Dates to Remember
January 10, 2026
TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial... Read More
The FCC’s Media Bureau has announced that its new distributed transmission system (DTS) rules for Class A and LPTV stations, originally adopted in early 2021, are finally becoming effective May 18, 2023. The necessary forms for seeking DTS status will become active and usable in LMS on that date. DTS stations use a single frequency […]
Read More →At the recent NAB conference in Las Vegas, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced a new public-private initiative to guide the next steps for NextGen, or ATSC 3.0 television. The initiative will be led by the NAB, who will gather stakeholders and create a roadmap to transition the television industry from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0. […]
Read More →April 1, 2023 Radio and TV Stations located in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee: if five (5) full time employee threshold is met, prepare EEO public file report covering the period from April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023, upload it to the station online public inspection file and post it on the […]
Read More →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 […]
Read More →On March 6, 2023, the FCC published the FY 2023 Media Bureau Filing Guide, which reflects the increase in filing fees (and some new filing fees) that became effective March 2, 2023. These filing fees will auto-populate into feeable applications during the preparation process in LMS. In the draft phase of preparation, the fee should […]
Read More →The FCC issued heavy fines against two pirate radio operators, one in New York and the other in Oregon. These are the first proposed fines under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act). The New York pirate operator has fines of over $2.3 million, while the Oregon pirate operator has an $80,000 […]
Read More →The FCC has issued a new 2023 EAS Operating Handbook. A copy (with the blanks for your station specific information filled in) is to be maintained at normal duty positions or EAS Equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty, and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating […]
Read More →The Media Bureau used to require broadcasters that met certain employee thresholds to file the Form 397 Mid-Term EEO Report. In 2019, the FCC eliminated the filing requirement, but indicated that its staff would still conduct “reviews using publicly available information” for EEO compliance by those radio station employment units with 11 or more full-timers, […]
Read More →Earlier this month when it became clear that Gigi Sohn’s nomination to be the third Democratically appointed FCC commissioner did not have enough votes in the Senate, she formally withdrew her nomination. In the immediate aftermath of that action, the White House did not have any prospective names as potential new nominees. Further, we have […]
Read More →January 10, 2023 (Extended to February 28, 2023) TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): deadline to complete and upload to online public file the 4th Quarter 2022 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 […]
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