The first 911 call was made 50 years ago, long before wireless phones, texting, and Internet calling were used for everyday communications. Congress and the FCC regularly propose and adopt laws and regulations to keep pace with ever-changing technology. Those efforts continue today with the release by the FCC of…
Comm Law Center
Political Dollars, the Radio Show, and Broadcast Finance
What do these three have in common? Well, if you are planning to be at the Radio Show in Orlando next week, you probably already know about the Pillsbury Broadcast Finance sessions at the Radio Show, with this year’s session marking the event’s 28th year. The 2018 edition is titled…
Breaking News: National EAS and WEA Tests Postponed Until October 3
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, announced this morning that the National Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) tests scheduled for this Thursday, September 20, have been postponed due to “ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.” Instead, the tests will be conducted…
Broadcasters Prepare to Meet Their Obligations as “First Informers” in Hurricane Florence
Whether tracking a developing storm so the public can prepare, or disseminating evacuation orders and alerts, broadcasters continue to serve as the bedrock of the nation’s warning system in emergencies. As Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast, TV and radio stations are hurrying to make sure they are in position…
FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ August 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: International Hotel Company Agrees to $504,000 Settlement for Overlooked Wireless License Transfers Media Bureau Fines AM Licensee for Years-Old…
FCC Clarifies Deadlines for Repack Phase 1, Establishing Template for All Future Repack Phases
Many thought the broadcast incentive auction was the most complex task ever undertaken by the FCC, but the ten-phase spectrum repack following the auction is running a close second. The TV stations being repacked in Phase 1 are serving as the pioneers of the repack process, and since they must…
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…
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…
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…
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…