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.
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 throughout the United States. Funds are made available to schools and libraries, low-income residential consumers and telephone companies operating in high cost areas.
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 well as summarizes the public information requirements mandated by passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.
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.
November 2008
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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 Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont must also file their Biennial Ownership Reports by the same deadline.
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.
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 1, 2008. Electronic filing of FCC Form 317 is mandatory. Paper versions will not be accepted for filing unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver.
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 the statutory royalties owed by Internet radio stations, and other non-interactive online music services, to performers and sound recording copyright owners (generally record labels) when their music is performed publicly by means of a digital transmission. The legislation, which was passed by the House of Representatives on September 27, is expected to be signed into law by President Bush.
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 Rule as it relates to broadcasters is attached hereto as Attachment A.
