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Broadcast Station EEO Advisory

December 2008 This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule. A PDF version of this entire article can be…

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FCC Universal Service Fund Proceeding Expected to Impact Telecom Charges for End Users; New Reply Comment Date Established

December 2008 On December 2, 2008, the FCC extended the reply comment date in its sweeping Universal Service Fund (“USF”) Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “FNPRM”) until December 22, 2008. USF is an almost $7 billion program overseen by the FCC that promotes the availability of affordable telecommunications services…

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Special Advisory for Commercial and Noncommercial Broadcasters: Radio and Television Station Public Inspection File Requirements

December 2008 This Advisory is designed to aid commercial, as well as noncommercial educational, radio and television station broadcasters in complying with the FCC’s public inspection file rules. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 73.3526 and 73.3527. This Advisory tracks the public access, content, retention and organizational requirements of those regulations, as…

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Reminder: $1000 Federal Grants Available to Eligible Low-Power Television Stations to Purchase Digital-to-Analog Conversion Devices

November 2008 Reminder: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has set aside $1,000 per eligible low-power television station, for the purchase of digital-to-analog conversion devices. Individual grants come from a Federal fund limited to $1 million and are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis until February 17, 2009. A PDF version…

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FCC Enforcement Monitor

November 2008 Topics include: FCC Upholds $9,000 Fine for Noncommercial FM Radio Station Airing Advertisements FCC Fines New York AM Radio Station $12,800 for Failing to Sign Off at Sunset, Failing to Maintain Daytime Operating Power, Failing to Maintain an Operational Emergency Alert System, and Failing to Maintain a Complete…

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Biennial Ownership Reports Due by December 1, 2008 for Certain Radio and Television Broadcasters

November 2008 Commercial and noncommercial Radio stations licensed to communities in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota must file their Biennial Ownership Reports with the FCC by December 1, 2008. Commercial and noncommercial Television stations licensed to communities in the States of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New…

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Broadcast Station EEO Advisory

November 2008 This Broadcast Station EEO Advisory is directed to radio and television stations licensed to communities in: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont, and highlights the upcoming deadlines for compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule. A PDF…

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Annual DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report for Commercial Digital Television Stations

November 2008 All commercial and noncommercial educational digital television broadcast station licensees and permittees must file FCC Form 317 to report whether their stations provided ancillary or supplemental services at any time during the twelve-month period ending on the preceding September 30. The FCC Form 317 is due by December…

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Congress Gives SoundExchange and Webcasters Authority to Settle Royalty Rates

10/1/2008 On September 30, the U.S. Senate approved the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008, a bill giving SoundExchange and webcasters authority to finalize an agreement on performance royalty rates. The bill amends section 114 of the Copyright Act to give SoundExchange until February 15, 2009, to reach a deal over…

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EEO in 2008 and Forward: A Legal Guide to the FCC’s EEO Rule and Policies for Broadcasters

10/1/2008 On November 20, 2002, the FCC released a Second Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Second R&O”) in which it adopted new equal employment opportunity rules and policies for broadcasters and for multi-channel video programming distributors (the “EEO Rule”). A complete copy of this EEO…