Dates to Remember 

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

June 1, 2023 Radio and TV stations located in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming:  if five (5) full time employee threshold is met, prepare EEO public file report covering the period from June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023, upload it to the station […]

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AM Radio Swings Back in Battle Over Car Radios

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

After the FCC’s efforts over the last several years to revitalize AM radio, and the redoubled efforts of many broadcasters to preserve and improve AM service, the recent announcement by Ford Motor Company that it would not be including AM radio in its electric vehicles was a gut punch.  The response has been nuanced and […]

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EEO Mid-Term Reviews Beginning June 1st

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

As we previewed in last month’s newsletter, the FCC will begin conducting EEO reviews at the mid-point of station license terms, starting with radio stations in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia on or about June 1, 2023.  The FCC issued a public notice marking the start of the process, which will continue cyclically […]

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Anna Gomez Nominated for Vacant FCC Commissioner Seat

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

President Biden has nominated Anna Gomez for the vacant FCC Commissioner seat, combining her nomination with that of Geoffrey Starks and Brendan Carr for renewed five-year terms.  Gomez is an attorney and previously served as legal advisor to FCC Chairman Bill Kennard and most recently served a stint on the NTIA addressing international spectrum use.  […]

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Media Bureau Ends COVID-Related Lowest Unit Charge Relief

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC issued a public notice announcing that broadcasters would be able to exclude free time that they provided to commercial advertisers when calculating the lowest unit charge amounts they could charge for political ads.  Many stations had done so to assist businesses during the pandemic […]

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FCC EEO Audit Responses Due June 8

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

Responses to the April 24, 2023 FCC Enforcement Bureau EEO audit for broadcast stations are due June 8, 2023.  About 254 randomly selected radio and television stations were selected for audit.  Stations on the audit list may be exempt if their license renewal was granted after February 1, 2021 or if they have been audited […]

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FCC Proposes Lower Broadcast Regulatory Fees

Posted on May 30th, 2023 by

Yes, you read that headline correctly.  After many years of increased regulatory fees for broadcast stations, the FCC has proposed lowering the fees commercial broadcasters will have to pay this fall.  The lower fees are outlined in the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking, and on average will result is a savings of near 10%.  The […]

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Dates to Remember 

Posted on April 28th, 2023 by

May 15, 2023 Deadline to file comments in the FCC’s Low Power Protection Act rulemaking. June 1, 2023 Radio and TV stations located in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming:  if five (5) full time employee threshold is met, prepare EEO public file report covering […]

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FCC EEO Audit Season Begins

Posted on April 28th, 2023 by

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau announced its first 2023 EEO audit for broadcast stations on April 24, 2023, identifying 254 randomly selected radio and television stations whose EEO programs will be scrutinized.  Stations must respond to the audit by uploading their audit response to the station online public inspection file no later than June 8, 2023. […]

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Comment Dates Set for Rulemaking to Implement Low Power Protection Act

Posted on April 28th, 2023 by

On March 30th, the FCC launched a proposed rulemaking to implement the Low Power Protection Act (LPPA) which became effective on January 5, 2023.  The Act provides a means by which existing low power television stations can qualify for and apply for Class-A station status.  Congress required the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to implement […]

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