Legal News

University Pays $76,000 Fine to Settle Complaint About Underwriting Announcements on Noncommercial Station that Went Too Far

By David Oxenford|2020-01-08T11:25:40-06:00January 8th, 2020|Legal News|

Every noncommercial station, including LPFMs, that accepts underwriting announcements should be concerned about making sure that the announcements meet FCC guidelines and remain truly non-controversial. An FCC Order was released yesterday announcing a consent decree entered into between the University of Arkansas and the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. The Order illustrates what can happen if noncommercial... Continue Reading…

FCC Sets Comments Deadline for Retransmission Consent Proposal

By FHH Law|2020-01-08T10:55:56-06:00January 8th, 2020|Legal News|

On January 2, 2020, we wrote about an FCC proposal to modify the present requirement for cable TV systems to give 30 days’ notice to subscribers when a program channel may be removed because of failure to agree on retransmission consent terms. The deadlines for Comments and Reply Comments have now been announced. Initial Comments...… Continue Reading

FCC Wants You to Dial 988 Before It’s Too Late: Abbreviated 3-Digit Access to Suicide Help Line Proposed

By Peter Tannenwald|2020-01-07T11:30:49-06:00January 7th, 2020|Legal News|

The Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) has proposed to establish “988” as a nationwide abbreviated telephone dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis hotline. An 800 number (1-800-273-TALK) already universally connects to suicide counselors, but people facing a suicide crisis might not remember such a long number. The same hotline will...… Continue Reading

Comments Due March 9 on FCC Proposal to Allow All-Digital AM Stations

By David Oxenford|2020-01-07T09:50:42-06:00January 7th, 2020|Legal News|

The FCC’s proposal to allow AM stations to voluntarily transition into all-digital operations (see our post here for a summary of the FCC’s proposal) was published in the Federal Register today. That sets the comment deadlines in this proceeding – with initial comments due March 9, 2020 and reply comments due by April 6. AM... Continue Reading…

Welcoming Thomas F. Urban II to Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C.

By FHH Law|2020-01-07T08:31:16-06:00January 7th, 2020|Legal News|

Washington-area based telecommunications, media, and technology law firm Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C. is pleased to announce that Thomas F. Urban II has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Tom has experience representing clients in everything from business disputes and class action cases to RICO actions and complex mortgage fraud cases. When it comes to...… Continue Reading

While You Were on Vacation….Looking at FCC Regulatory Actions over the Holidays and Deadlines for January

By David Oxenford|2020-01-06T10:45:49-06:00January 6th, 2020|Legal News|

While many of us were trying to enjoy the holidays, the world of regulation kept right on moving, seemingly never taking time off. So we thought that we ought to highlight some of the actions taken by the FCC in the last couple weeks and to also remind you of some of the upcoming January... Continue Reading…

FCC Proposes to End Radio Station Program Duplication Restrictions

By Peter Tannenwald|2020-01-03T11:30:33-06:00January 3rd, 2020|Legal News|

The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has proposed to repeal Section 73.3556 of its Rules, which prohibits two commercial AM or two commercial FM radio stations from devoting more than 25% of the hours in an average broadcast week to duplicating programming if they are commonly controlled (through either common ownership or time brokerage) and the...… Continue Reading

January 22 Deadline for Comments on FCC Proposal to Change Rule Prohibiting Duplication of Radio Programming

By David Oxenford|2020-01-03T10:33:00-06:00January 3rd, 2020|Legal News|

The FCC recently proposed modifying its rules prohibiting a radio station in one service (either AM or FM) from duplicating more than 25% of the weekly programming of another station in the same service if there is more than 50% overlap of the principal community contour of either of the stations. The FCC this week... Continue Reading…

Who Should Say What to Whom When Cable TV Retransmission Consent Negotiations Fail?

By Peter Tannenwald|2020-01-02T15:00:55-06:00January 2nd, 2020|Legal News|

Retransmission consent negotiations have been coming down to the wire more and more in recent years, as broadcasters have sought to recoup more of the value they feel their signals have, and cable operators have resisted increases in their expenses. Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) rules currently require cable operators to notify both subscribers and the...… Continue Reading