repacking of TV spectrum

Reminder: Deadlines Next Week for Biennial Ownership Reports and Filings to Preserve and Protect Broadcast Auxiliary Operations in the 12.7-13.25 GHz (13 GHz) Band

By David Oxenford|2023-11-21T06:37:48-06:00November 21st, 2023|Legal News|

Even after yesterday’s deadline for filing ETRS Form Three in connection with the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System back in October, there are two more deadlines coming next week that broadcasters should bear in mind. As you prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, don’t forget these FCC deadlines. Most broadcasters have received plenty... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: April 3, 2021 to April 9, 2021

By David Oxenford and Adam Sandler|2021-04-11T08:26:30-05:00April 11th, 2021|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments from the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The National Association of Broadcasters this week announced that its CEO, Gordon Smith, will be stepping down at the end... Continue Reading…

Closing Out the Incentive Auction and TV Repack – FCC Reminds Broadcasters of End Dates for Submitting Invoices for Repacking Expenses

By David Oxenford|2021-04-09T09:49:31-05:00April 9th, 2021|Legal News|

The Commission’s staff this week issued a Public Notice reminding broadcasters that the reimbursement program for those broadcasters displaced by the repacking of the television band after the incentive auction is coming to an end. The FCC reminded broadcasters eligible for reimbursement (including certain FM stations and LPTV licensees – see our article here ) that... Continue Reading…

FCC to Lift Freeze on TV Station Technical Improvement Applications

By David Oxenford|2020-10-30T10:29:22-05:00October 30th, 2020|Legal News|

A freeze on technical improvements by full-power TV stations is about to come to an end after more than 15 years. Television stations have been unable to improve their coverage areas by a freeze first instituted in 2004 to allow the FCC to deal with a stable database of television stations during the transition to... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: July 11, 2020 to July 17, 2020

By David Oxenford|2020-07-18T13:27:06-05:00July 18th, 2020|Legal News|

Here are some of the FCC regulatory and legal actions of the last week—and congressional action in the coming week—of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The Media Bureau reminded broadcasters that July 13, 2021—the hard deadline for... Continue Reading…

The Evolution of TV – The End of the Repack, a One-Year Reminder to the End of Analog LPTV, and the Start of the ATSC 3.0 Roll-Out

By David Oxenford|2020-07-15T20:32:41-05:00July 15th, 2020|Legal News|

Tuesday marked the end of the TV repacking following the TV incentive auction – shrinking the TV band by moving all TV stations to channels below what used to be Channel 37 (with a few exceptions for stations given a couple of extra months due to last minute COVID-19 delays, as discussed in the FCC... Continue Reading…

July Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: End of the TV Repacking, Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Children’s Television Reporting, EEO, Carriage Election Public File Information Deadline, LPTV Settlement Window, Rulemaking Comments and More

By David Oxenford and Adam Sandler|2020-06-29T10:58:30-05:00June 29th, 2020|Legal News|

July is usually a month of family vacations and patriotic celebrations. While the pandemic has seen to it that those activities, if they happen at all, will look different than they have in years past, there are plenty of regulatory obligations to fill a broadcaster’s long, summer days. Here are a few of the dates... Continue Reading…

This Week at the FCC for Broadcasters: June 13, 2020 to June 19, 2020

By David Oxenford|2020-06-20T22:07:45-05:00June 20th, 2020|Legal News|

Here are some of the legal and regulatory actions of the last week of significance to broadcasters, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC released a Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration regarding Next Gen TV (ATSC 3.0).... Continue Reading…

LPTV and TV Translators – Settlement Window for Mutually Exclusive Applications and Reminder on Deadline for Vacating Certain Channels

By David Oxenford|2020-06-02T11:18:12-05:00June 2nd, 2020|Legal News|

LPTV and TV translator licensees and applicants saw two notices from the FCC yesterday dealing with fall-out from the FCC’s incentive auction and the subsequent repacking of TV stations into a smaller part of the broadcast spectrum. The first notice announced a settlement window that runs through July 31 for applicants for new or modified... Continue Reading…