News – Page 39 – Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

FCC Opens Rulemaking Proceeding to Implement the Low Power Protection Act’s Window for Eligible LPTVs to Apply for Conversion to Class A Designation

By Mark Malonzo|2023-04-03T10:59:52-05:00April 3rd, 2023|Legal News|

On March 30, 2023, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on the following proposed rules for a one-year filing window for eligible LPTV stations to apply for conversion to Class A designation: Eligibility Requirements The Commission proposes three eligibility requirements that LPTV stations must meet to apply for conversion to...… Continue Reading

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 27 to March 31, 2023

By David Oxenford and Robert Primosch|2023-04-02T09:37:29-05:00April 2nd, 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. Continue Reading…

April Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – License Renewals, EEO Reports, Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Rulemaking Comments Including FTC Comments on Noncompete Agreements, and More

By David Oxenford and Robert Primosch|2023-03-30T08:15:58-05:00March 30th, 2023|Legal News|

April brings to an end the four-year license renewal cycle that began in 2019 with the filing of renewals by radio stations in the Washington DC area. Our monthly updates, like this one, will thus not be highlighting license renewal dates again until mid-2027. But there are always other regulatory dates which broadcasters need to... Continue Reading…

Looking at the Some of the Policy Issues for Media and Music Companies From the Expanding Use of Artificial Intelligence

By David Oxenford|2023-03-29T08:48:55-05:00March 29th, 2023|Legal News|

Artificial intelligence has been the buzzword of the last few months. Since the public release of ChatGPT, seemingly every tech company has either announced a new AI program or some use for AI that will compete with activities currently performed by real people. While AI poses all sorts of questions for society and issues for... Continue Reading…

Broadcasters Beware – April Fools Day Can Trigger FCC Concerns

By David Oxenford|2023-03-28T09:31:00-05:00March 28th, 2023|Legal News|

Every year at about this time, we worry that radio stations may be tempted to run some big April Fools’ Day stunt. But, with the country seemingly on edge because of natural and human emergencies in the news almost every day, a prank that may seem funny to some could trigger concerns with others. As we... Continue Reading…

FCC Enforcement Monitor March 2023

By Scott R. Flick, Elizabeth Craig and Adam J. Sandler|2023-03-27T09:44:49-05:00March 27th, 2023|Legal News|

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: Repeated Failure to Pay Annual Regulatory Fees Puts Texas Station License in Jeopardy FCC Proposes First-Ever PIRATE Act Fines, Including $2 Million-Plus Statutory Maximum […]

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: March 20 to March 25, 2023

By David Oxenford and Robert Primosch|2023-03-26T10:19:59-05:00March 26th, 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. Continue Reading…

FCC’s Spectrum Auction Authority Expires

By Mark Malonzo|2023-03-24T15:43:50-05:00March 24th, 2023|Legal News|

On March 9, 2023, the FCC’s spectrum auction authority expired for the first time since it was initially granted in 1993. The authority enabled the FCC to auction spectrum when it received conflicting applications for a frequency in the wireless or broadcast services. Under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the FCC’s spectrum auction authority...… Continue Reading

Are Issue Ads By Non-Candidate Groups Entitled to Lowest Unit Rates Just Because a Candidate Approves the Ad? The FCC Is Asked for Its Opinion

By David Oxenford|2023-03-22T10:29:18-05:00March 22nd, 2023|Legal News|

In the 45 days before a political primary and the 60 days before a general election, ads by political candidates (federal, state, or local) airing on a broadcast station or inserted by a local cable system into the programming it transmits to the public are entitled to “lowest unit rates” (LUR). That means that candidates... Continue Reading…