FCC Regulatory Reform

Commission Adopts Minor Changes to Political Programming Rules February 11, 2022

As part of the FCC’s agenda for its January 2022 open meeting, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (the “Order”) revising several of its political programming rules in relatively minor ways. ...

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FCC Adopts NPRM Proposing FY 2020 Regulatory Fees; Proposes Fees Increase for Radio but Seeks Comment on Avenues to Provide Relief Related to Economic Effects of COVID-19 May 22, 2020

The Commission has now officially adopted its Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Notice”) proposing regulatory fees for Fiscal Year 2020 (“FY 2020”).  Of particular significance to...

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Commission Considers Loosening Restrictions on Television Broadcasters’ Use of Distributed Transmission Systems in Light of Impending ATSC 3.0 Deployment April 8, 2020

A petition filed late last year by America’s Public Television Stations (“APTS”) and NAB related to the deployment of ATSC 3.0 (the next generation broadcast television standard) may have struck...

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FCC Adopts Order That Moves Carriage Election Notices from Snail-Mail to Electronic Delivery July 11, 2019

Today, the FCC unanimously adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Order”) that moves broadcasters’ carriage election notices to primarily electronic means, significantly modernizing the...

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Draft Report and Order Would Help TV Broadcasters, Move Carriage Election Notices from Snail-Mail to Electronic Delivery July 5, 2019

Also on the agenda at the Commission’s July 10 open meeting is a draft Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “Draft Order”) that proposes to move...

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FCC Eliminates License Posting Requirement February 7, 2019

Another FCC rule bites the dust.  Broadcasters can take down and recycle (or frame for history’s sake!) their physical station licenses.  That’s because, effective February 8, 2019, the FCC has...

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FCC Eliminates License Posting Requirement December 13, 2018

Broadcasters will soon be able to put away some of their thumb tacks and scotch tape and recycle some old binders.  That’s because the FCC, on December 11, 2018, adopted...

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Recycle This! FCC Eliminates Requirement that Stations File Paper Copies of Certain Contracts and Other Documents October 24, 2018

At its October 23 open meeting, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (the “Order”) eliminating the requirement—which dates back to the 1930s!—that broadcasters file paper copies of certain contracts...

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FCC May Eliminate Broadcast License Posting Requirements May 17, 2018

Stations might soon be able to put away some of their thumb tacks and scotch tape and recycle some old binders.  That’s because the FCC, on May 10, 2018, adopted...

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Rule Requiring Stations to Keep Paper Copies of FCC Regulations Officially “Off the Books” April 5, 2018

Stations can recycle their paper copies of the FCC’s rules. The requirement that certain television and radio broadcast entities (as well as certain cable operators) maintain paper copies of the...

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