1/9/2009
Stations seeking to end analog operations on or before February 17, 2009 must file a NEW notice with the FCC not later than Monday, February 9, and air certain required viewer notifications.
1/6/2009
The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local public inspection files by January 10, 2009, reflecting information for the months of October, November and December 2008. The FCC’s action adopting the new program report Form 355, which is intended to replace the Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists for full-power and Class A television stations, will not have any effect on this fourth quarter public file requirement.
1/6/2009
The next FCC Form 388 DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report must be filed via CDBS and placed in stations’ local public inspection files by January 10, 2009, reflecting information for the months of October, November and December 2008.
1/6/2009
The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by January 10, 2009, reflecting programming aired during the months of October, November and December 2008.
January 2009
On December 23, 2008, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing creation of a new replacement digital television translator service. This service will permit full-power television stations to continue to provide service to viewers who have lost or will lose service as a result of a station’s digital transition. In the NPRM, the FCC announced that it will begin accepting applications in the coming days, although processing of these applications will be withheld pending the outcome of the proceeding. In the interim, the FCC proposed that stations could request Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to operate replacement television translator facilities during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding.
12/21/2007
On December 18, members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to require terrestrial or conventional radio stations to compensate performing artists and their record labels when they broadcast their work.
December 2007
Beginning January 1, 2008, the percentage of “Pre-Rule Programming” per channel each quarter that must be captioned increases from 30% to 75%.
December 2007
At an open meeting on December 18, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) adopted a Report on the results of its “Localism Proceeding” along with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comments on the tentative findings included in the Report. The findings are based on a series of public hearings that took place around the country and on the public comments filed with the FCC in response to its Localism Notice of Inquiry released on July 1, 2004 (MB Docket 04-233). The texts of the Report and NPRM have not yet been released.
December 2007
Content of the Quarterly List
The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local public inspection files by January 10, 2008, reflecting information for the months of October, November, and December. The FCC’s recent action adopting a new program report form, which is intended to replace the Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, will not have any effect on this fourth quarter public file requirement.
December 2007
The next Children’s Television Programming Report must be filed with the FCC and placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by January 10, 2008, reflecting programming aired during the months of October, November, and December.
Comm Law Center