New rules adopted by the FCC require that when television stations in the U.S. display emergency information visually during non-news programming, they must provide the same information aurally on a secondary audio stream. The new rules do not change the requirement that emergency information provided visually during newscasts be conveyed aurally on primary audio. The… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: broadcast
Annual Employment Report Requirement For Broadcasters and MVPDs Back in Effect
Posted in Broadcasting & CableThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has published a notice in the Federal Register that the requirement to file an Annual Employment Report is effective immediately. This requirement — entailing the filing of an FCC Form 395-A for multichannel video programming distribution systems (MVPDs) and an FCC Form 396-B for broadcasters — was adopted years ago,… Continue Reading
Commenters Debate FCC Proposals on Ownership Reporting
Posted in Broadcasting & CableInterested parties have filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding proposed changes to the requirements for ownership reports. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released in January, the FCC asked for comment on several issues related to the ownership reports filed by broadcast licensees and by others with attributable interests in licensees. Among… Continue Reading
SpectrumWatch: 3 Key Areas of Industry Agreement Regarding the FCC’s Spectrum Auction and Repacking Proposals
Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & Mobile, TelecommunicationsThe Federal Communications Commission received over 300 comments from the public regarding its proposals to allow broadcast television stations to voluntarily participate in an auction of their spectrum to mobile broadband providers and to involuntarily repack remaining television stations into a smaller television spectrum band. Broadcast television station groups, individual stations, mobile broadband providers, wireless… Continue Reading
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to Issue Decision in Long-Running LPFM Proceeding
Posted in Broadcasting & CableThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that at its upcoming open meeting, which will take place on November 30, it will issue an order in its proceeding on low power FM radio translators. You can see the agenda here. This is another step in a years-long proceeding to implement the Local Community Radio Act… Continue Reading
Spectrum Watch: UK Completes Digital Television Transition, With Plans to Auction Freed Up Spectrum for 4G Services Within a Year
Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, Spectrum & MobileThis week the United Kingdom completed its five-year transition from analog to digital broadcast television operations. The switch to digital has allowed broadcasters in the UK to offer more channels and high-definition television services to the public. In addition, the transition freed up spectrum that the UK government will auction for fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband services in… Continue Reading
Spectrum Watch: A Closer Look at the FCC’s Proposed Rules for First-Ever Incentive Auction and Repacking of Broadcast Spectrum
Posted in Broadcasting & CableAs we reported previously, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Matter of Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions (“NPRM”), along with an accompanying paper by auction specialists Auctionomics and Power Auctions. In this post, we describe the proposed rules for the incentive… Continue Reading
DOJ Drops Lawsuit to Collect on “Married by America” Indecency Fine
Posted in Broadcasting & CableThe Department of Justice has told a court that it will not be continuing its suit against Fox over Fox’s decision not to pay indecency fines relating to a 2003 episode of the reality show “Married by America.” The episode in question showed pixelated nudity. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) originally had proposed a fine… Continue Reading
FCC Requests Comments on Petition for Reconsideration Regarding Commercial Volume Rules
Posted in Broadcasting & Cable, UncategorizedThe Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has requested comments on a Petition for Reconsideration concerning the FCC’s commercial volume rules. These rules, which implement the 2010 Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (“CALM”) Act, require television broadcasters, digital cable operators, and other digital multichannel video programming distributors to follow a technical standard that is designed to prevent television advertisements from being transmitted at louder volumes… Continue Reading