This week, the Commission imposed a $13,000 fine on Radiant Light Broadcasting (RLB), the licensee of two low-power television (LPTV) stations for failing to timely file license to cover applications, and thus operating without licenses for four years. The stations, KRLB-LD and KWWO-LD, were granted construction permits for digital displacement channels and special temporary authority...… Continue Reading
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. At its September 29 regular monthly open meeting, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to update... Continue Reading…
With regulatory fees due today, September 30, 2022 (extended from September 28 because of the effects of Hurricane Ian and some other technical issues with fee payment by this FCC Public Notice, with the date for waiver requests similarly extended by this Public Notice), it is time to look ahead to October and some of... Continue Reading…
Last week, the FCC issued a ruling finding that 21 broadcast licensees, including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, had violated the Commission’s rules regarding commercial programming on children’s television. The Commission assessed penalties against these licensees totaling nearly $3.4 million. Particularly notable was the Commission’s ruling that licensees are responsible even for commercials...… Continue Reading
In a recent state court decision, a King County judge in Washington State concluded that Facebook violated state political disclosure rules by not publicly providing information about the sale of political ads relating to state elections and ballot issues, as required by state law. While there does not yet appear to be a written decision... Continue Reading…
Today, the FCC released a Public Notice extending the deadline for all regulatory fee payors to submit payment for their annual regulatory fees from September 28 to September 30 at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Accordingly, payors have an additional two days to pay their fees without incurring a 25% penalty. Such a penalty will...… Continue Reading
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: Tower Owners Cited for Unsafe and Improperly Registered Tower FCC Fines LPFM for Unauthorized Operation, Failure to Admit FCC Agents, and EAS Violations Violations of […]
We kicked off our summary of last week’s regulatory actions for broadcasters with the news of several millions of dollars in fines imposed on over 100 television stations for apparent “program-length commercials” in children’s programming. Last week’s Notice of Apparent Liability, a unanimous decision by all four FCC Commissioners, stemmed from a Hot Wheels Super... Continue Reading…
Recently, the Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”) issued a Consent Decree detailing the $38,000 settlement reached with a telecommunications company relating to its failure to complete required environmental and historic preservation reviews before beginning construction on new wireless telecommunications towers and prior to following the prescribed procedures under the FCC’s antenna structure registration (“ASR”) Rules. Under...… Continue Reading