One thing about being part of a heavily regulated industry—you know well in advance most of the regulatory obligations and deadlines you’ll be facing in the year ahead. While that brings no solace to broadcasters, it does lend a certain level of predictability to an often unpredictable industry. For more…
Articles Posted in Ownership Law & Regulation
FCC 2018 Quadrennial Order Largely Maintains Status Quo, But Local Television Ownership Rule Modifications Create New Uncertainty
Bookending the Christmas weekend, the FCC’s long-awaited 2018 Quadrennial Review Report and Order was adopted on Friday, December 22 and released Tuesday, December 26. The Commission is required by Congress to conduct a regulatory review of its broadcast ownership rules every four years and was directed by the U.S. Court…
Broadcast Station Biennial Ownership Reports Due December 1, 2023
The filing window for broadcast station Biennial Ownership Reports (FCC Form 323 for commercial stations and 323-E for noncommercial stations) opened on October 2, 2023. All licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, full-power TV, Class A TV and Low Power TV stations must submit their Ownership Reports by December…
FCC Enforcement Monitor August 2023
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: FCC Proposes $12,500 Fine for False Certification That FM Translator was Constructed as Authorized Telecommunications Company Warned Over Apparent Transmission…
FCC Enforcement Monitor July 2023
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: Foreign Ownership Violation by Telecommunications Provider Leads to $50,000 Penalty and Four-Year Compliance Plan Arizona LPFM Station Hit with $20,000…
2023 Pillsbury Broadcasters’ Calendar
With the end of another year soon upon us, we have begun to look forward to the highs, lows, joys, and filings that 2023 has in store. In accordance with a Pillsbury holiday tradition, earlier this month we published our annual Broadcasters’ Calendar of upcoming regulatory deadlines for broadcasters–a compendium…
FCC Enforcement Monitor November 2022
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. This month’s issue includes: Broadcaster Receives $518,283 Fine for Local TV Ownership Rule Violation Ohio LED Sign Manufacturer Enters $47,600 Consent Decree for Marketing…
Biennial Ownership Reports Are Due by December 1, 2021 for All Broadcast Stations
The filing window for broadcast Biennial Ownership Reports (FCC Form 323 and 323-E) opened on October 1, 2021. All licensees of commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, full-power TV, Class A Television and Low Power Television stations must submit their ownership reports by December 1, 2021. To save parties from preparing…
Supreme Court Broadcast Ownership Decision a Simple Matter
Turns out, some things are simpler than you think. Few rules in the Code of Federal Regulations have as tortured a history as 47 CFR § 73.3555—the broadcast multiple ownership rules. The subject of court decisions too numerous to count, a brief review of FCC decisions revising (or deciding not…
Executive Order Establishes New Committee to Review Foreign Investment in Communications Companies
On April 4, 2020, the White House issued an Executive Order creating the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (the “Committee”). The Committee, chaired by the Attorney General, includes the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense, and any other executive department head…