Fines

FCC Continues to Crack Down on Pirate Radio Operations April 6, 2023

In a pair of March 2023 Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “NALs”)—together totaling more than $2 million in proposed penalties—the FCC has showed continued vigilance in monitoring, uncovering,...

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$500 Fine for Extended Silence and Related Inaccurate Certifications March 28, 2023

In a recent Order and Consent Decree (the “Order”), the Commission imposed a $500 civil penalty, compliance plan, and reporting requirements on the licensee (the “Licensee”) of a California low...

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Station Enters into Consent Decree for Missed Filings, Avoids Fine March 28, 2023

The FCC has entered in to a Consent Decree (the “Consent Decree”) with a Virginia radio station (the “Station”), which resolves a 2020 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the...

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$6,500 Fine and Short-Term License Renewal for Untimely License Application and Unauthorized Operation March 28, 2023

As noted above, the Commission will not excuse rule violations due to a licensee’s inadvertence.  In a recent Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the...

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Station Fined for Late-Filed Application for a License to Cover, Unauthorized Operation March 28, 2023

In a recent Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “NAL”), the FCC has proposed a three thousand five hundred dollar ($3,500) fine against a Florida low power television station...

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Sixteen Stations Fined for Untimely License Renewal Applications March 28, 2023

Broadcasters must remain vigilant and knowledgeable as to their filing deadlines.  This year, the Commission has released a number of Memorandum Opinions and Orders and Notices of Apparent Liability for...

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Commission Imposes $504,000 Fine for EAS Rule Violations January 31, 2023

In a recent Notice of Apparent Liability, the FCC has proposed to impose a fine of $504,000 against the Fox Network (the “Network”) after the Commission determined that it violated...

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$11,000 Fine for Unauthorized Silence, Late Renewal December 22, 2022

Another relatively common enforcement “trap” for stations is when technical or other issues require a station to go silent and the station fails to provide the FCC with requisite notice...

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$20,000 Fine for Operating at Variance from Licensed Parameters December 22, 2022

One of the most common traps into which a station can fall is operating its facilities—either knowingly or unexpectedly—at variance from the parameters specified on the station’s broadcast station license. ...

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Over $500,000 Fine for Violating Local Television Ownership Rules’ Prohibition on Common Ownership of Two Top-Four Same-Market Television Stations December 22, 2022

Over the dissent of Commissioner Nathan Simington, the FCC issued a significant Forfeiture Order (the “Order”) levying a $518,283 penalty—the maximum allowed by law—against a large media company (the “Company”)...

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