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A New Headache for Landowners: FCC Liability for Radio Pirates Operating on Your Property

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week warned 13 property owners in the New York City area that illegal FM radio broadcasts were emanating from their properties, and that they could face multimillion-dollar fines if the transmissions do not promptly cease. To operate a broadcast station, the Communications Act of…

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Annual EEO Public File Report Deadline for Stations in California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin

August 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin to place their Annual EEO Public File Report in their Public Inspection File and post the report on their station website. Under the FCC’s EEO Rule, all radio and television…

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Cable and Satellite Royalty Claims Due to the Copyright Royalty Board by July 31, 2024

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 the station’s signal to at least one viewer outside the station’s local service area during 2023.…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor June 2024

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the 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: Louisiana TV Station Admonished for Lack of Non-Discrimination Clause in Advertising Contracts $25,000 Fine for a Variety of Rule…

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2024 Second Quarter Issues/Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2024, reflecting information for the months of April, May, and June 2024. Content of the Quarterly List The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor May 2024

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the 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 Issues Six Notices of Apparent Liability to Pirate Radio Operators Across Massachusetts Affordable Connectivity Program Provider Faces $8…

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Annual EEO Public File Report Deadline for Stations in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming

June 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming to place their Annual EEO Public File Report in their Public Inspection File and post the report on their station…

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Broadcasters and Other Media Employers Must Navigate the New 2024 Overtime Requirements

On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor published final regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) that ultimately raise the minimum salary necessary to be exempt from federal overtime rules by 65%. These changes affect all businesses subject to the FLSA, but broadcasters and other media employers…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor April 2024

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the 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 $8,000 Fine for Contest Rule Violations Business Communications Company Settles Business Radio Investigation by Agreeing to Compliance…

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Heard About the FTC’s Ban on Non-Competes? The Truth Is Worse

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission announced a new rule banning employee non-compete agreements, treating them as harmful and an “unfair method of competition.”  This includes non-competes in the broadcast industry, where they serve a vital purpose that was given short shrift by the FTC.  Stations spend large sums of…