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: Big-4 Network, Among Others, Settles With FCC Over Emergency Alert Tone Violations Despite Self-Disclosure, Sponsorship ID Violations Land $233,000 Proposed…
Articles Posted in Television
FCC Releases Final Regulatory Fees With Some Relief for Broadcasters
The FCC has released its finalized schedule of annual Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2019, and thanks to the collective efforts of all 50 State Broadcasters Associations and the National Association of Broadcasters, there is some good news for radio stations and satellite television stations. But before we get to…
Don’t Wait to File Distant Signal Copyright Claims
As we noted in last week’s post, television stations eligible to file 2018 distant signal copyright royalty claims with the United States Copyright Royalty Board must do so by July 31, 2019. While that due date still seems far away (especially to those accustomed to the FCC’s real-time electronic filing…
Annual EEO Public File Report Deadline for Stations in California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin
This Pillsbury Broadcast Station Advisory is directed to radio and television stations in the areas noted above, and highlights upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule. August 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin to place…
Cable and Satellite Royalty Claims Due to the Copyright Royalty Board by July 31, 2019
This advisory is directed to television stations with locally-produced programming whose signals were carried by at least one cable system located outside the station’s local service area or by a satellite provider that provided service to at least one viewer outside the station’s local service area during 2018. These stations…
A Look at This Week’s Changes to the FCC’s KidVid Rules
At its July 2019 Open Meeting this week, the FCC voted to make several changes to its Children’s Television Programming rules. It released its final Order adopting the changes this afternoon. Although characterized by Commissioner O’Rielly as “modest” changes, the revised rules are likely to alter television broadcasters’ compliance efforts…
2019 Second Quarter Transition Progress Report Due on April 10 for TV Stations Being Repacked
Each full power and Class A TV station being repacked must file its next quarterly Transition Progress Report with the FCC by July 10, 2019. The Report must detail the progress a station has made in constructing facilities on its newly-assigned channel and in terminating operations on its current channel during…
2019 Second Quarter Issues/Programming List Advisory for Broadcast Stations
The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2019, reflecting information for the months of April, May and June 2019. Content of the Quarterly List The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to significant…
2019 Second Quarter Children’s Television Programming Documentation
The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2019, reflecting programming aired during the months of April, May and June 2019. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements As a result of the Children’s Television Act of 1990 (“Act”) and…
Next National EAS Test Is August 7, and Comes With a Twist
Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) formally notified the FCC that FEMA has scheduled the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for August 7, 2019 at 2:20 p.m. FEMA states that this year’s test will differ from the nationwide tests that have been conducted over…