Bulletin Categories: Enforcement Actions

Idaho TV Translator Licensee Saves Displacement CP, But Found Apparently Liable for $1,000 Fine September 20, 2024

By recent Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “Order”) the FCC’s Video Division simultaneously: (1) reinstated an expired displacement construction permit for an Idaho...

FCC Upholds $3.3 Million Fine Against Licensees for Children’s Commercial Time Limits Violations September 20, 2024

In a recent Forfeiture Order (the “Order”), the FCC on a 3-2 party-line vote issued fines totaling $3,334,000 against more than 100 stations (each a “Station”) across the country—including several...

New York Pirate Radio Station Operator Fined $2.3 Million for Unauthorized Operation August 23, 2024

In a recent Forfeiture Order (the “Order”), the FCC fined the operator of a New York pirate radio station (the “Pirate Station”) $2,316,034 for “the longstanding illicit operation of an...

Tennessee and Mississippi FM Translators Face Fines for Late-Filed Renewal Applications August 23, 2024

Two licensees of FM Translator Stations (each a “Translator”), in Tennessee and Mississippi, respectively, are facing FCC monetary fines for failing to timely file license renewal applications and for continuing...

Texas FM Radio Licensee Enters into Consent Decree for Noncompliance with Online Public Inspection File Rules August 23, 2024

Recently, the FCC issued an Order and Consent Decree (the “Decree”) to a Texas FM radio Licensee (the “Licensee”) for its failure to comply with the FCC’s online public inspection...

FCC Reduces Fine for Late-Filed Issues/Programs Lists After Missing Licensee’s Responsive Pleading Containing Dispositive Evidence August 23, 2024

According to a recent Memorandum Opinion and Order (the “2024 Order”) issued by the Media Bureau’s Video Division, a Florida television station (the “Station”) has successfully obtained a reduction to...

FCC Penalizes Two Radio Licensees for Violating FCC Rules Governing Station Contests August 23, 2024

Thus far in 2024, the FCC has issued two Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “NALs”) preliminarily determining that several radio licensees apparently violated the FCC’s rules governing station-conducted...

FCC Continues to Use Enhanced PIRATE Act Authority to Target Landowners in Hopes of Flushing Out Pirates July 15, 2024

Last Friday, the FCC leveraged its authority under the PIRATE Act to issue thirteen more Notices of Illegal Pirate Radio Broadcasting (the “Notices”) to landowners across the New York metropolitan...

FCC Denies Kentucky AM Station’s Petition for Further Reconsideration, Upholds Cancellation of License July 15, 2024

In a recent Letter Decision (the “2024 Order”), the FCC upheld its prior cancellation of a Kentucky AM station’s (the “Station”) broadcast license. The 2024 Order comes in response to...

FCC Continues to Dole Out Fines and Additional Compliance Obligations for Late-Filed Issues/Programs Lists During Last License Term July 15, 2024

In two recent Orders and accompanying Consent Decrees (Order 1 and Order 2, collectively the “Orders”), the FCC adopted separate agreements with Oregon and Mississippi licensees (the “Licensees”) of noncommercial...