The deadline to file the 2024 Annual Children’s Television Programming Report with the FCC is January 30, 2025, reflecting programming aired during the 2024 calendar year. In addition, commercial stations’ documentation of their compliance with the commercial limits in children’s programming during the 2024 calendar year must be placed in their Public Inspection File by […]
On January 7, 2025, the FCC released an Order announcing adjustments to its Schedule of Application Fees, which will become effective 30 days after the Order’s publication in the Federal Register. Congress mandates that the FCC make these adjustments every two years, and this year’s changes reflect a 17.41% inflationary increase in the Consumer Price...… Continue Reading
Tags: Broadcast, TV, MVPD, Cable, Satellite, FCC, Retransmission Consent, Medi The FCC adopted rules on January 3 that require Multichannel Video Programming Distributors, including cable or satellite providers (“MVPDs” or “Reporting Entities”) to report certain broadcast station blackouts. The rules will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, but MVPDs will not be required to comply until the...… Continue Reading
Broadcasters’ next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by January 10, 2025, reflecting information for the months of October, November, and December 2024. Content of the Quarterly List The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to significant community needs, issues, and […]
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the 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: Unauthorized Oregon Radio Station Transfers Yield $16,000 Penalty Consent Decree Over Upgrade of EAS Equipment Includes $1.1 Million Payment Chinese Video Doorbell Manufacturer Draws […]
Beginning January 1, 2025, the FCC’s audio description requirements will expand to commercial television stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC in 10 additional Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs): Johnson City-Bristol-Kingsport, Reno, Greenville-New Bern-Washington, Davenport-Rock Island-Moline, Tallahassee-Thomasville, Lincoln & Hastings-Kearney, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Johnstown-Altoona-State College, and Augusta-Aiken. Audio-described programming is intended to make video […]
Many television broadcasters were left scratching their heads last month when a longtime waiver associated with the FCC’s emergency information accessibility rules expired on November 26. That confusion was resolved today, when the Media Bureau granted the National Association of Broadcasters’ (“NAB”) request for a retroactive extension of the waiver of the “audible crawl” rule […]
One thing about being part of a heavily regulated industry—you know well in advance most of the regulatory obligations and deadlines you’ll be facing in the year ahead. While that brings no solace to broadcasters, it does lend a certain level of predictability to an often unpredictable industry. For more decades than most of us […]
For the last few years at this time of the year, we’ve departed from our usual coverage of legal and policy issues to talk about something else – broadcasters giving back. With Giving Tuesday upon us, we wanted to urge our readers to consider ways to give back to our industry. I guess it is... Continue Reading…