Political Broadcasting

More September Regulatory Dates – Effective Date of New Application Fees, Filing Deadline for TV Shared Services Agreements, Lowest Unit Rate For September Election and Reminder on Repacking Requirements

By David Oxenford|2018-08-28T07:48:02-05:00August 28th, 2018|Legal News|

Yesterday, we wrote about the regulatory dates coming up for broadcasters in September. Even though that was an extensive list, we realized later that we left a few off. So here are a few more issues to consider in September. Plus, the FCC yesterday reminded repacked TV stations of all of the requirements for TV...… Continue Reading

Google Announces Programmatic Buys of Audio Ads – Looking at Legal Issues with Programmatic Sales

By David Oxenford|2018-06-05T10:25:58-05:00June 5th, 2018|Legal News|

Last week, it was announced that Google through its DoubleClick platform, would be offering programmatic buying opportunities for advertisers looking to place audio ads into online streams. While that system is initially being rolled out among the big digital audio services, if it or other similar platforms are expanded more broadly, it could bring more...… Continue Reading

Dealing with a Local Political Candidate Who Appears in a Spot Advertisement for a Commercial Business

By David Oxenford|2018-05-31T11:28:34-05:00May 31st, 2018|Legal News|

With election season upon us again, I’ve had one question that has come up repeatedly in the last few weeks about local candidates – usually running for state or municipal offices – who appear in advertisements for local businesses that they own or manage. Often times, these individuals will routinely appear in a business’ ads...… Continue Reading

June Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – EEO, Translators, Political Rules and Earth Stations

By David Oxenford|2018-05-30T09:25:23-05:00May 30th, 2018|Legal News|

For radio and television stations with 5 or more full-time employees located in Arizona, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia, June 1 brings the requirement that you upload to your online inspection file your Annual EEO Public Inspection File Report detailing your employment outreach...… Continue Reading

Moving Broadcast Political Advertising Rules to the Online World – NY State Adopts a New Law While Congress Considers Online Political Advertising Disclosures, and the FEC Considers Enhanced Online Sponsorship Identification

By David Oxenford|2018-05-14T11:15:37-05:00May 14th, 2018|Legal News|

With high profile primaries in numerous states and similar elections last week, and more coming over the next few months in preparation for the November election, broadcasters are dealing with the legal issues that arise with on-air advertising that either promotes or attacks candidates and which addresses other important matters that will be decided in...… Continue Reading

May Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – FCC Meeting, FM Translator and LPTV Filing Windows, Political Windows and More Consideration of Music Reforms

By David Oxenford|2018-04-30T10:13:14-05:00April 30th, 2018|Legal News|

May is one of those months where there are neither deadlines for EEO Public File Reports nor for any of the quarterly filings of issues/programs lists and children’s television reports. But the lack of these routine filing deadlines does not mean that there are no dates of interest in the coming month to broadcasters and...… Continue Reading

Political Broadcasting Rules Q&A

By Dan Kirkpatrick|2018-02-27T12:14:01-06:00February 27th, 2018|Legal News|

With primaries in some states happening as soon as March, the 2018 election cycle is certain to be contentious and hard-fought. Now is the time for broadcasters to review their systems to ensure that they will be in compliance with the FCC’s political advertising requirements. Now that all broadcast stations are required to place political...… Continue Reading

What Issues Should Broadcasters be Considering When Taking Advantage of New Rules Abolishing Main Studio and Staffing Requirements?

By David Oxenford|2018-01-24T11:25:43-06:00January 24th, 2018|Legal News|

The FCC this week published a Small Business Compliance Guide for companies looking to take advantage of the FCC’s elimination of the main studio rules and the studio staffing requirements associated with those rules (see our articles here and here summarizing the rule changes). The Compliance Guide points out that stations looking to eliminate their...… Continue Reading

NOW AVAILABLE: 2018 Political Broadcast Webinar

By FHH Law|2018-01-22T08:35:20-06:00January 22nd, 2018|Legal News|

On the eve of the 2018 mid-term elections, broadcasters will soon have to navigate the FCC’s rules on political broadcasting. To assist with this, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth’s Dan Kirkpatrick, Frank Montero, and Scott Johnson, were joined by the FCC’s Bobby Baker and Gary Schonman to present, in collaboration with the Colorado Broadcasters Association, a webinar on...… Continue Reading