On October 30, 2023, the FCC released yet another list of broadcast stations that will be audited regarding their compliance with the FCC’s Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) rules. Licensees of the audited stations will have to upload their audit responses to their online public inspection files by December 14, 2023. Approximately twice per year, the...… Continue Reading
The FCC has issued a proposal that would allow more FM stations to increase digital power and allow asymmetric power on digital sidebands. Interested parties have until September 21 to file comments. Reply comments are due October 6. Power Increase for Digital FM Stations In the Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) released...… Continue Reading
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) have announced that a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) will take place on October 4, 2023, at 2:20 pm EDT. As we previously reported, EAS participants, with limited exceptions, should have already filed their ETRS Form 1 providing the FCC...… Continue Reading
This week, the FCC announced that between September 1, 2023 and November 8, 2023, it will not accept LPFM and FM translator minor modification applications. This application freeze arises in conjunction with the filing window for LPFM construction permits, which will be open from November 1, 2023 through November 8, 2023. More details regarding this...… Continue Reading
This week, the Commission issued a Public Notice announcing that the filing window for submitting biennial ownership reports will open on October 2, 2023. All licensees of commercial and non-commercial full power television, Class A television, low power television, AM radio, and FM radio stations, as well as any entity having an attributable interest such...… Continue Reading
In a recently released Third Report and Order, the FCC has revised its Next Generation Broadcast Television (ATSC 3.0 or Next Gen TV) rules to enhance the transition from the current TV technology (ATSC 1.0). Among other things, the Order allows a Next Gen TV station to modify its license to include certain non-primary video...… Continue Reading
On June 22, the FCC announced that a filing window for applications for new low power FM (LPFM) station construction permits will open on November 1, 2023 and close on November 8, 2023. LPFM proposals in the entire FM band, from channels 201 to 300, will be eligible for filing during this window. This LPFM...… Continue Reading
On June 21st, the FCC announced that the Universal Licensing System (ULS), Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS), E-106 System, and Antenna Structure Registration System (ASR) are now operational following an outage that began on June 9th. As discussed in our prior blog post, the FCC had previously extended filing deadlines to address the system...… Continue Reading
The FCC announced that it would extend deadlines to accommodate outages in the Universal Licensing System (ULS), Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS), E-106 System, and Antenna Structure Registration Systems (ASR). These extended deadlines include: Regulatory Filings in ULS and ASR. All regulatory filings that needed to be or will need to be made in these...… Continue Reading