Articles Posted in Programming Regulations

November 2006
This Advisory provides a review of political broadcasting rules of the FCC.

In this Advisory, of particular note are new regulations imposed on political broadcasting by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (“BCRA”) of 2002, popularly known as “McCain-Feingold.” BCRA contains several provisions that affect the way stations handle their political advertising. On December 10, 2003, the Supreme Court reviewed BCRA, and left intact all of the provisions of the law that apply to broadcasters.

Published on: October 6, 2006

FCC Issues Order Clarifying Television Broadcasters’ Children’s Television Programming Obligations

By Kathryn R. Schmeltzer and Tony Lin

October 2006
On September 29, 2006, the FCC released the Second Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order (hereafter “Second Order”) regarding the children’s television rules and policies it had established in 2004 but for which it had suspended implementation pending reconsideration. In the Second Order, the FCC rejected many of the petitions for reconsideration but adopted several changes to the 2004 rules that were requested by a coalition of broadcasters, programmers, and public interest groups in a “Joint Proposal” submitted earlier this year. The revised rules, which are discussed below, will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Published on: October 5, 2006

2006 Third Quarter Issues/Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

By Kathryn R. Schmeltzer, Lauren Lynch Flick and Paul A. Cicelski

October 2006
Content of the Quarterly List

The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by October 10, 2006, reflecting information for the months of July, August, and September.

Published on: June 13, 2006

2006 Second Quarter Children’s Television Programming Documentation Advisory

By Kathryn R. Schmeltzer, Lauren Lynch Flick and Paul A. Cicelski

June 2006
Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

As a result of the Children’s Television Act of 1990 and the FCC Rules adopted under the Act, full power and Class A television stations are required, among other things, to: (1) limit the amount of commercial matter aired during programs originally produced and broadcast for an audience of children 12 years of age and younger; and (2) air programming responsive to the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and younger. Each of these requirements translates into the obligation to prepare supporting documents on a quarterly basis.

Published on: June 8, 2006

2006 Second Quarter Issues / Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

By Kathryn R. Schmeltzer, Lauren Lynch Flick and Paul A. Cicelski

June 2006
Content of the Quarterly List

The next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ local Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2006, reflecting information for the months of April, May and June, 2006.

The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to significant community needs, issues, and problems as determined by the station. The FCC gives each station the discretion to determine which issues facing the community served by the station are the most significant and how best to respond to them in the station’s overall programming.