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This Part Is Not a Test – Meeting Broadcasters’ Obligations to Prepare for the National EAS Test

The FCC and FEMA have established September 20, 2018 as the date for the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  The nationwide test is designed to study the effectiveness of the EAS and to monitor the performance of EAS participants.  The Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system will…

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Show Me the Money: FCC Launches Repack Reimbursement Proceeding for LPTV, TV Translator, and FM Stations

In adopting a Notice of Proposed Rule Making late last week, the FCC took the first step in establishing ground rules for reimbursing Low Power Television, TV translator and FM radio stations affected by the TV spectrum repack. Most of the proposed rules track the statutory direction contained in the…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ July 2018

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: Headlines: Alaskan Licensee Faces Fines Over FM Station Silences Enforcement Bureau Issues Consent Decrees for LED Billboard Violations Tower Owner…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ June 2018

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: HEADLINES: Media Bureau Hits Michigan Radio Station for Low Power Snafu Online Retailer Faces $2,861,128 Forfeiture for Selling Unauthorized Drone…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ May 2018

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: Headlines: Louisiana Class A TV Station Settles Online Public File Violations for $50,000 Ahead of License Renewal FCC and Michigan…

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FCC Grants TV Stations Last-Minute Reprieve on Certain Audible Crawl Requirements

CommLawCenter readers may recall that the FCC adopted a rule in 2013 requiring broadcasters to present aurally on a secondary audio stream (“SAS”) all emergency information provided visually during programming other than during regularly-scheduled newscasts and newscasts that interrupt regular programming. This “Audible Crawl Rule” went into effect on May…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ April 2018

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 $235,668 Fine for Filing Untruthful Information Major Phone Carrier Settles Dispute With FCC Over Rural Call Completion Issues…

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Better Late Than Never? Upload Those First Quarter Issues/Programs Lists

As those that receive our Pillsbury Client Advisories know (you can sign up for those here), April 10th was the deadline for placing various quarterly reports in your station’s public inspection file.  With many radio stations having shifted to an online public file on March 1st, this was the first…

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DTV Ancillary and Supplementary Services Report Goes Away for Most TV Stations

Today the FCC publicly released a Report and Order eliminating TV stations’ annual obligation to report whether they have provided feeable ancillary or supplementary services on their spectrum during the past year unless they have actually provided such services.  The order was originally slated for discussion and a vote at…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ March 2018

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 special issue takes a look at the government’s renewed efforts to scuttle Pirate Radio operations. Since the government first began regulating the…