Stay A Lot More Than Six Feet From The NFL’s Trademarks!  2021 Update on Super Bowl Advertising and Promotions

By |2021-01-25T07:00:34-06:00January 25th, 2021|Legal News|

For the last five years, I have posted guidelines about engaging in or accepting advertising or promotions that directly or indirectly reference the Super Bowl without a license from the NFL.  As hard as it may be to believe, the NFL has almost made its way this season to another championship game, so here is... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 16, 2021 to January 22, 2021

By |2021-01-23T22:44:40-06:00January 23rd, 2021|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. President Joe Biden named Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting Chair of the FCC, where she will set the agenda for the... Continue Reading…

DOJ Ends its Review of ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees – For Now…What Does it Mean?

By |2021-01-20T11:08:42-06:00January 20th, 2021|Legal News|

In 2019, the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice began a review of the court-administered antitrust consent decrees that have bound ASCAP and BMI since the 1940s.  We wrote about the issues in their review here.  The formal review of these decrees began as part of the DOJ’s broader review of its antitrust... Continue Reading…

DOJ Ends its Review of ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees – For Now…What Does it Mean?

By |2021-01-20T11:08:42-06:00January 20th, 2021|Legal News|

In 2019, the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice began a review of the court-administered antitrust consent decrees that have bound ASCAP and BMI since the 1940s.  We wrote about the issues in their review here.  The formal review of these decrees began as part of the DOJ’s broader review of its antitrust... Continue Reading…

This Week in Broadcast Regulation: January 9, 2021 to January 15, 2021

By |2021-01-16T18:21:15-06:00January 16th, 2021|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.  We also note an upcoming event to which broadcasters will want to pay attention. After a multi-year review of the... Continue Reading…

FCC Proposes Changes to Direct-to-Consumer and Importation Rules for Pre-Authorization RF Devices

By |2021-01-12T14:14:53-06:00January 12th, 2021|Legal News|

Today, the deadline was established for filing comments in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) pertaining to the marketing, sale and importation of radiofrequency (RF) devices that have not yet obtained equipment authorization.  Specifically, the NPRM proposes to allow manufacturers to make conditional sales of pre-authorization devices directly to consumers, and would also […]

Reminder – 2021 Will Include Some Off-Year Elections for State and Local Office – and FCC Political Broadcasting Rules Do Apply

By |2021-01-12T10:51:08-06:00January 12th, 2021|Legal News|

After this year’s contentious elections, it is with reluctance that we even broach the subject – but broadcasters and cable companies need to be aware that in many jurisdictions there are elections this November. While most broadcast stations don’t think about the FCC’s political broadcasting rules in odd numbered years, they should – particularly in... Continue Reading…

Dates Set for Comments on FCC’s Zonecasting Rulemaking Proposal for FM Boosters

By |2021-01-11T10:36:55-06:00January 11th, 2021|Legal News|

The FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking looking to allow zonecasting by FM booster stations was published in the Federal Register today, setting the comment deadline as February 10, 2021 with reply comments due on or before March 12, 2021.  We’ve written about that proposal here and here.  The FCC proposes to allow FM boosters to... Continue Reading…

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