncommercial broadcasters’ conventions and meetings. In a consent… Continue Reading

New Course Listing at U of FCC: Ownership Reports 101 – Re-intro to Form 323

By Steve Lovelady|2015-08-23T13:55:13-05:00August 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

Media Bureau announces 90-minute crash course in advance of biennial ritual. Important reminder: Biennial Ownership Reports (FCC Form 323) for commercial radio and TV (including Class A and LPTV licensees) are due this fall. We’ve already seen the first sign of this, with the Media Bureau announcing the traditional extension of the filing deadline. (Reports … Continue Reading

Broadcasters Now in the Sights of Pre-1972 Performance Right Holders

By Kevin Goldberg|2015-08-23T11:52:58-05:00August 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

Expanding “Flo and Eddie” theory beyond Sirius XM and Pandora, suits seek state-created performance rights royalties from broadcasters. For the last year or so I’ve reported on efforts being made by some recording artists and record labels to assert performance right interests in recordings made prior to February, 1972. (Why February, 1972? Take a minute … Continue Reading

FCC to Rest of World: Take an Extra Long Labor Day Weekend … and Keep Your Fingers Crossed

By Harry Cole|2015-08-20T22:12:00-05:00August 20th, 2015|Legal News|

Commission extends due dates in advance of upgrade of all electronic filing systems and electronic dockets. If you’ve got something due to be filed at the FCC between September 2-8, 2015, you just got an extension … to September 9. Happy Labor Day! For this you can thank the Commission’s IT gurus, who are going … Continue Reading

Wireless Mics: The Lay of the Post-Incentive Auction Land Takes Shape

By Laura Stefani|2015-08-19T09:02:50-05:00August 19th, 2015|Legal News|

Wireless mic users must prepare to dance a spectrum hokey-pokey to adjust to spectrum reductions, new operating rules The Pope will visit the U.S. in late September, which is already prompting extensive preparations in many quarters. Among those readying themselves: news operations, professional wireless microphone operators and wireless mic frequency planners in several major cities … Continue Reading

The Fourth Law of Robotics: Don’t Miss That Spot Over There

By Mitchell Lazarus|2015-08-16T19:39:28-05:00August 16th, 2015|Legal News|

Waiver permits Roomba manufacturer to market new self-guided lawn mower for residential use. The kid down the street who mows your lawn may have to change her business model. Automation is coming. The Roomba automatic floor cleaner, a favorite of cats everywhere, is heading outdoors. iRobot Corporation, maker of the Roomba (and the best name … Continue Reading

Proposal Asks that Low Power FM Stations Be Given Primary Status, and Allowed to Operate Commercially

By David Oxenford|2015-08-14T10:12:26-05:00August 14th, 2015|Legal News|

The FCC has asked for comments on a rulemaking proposal that would fundamentally change the way in which LPFM stations operate – proposing that they be allowed to take commercial messages (as opposed to the current limit the they operate noncommercially, only taking underwriting announcements and other noncommercial sponsorships), allowing them to be owned by… Continue Reading

Update: New Deadlines Set for Comments on Proposed Reservation of UHF Channel Space for Unlicensed Use, Wireless Mics

By FHH Law|2015-08-13T12:30:38-05:00August 13th, 2015|Legal News|

On again, off again, back on again. That’s story with the comment deadlines for the FCC’s proposal to preserve vacant UHF TV channel space in every geographic area of the country for use by unlicensed TV white space devices and wireless microphones. When that proceeding was kicked off, comments were due pronto. But then the … Continue Reading

FCC Chairman Details Issues Coming Soon for Broadcasters – Review of Retransmission Consent, Network Nonduplication, AM Improvements, and Contest Rules

By David Oxenford|2015-08-13T11:45:58-05:00August 13th, 2015|Legal News|

In an article posted on the FCC’s blog yesterday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler listed four actions that would soon be coming out of the FCC to address broadcast issues. For TV, these include looking at what constitutes “good faith negotiations” in the retransmission consent context, and whether to do away with the FCC’s network nonduplication… Continue Reading