License Renewal

$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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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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FCC Upholds Cancellation of AM Station’s License March 28, 2023

In a recent Letter Order (the “Order”), the FCC upheld its cancellation of a Kentucky AM station’s (the “Station”) license. The Order serves as an important reminder of a broadcaster’s...

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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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FCC Limits Several Recent Radio Station License Renewal Grants to One Year Terms Due to Lengthy Periods of Station Silence July 25, 2022

Two recent FCC Orders and Consent Decrees (the “First Order” and “Second Order”, and collectively the “Orders”) highlight the importance of broadcast licensees’ adherence to regular station operating schedules.  Specifically,...

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GMR Offering Three-Month Interim License Extension; RMLC / GMR Litigation Potentially Moving Toward Resolution December 17, 2021

As the December 31, 2021, expiration deadline approaches for the current crop of interim licenses granted by Global Music Rights (“GMR”) to commercial radio stations, we have learned that GMR...

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June 1, 2021: Deadline for Ohio Television Stations to File License Renewal Applications; Important Steps to Take Prior to Filing May 18, 2021

As of this writing, we’re quickly approaching the June 1, 2021 deadline for one of the most important FCC filings Ohio television stations will make this year (or any year!) -...

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Failures to Timely File License Renewal Applications Generally Costing Stations $1,500 to $3,000 February 19, 2021

We’re continuing to see multiple Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “Notices”) roll in for radio licensees’ apparent failures to timely file license renewal applications.  Some of the latest...

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Failures to Timely File License Renewal Applications Costing Stations a Proposed $3,000 a Pop December 21, 2020

Over the past several months, the Commission has issued multiple Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “Notices”) for TV and radio licensees’ apparent failures to timely file license renewal...

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Final Post-License Renewal Application Filing Announcement Now Complete; Certification of Post-Filing Announcements Must Be Uploaded by August 24, 2020 August 24, 2020

We write to remind you that Ohio radio stations: (1) should have aired their final post-license renewal application filing announcement on August 16, 2020; and (2) must place in their...

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