All Full-Power and Class A Television Stations Must Upload New Political File Material to FCC Online Public Files Beginning July 1, 2014

Currently, only stations affiliated with the four national broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) located in the top 50 Nielsen markets are required to post their political files to each station’s FCC-hosted online public inspection file. However, beginning July 1, 2014, a… Read More

FCC Adopts Changes to Rules for TV Closed Captioning Using Electronic Newsroom Technique

The FCC has approved new and more comprehensive rules for television closed captioning in a Report and Order. The purpose of these rules is to make television programming more accessible to people who are deaf or hearing impaired. The FCC defined four non-technical quality standa… Read More

April 10, 2014 Quarterly Radio Deadlines

The FCC requires that within ten days after the end of each calendar quarter, every commercial and non-commercial AM and FM station must prepare and place in its local public inspection file a list of the programs that have provided the most significant treatment of community iss… Read More

April 10, 2014 Quarterly Television Deadlines Issue-Responsive Programming Lists, Children's Television Programming Reports, and Children's Advertising Documentation

This memo highlights the April 10, 2014 quarterly deadlines applicable to all full power and Class A TV Stations. Documents That Must Be Uploaded Into Each Station’s Online Public Inspection File By April 10, 2014: Issue-Responsive Programming List for programming broadcast bet… Read More

FCC Seeks Comment on Report Outlining Potential Costs and Expenses Associated with Repacking Following the Broadcast Television Incentive Auction

The FCC has released a report prepared by Widelity Inc. — Response to the Federal Communications Commission for the Broadcaster Transition Study Solicitation, available here — which identifies and analyzes the processes and costs of the involuntary channel changes res… Read More

2014 Political Broadcasting Requirements

To help you comply with the many federal laws and the FCC and FEC regulations governing political broadcasting, we have prepared an updated version of the Political Broadcasting Requirements memo, available here. Legally qualified political candidates who wish to purchase time fo… Read More

Short-Term License Renewal Results from Lengthy Station Silence

By refusing to grant a full-term license renewal to one station, the Audio Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau has issued a strong warning to broadcasters that allow their stations to remain silent for long periods of time. In a case involving a Texas FM station that had been li… Read More

Broadcasts and Promotions Related to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia begin on Friday, February 7, 2014. Because the Olympic organizing committees have in the past been quite vigilant in protecting the trademarks and copyrights associated with the Olympics, broadcast stations should be extremely carefu… Read More

Annual Minimum SoundExchange Payments for Music Streaming Are Due January 31, 2014

Commercial and noncommercial entities streaming sound recordings over the Internet under statutory licensing are reminded that the annual minimum webcasting fee for 2014 is due to be paid to SoundExchange no later than January 31, 2014. The annual minimum fee payment is $500 per… Read More

Broadcasts / Promotions Related to Super Bowl XLVIII

Super Bowl XLVIII will be held on February 2, 2014 at MetLife Stadium outside of New York City. The National Football League diligently protects its copyright and trademark rights associated with the Super Bowl. If your station plans to conduct Super Bowl-related promotions or co… Read More