Dates to Remember
January 10, 2026
TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial... Read More
In late January, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would make certain disaster reporting mandatory for broadcast stations. Many broadcasters are familiar with the current Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) where reports during a disaster on a station’s status are optional. The NPRM would make such reporting obligatory. In addition, the NPRM […]
Read More →The FCC’s Media Bureau announced a consent decree with a broadcast licensee that includes a $500,000 fine for violations of the FCC’s sponsorship identification and political file rules. The action stems from the licensee’s repeated failure to air sponsorship identification announcements for multiple episodes of, and numerous advertisements promoting a paid-for political program on multiple […]
Read More →January 10, 2024 TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): deadline to complete and upload to online public file the 4th Quarter 2023 issues/program lists and any foreign sponsorship identification reports. Class A TV Stations Only: deadline to complete and post to your online public file the 4th Quarter 2023 certification of […]
Read More →Our very best wishes to our clients and newsletter readers in 2024. It is our continued and distinct privilege to assist commercial and noncommercial broadcasters throughout the United States as they serve the public. We look forward to helping you with legal matters in 2024.
Read More →On the December 27th court-ordered deadline for doing so, the FCC adopted a Report & Order in the long overdue 2018 Quadrennial Review proceeding. The three Democrat-appointed Commissioners voted in favor, and the two Republican-appointed Commissioners voted against, issuing scathing dissents. The broadcast industry had strongly urged a relaxation of the media ownership rules given […]
Read More →By January 31, 2024, commercial full power and Class-A TV stations must prepare and file children’s television reports covering all of 2023, and upload children’s television commercial limits certifications to their public file for all of 2023. We recommend that stations start early. Failure to timely file the annual children’s television report, or reporting less […]
Read More →Congress’ continuing resolution to fund the federal government runs out on January 19, and a government shutdown (full or partial) could result unless a new agreement is reached by a Congress that is narrowly divided along party lines and within certain party factions. In past government shutdowns, the FCC has often continued normal operations for […]
Read More →In mid-December, the FCC issued a news release that Commissioner Starks had joined with 27 members of Congress who wrote to the FCC urging reinstatement of collection of broadcast workforce diversity data. On the heels of that release, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel began circulation of a proposed Report & Order and Further Rulemaking in the FCC’s […]
Read More →December 1, 2023 Deadline for all Commercial and Noncommercial Broadcast Stations (except for LPFM, TV Translator, or Radio Translator Stations) to file biennial ownership report in LMS. Information must be current as of October 1, 2023. For commercial station licensee entities, the new filing fee of $95 per station will apply. Radio and TV Stations […]
Read More →Licensees of commercial and non-commercial full power television, Class A television, low power television, AM radio and FM radio stations have one more day, until December 1, 2023, to file biennial ownership reports. Licensees with parent entities must also submit reports for those parent entities by the deadline. All information in the biennial report must […]
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