Legal News

Ownership Rule Changes Effective February 7; Comments on Incubator Programs to Foster Diversity in Broadcast Ownership Due March 9

By David Oxenford|2018-01-08T11:07:30-06:00January 8th, 2018|Legal News|

Published today in the Federal Register were two notices from the FCC implementing November’s decision on the FCC’s ownership rules. First, a summary of the changes in the rules was published in the Federal Register. These changes particularly affect the local TV ownership rules (changes that we summarized here). Changes included, among other things, the...… Continue Reading

Attorney General Sessions Memo Frees Federal Prosecutors to Pursue Marijuana Cases – What Does It Mean for Broadcast Advertisements?

By David Oxenford|2018-01-05T09:17:31-06:00January 5th, 2018|Legal News|

Yesterday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a one-page memo (here) advising Federal prosecutors to use their discretion in pursuing marijuana prosecutions – even in states where state law has made marijuana legal for either medical or recreational use. Even though some states have removed state law restrictions on the sale or use of marijuana, marijuana...… Continue Reading

Differing Perspectives on Deregulation – Looking at Comments on FCC’s Proposal to Modify Rules on Public Notice of Broadcast Applications

By David Oxenford|2018-01-04T10:58:58-06:00January 4th, 2018|Legal News|

While some might think that the business of deregulation is easy, that usually is not the case, as comments on the FCC’s proposals to modify the public notice requirements for broadcast applications make clear. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking about which we wrote here and here, as part of its initiative on the Modernization...… Continue Reading

FCC Begins Process for Permitting Collocations on Twilight Towers

By Mark DeSantis|2018-01-03T12:55:11-06:00January 3rd, 2018|Legal News|

On Dec.14, the FCC released a Public Notice unveiling a draft Program Comment that will supposedly resolve the longstanding issues surrounding collocating equipment on so-called “Twilight Towers.” Twilight Towers have been stuck in limbo as a result of an ambiguity in the Commission’s rules. Since 2001, the Commission has had rules in place that require...… Continue Reading

Comment Dates Set on Unresolved Issues for Next Generation TV ATSC 3.0 Transition – Comments Due By February 20

By David Oxenford|2018-01-03T11:19:41-06:00January 3rd, 2018|Legal News|

When the FCC adopted its Report and Order authorizing the “next generation TV” standard ATSC 3.0, it did not resolve all issues, instead leaving a few for further public comment. Notice of the issues raised in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register just before Christmas, setting February 20 as...… Continue Reading

January Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues Programs Lists and Children’s Television Reports, FM Translator Window, Main Studio Rule Change and Streaming Requirements

By David Oxenford|2018-01-02T11:21:46-06:00January 2nd, 2018|Legal News|

The holidays are over, and while the regulation never stops, it is time to once again buckle down and look at what is on the horizon for broadcasters. While, in the next few days, we will have our typical look ahead at the broadcast regulatory agenda in Washington for the New Year, we also need...… Continue Reading

Mark Your Calendars: Political Broadcasting Webinar Set for Jan. 18 Hosted by Colorado Broadcasters Association and Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth

By FHH Law|2017-12-29T09:32:03-06:00December 29th, 2017|Legal News|

Join us on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST for a political broadcasting rules refresher webinar! Presented in collaboration with the Colorado Broadcasters Association and Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, the webinar will be hosted by FHH’s all-star attorneys Frank Montero, Scott Johnson, and Dan Kirkpatrick. And, as an added bonus,...… Continue Reading

FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ December 2017

By Scott R. Flick, Jessica Nyman and Warren Kessler|2017-12-28T14:47:12-06:00December 28th, 2017|Legal News|

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published 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: Headlines: FCC Proposes $20,000 Fine for Decade-Old EEO Violations FCC Goes After Small North Carolina Radio Station for Absence During Inspection Drone Company Agrees to […]

Copyright Office Extends Comment Dates on Proceeding Looking at MVPD Reporting Obligations and the Definition of Cable System

By David Oxenford|2017-12-27T10:56:52-06:00December 27th, 2017|Legal News|

Recently, we wrote about a proceeding initiated by the Copyright Office to review the reporting obligations of cable and satellite television systems related to the statutory license that permits those systems to carry the programming of local television stations. Systems must report information including revenue and subscriber information that allow royalties to be computed. This...… Continue Reading