Legal News

January Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues Programs Lists and Children’s Television Reports, Incentive Auction, FM Translators for AM Stations, Webcasting Fees, LUR Windows and More

By David Oxenford|2015-12-29T10:30:35-06:00December 29th, 2015|Legal News|

While January starts off with some regulatory deadlines that apply to all broadcasters – Quarterly Issues Programs lists must be placed in a station’s public file by the 10th of January – there are many other dates that come due this month, dates to which broadcasters need to pay careful attention. For TV stations, they… Continue Reading

LPTV/TV Translators: Post-Repack Plans, Prospects Previewed

By Ashley Ludlow and Peter Tannenwald|2015-12-28T19:37:43-06:00December 28th, 2015|Legal News|

In addressing LPTV/translator future, FCC declines to loosen several regulatory leashes Low Power Television (LPTV) and TV translator stations face a difficult and uncertain future in the post-incentive auction context. Thanks to the auction (and the consequent spectrum repack), the FCC will reduce the number of channels available for television broadcasting – perhaps eliminating for … Continue Reading

Webcasting Royalty Decision Developments – Revised Rates and Terms from the CRB, Issues about Performance Complement and Small Webcasters

By David Oxenford|2015-12-28T11:29:21-06:00December 28th, 2015|Legal News|

The actions and reactions in response to the Copyright Royalty Board’s decision from two weeks ago continue to roll in as the ramifications of the decision sink in. In the days before Christmas, two announcements were made that warrant note. One was a decision of the CRB itself, correcting the rates and terms that it… Continue Reading

Court of Appeals Rules that Prohibition Against Federal Registration of Disparaging Trademarks is Unconstitutional Restriction of Free Speech

By David Oxenford|2015-12-27T11:18:45-06:00December 27th, 2015|Legal News|

A recent Court of Appeals decision that could have an impact on the Washington Redskins trademark dispute about their team name, is covered in the following article by my law partner, Mitch Stabbe, who specializes in trademark law. He writes about a case where the Court determined that trademark rule that has lead to the… Continue Reading

Big News That the Beatles Are Now Available on Streaming Services? – Actually They Have Been on Internet Radio All Along

By David Oxenford|2015-12-26T10:49:12-06:00December 26th, 2015|Legal News|

Many are sitting around enjoying their holiday treats while listening to the Beatles on their favorite on-demand streaming service, and the press is treating this as a breakthrough – usually omitting the fact that the Beatles have been available on many streaming services for as long as there have been streaming services, namely on Internet… Continue Reading

Window to Open January 29 for Applications to Move FM Translators Up to 250 Miles to Rebroadcast AM Stations

By David Oxenford|2015-12-23T21:52:58-06:00December 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

The FCC’s Media Bureau gave a long-awaited Christmas present to many of the country’s AM stations, releasing a Public Notice announcing the filing dates for the translator modification application filing windows for AM stations. These are the windows authorized by the Commission as part of its AM Revitalization proceeding (see our article here for more… Continue Reading

AM-only FM Translator Windows Set to Open in 2016

By Anne Goodwin Crump|2015-12-23T13:59:45-06:00December 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

Long-awaited opportunity for AMers now at hand. If you’re an AM licensee interested in taking advantage of the opportunity to file for an FM translator, get your calendar out: the Media Bureau has announced the dates for the two 2016 “modification windows” during which AM stations will have first dibs on available FM translators. These … Continue Reading

Understanding a Broadcaster’s Political Broadcasting Obligations Under FCC Rules – A Webinar Outlining the Requirements

By David Oxenford|2015-12-23T10:32:19-06:00December 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

While many broadcasters’ thoughts are on holiday celebrations, the political process leading to the 2016 elections marches on. Last week, Bobby Baker, the head of the FCC’s Office of Political Programming and I conducted a webinar for broadcasters in 16 states on the legal issues that need to be considered in connection with the upcoming… Continue Reading

On the Intertubes: Davina Sashkin Explains the Incentive Auction

By FHH Law|2015-12-23T09:12:00-06:00December 23rd, 2015|Legal News|

Down here in the CommLawBlog bunker, when Davina speaks, we all listen. You should, too. If you’re still feeling a bit lost when people around you start talking about the upcoming Broadcast Incentive auction, check out the podcast of our own Davina Sashkin. Available for streaming or download, free, at Washingtech.com (a relatively new addition … Continue Reading