FCC Proposes to Prioritize Application Processing for Stations that Provide Locally Originated Programming

By |2024-01-19T18:05:27-06:00January 19th, 2024|Legal News|

On January 17, 2024, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on a proposed rule that would prioritize review of certain broadcast applications filed by stations that certify that they provide locally originated programming. Eligible Stations Under the proposed rule, priority review would be available to radio and television stations (excluding...… Continue Reading

And They’re Off: FCC Jumps Out of the Gate with Back-to-Back Enforcement Actions and NPRMs

By |2024-01-19T13:05:17-06:00January 19th, 2024|Legal News|

If there was any doubt that the late-2023 confirmation of Anna Gomez as the fifth commissioner would bring a flurry of FCC activity in 2024, the FCC has laid those questions to rest.  In addition to a $150,000 good faith NAL, $500,000 sponsorship ID consent decree, $26,000 EEO report NAL, and some public file NALs, […]

Media and Telecom Companies Must Adapt to New DOL Rule on Classifying Employees and Independent Contractors

By |2024-01-17T12:31:57-06:00January 17th, 2024|Legal News|

Given that the name of this site is CommLawCenter, our focus is generally on communications law and regulation.  More accurately, however, our focus is on legal developments that affect the media and telecom industries, even when they emanate from entities other than Congress or the FCC.  This is particularly true where a change in non-communications […]

FCC Imposes $26,000 Fine on Broadcaster for One EEO Annual Public File Report that was Uploaded Late

By |2024-01-17T10:50:25-06:00January 17th, 2024|Legal News|

The full Commission this week issued an Order fining Cumulus Media $26,000 for its failure to upload one EEO Annual Public File Report to its online public inspection file until about 9 months after the due date.  The unanimous decision of the five Commissioners generally upheld an EEO Notice of Apparent Liability, issued unanimously by... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  January 8 to January 12, 2024

By |2024-01-14T09:09:39-06:00January 14th, 2024|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. Our Broadcast Law Blog, we looked at the Copyright Royalty Board’s announcement of the start of a new proceeding to... Continue Reading…

Copyright Royalty Board Starts WEB VI Proceeding to Set Webcasting Royalties Paid to SoundExchange for 2026-2030: Petitions to Participate Due February 6

By |2024-01-08T09:20:54-06:00January 8th, 2024|Legal News|

The Copyright Royalty Board on Friday published in the Federal Register a call for interested parties to file Petitions to Participate in the proceeding to set the royalty rates to be paid by webcasters (including broadcasters who simulcast their programming through internet-delivered channels) in the period 2026-2030.  These royalties are paid by webcasters to SoundExchange... Continue Reading…

Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content in Political Ads Raises New Concerns for Broadcasters

By |2024-01-08T07:31:37-06:00January 8th, 2024|Legal News|

With the Iowa Republican Caucus happening in mid-January and dozens of additional primaries and caucuses to follow before the 2024 general election, broadcasters need to be aware of the use of artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes and synthetic media in political advertising and the various laws at play when such content is used. These laws seek […]

The Last Three Weeks in Regulation for Broadcasters: December 18, 2023 to January 5, 2024

By |2024-01-07T10:36:02-06:00January 7th, 2024|Legal News|

Expecting quiet weeks, we took the holidays off from providing our weekly summary of regulatory actions of interest to broadcasters.  But, during that period, there actually were many regulatory developments.  Here are some of those developments, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your... Continue Reading…

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