SAP Channel

May 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Comment Deadlines on ATSC 3.0 and EAS, Application Fee Increases, Audible Crawl Rule, Political File Windows, and More

By David Oxenford and Keenan Adamchak|2025-04-30T01:34:05-05:00April 30th, 2025|Legal News|

While May is one of those months that does not have any routine, scheduled FCC filing deadlines, there are still a number of regulatory dates and deadlines that are worthy of note for broadcasters. As detailed below, this includes comment deadlines in several FCC rulemaking proceedings, the effective date of the FCC’s application fee increases... Continue Reading…

FCC Reminder About Conveying Emergency Information in an Accessible Manner to All TV Audience Members

By David Oxenford|2023-07-25T10:12:33-05:00July 25th, 2023|Legal News|

The FCC last week released a Public Notice reminding TV stations and other video programming providers, including cable and satellite television providers, of their obligation to make emergency information accessible for all viewers. With a few tweaks, the reminder is very similar to what the FCC has issued in past years. This year, the reminder added smoke from Canadian... Continue Reading…

May Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Rulemaking Comments on Various TV Issues and More

By David Oxenford and Robert Primosch|2023-04-28T01:18:14-05:00April 28th, 2023|Legal News|

May is relatively light on scheduled regulatory deadlines for broadcasters, but the following dates are worthy of note. In addition, always remember to keep in touch with your legal and regulatory advisors to make sure that you don’t overlook any regulatory deadlines that are specific to your station. Comments are due on May 15, with... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: April 10 to April 14, 2023

By David Oxenford and Robert Primosch|2023-04-16T09:03:14-05:00April 16th, 2023|Legal News|

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. Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: June 26, 2021 to July 2, 2021

By David Oxenford|2021-07-05T07:58:18-05:00July 5th, 2021|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC this week reminded television broadcasters of their obligation to make televised emergency information accessible to persons with disabilities.... Continue Reading…

FCC Extends Comment Dates on CVAA – Inquiry About Whether There is a Need to Update Video Programming and Other Accessibility Rules

By David Oxenford|2021-05-19T14:35:17-05:00May 19th, 2021|Legal News|

Under the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (commonly called the CVAA), the FCC has adopted many rules designed to enhance accessibility to broadcast communications, particularly those provided by television broadcasters. In a recent Public Notice, the FCC asked for comments as to how the implementation of the CVAA has worked in... Continue Reading…

FCC Extends Dates by Which TV Broadcasters Must Convert Non-Textual Emergency Information to Audio on SAP Channel

By David Oxenford|2018-05-29T11:09:01-05:00May 29th, 2018|Legal News|

In an Order released Friday, The FCC gave TV broadcasters five more years to convert non-textual emergency information delivered to audiences outside of news programs into speech that is broadcast on station’s Secondary Audio Programming (“SAP”) channels, usually used for Spanish and other non-English translations of television programs. Broadcasters, as we have written before (see...… Continue Reading

FCC Requests Comments on Extension of Compliance Deadline for TV Stations to Convert Non-Textual Emergency Information into Audio on SAP Channel

By David Oxenford|2018-03-28T11:12:23-05:00March 28th, 2018|Legal News|

In 2015, TV broadcasters were required to convert textual warnings about emergency events that are broadcast outside of news programs (e.g. weather alerts that are displayed as textual crawls during entertainment programming) into audio, and to transmit that audio on the station’s SAP channel. The deadline for that requirement was extended, and then paired back when...… Continue Reading

FCC Reminder to Video Programming Distributors – Including Broadcasters – on Accessibility Obligations

By David Oxenford|2017-10-02T11:35:23-05:00October 2nd, 2017|Legal News|

With the recent hurricanes and last night’s tragedy in Las Vegas, the FCC Public Notice issued last week reminding all video programmers of the importance of making emergency information accessible to all viewers seems very timely. The public notice serves as a good refresher on all of the obligations of video programmers designed to make...… Continue Reading