Bulletin Categories: Enforcement Actions

Numerous Radio Broadcasters Still Entering Into Political File Consent Decrees February 19, 2021

Political file consent decrees continue to be inked between the Commission and various radio broadcasters at a fairly steady clip. By our count, approximately a dozen additional political file consent...

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...

Consent Decree Including $10,000 Fine Resolves LPFM Station’s Violations of Underwriting Rules February 19, 2021

The FCC’s underwriting rules were at issue in a recent Consent Decree (the “Decree”) resolving the broadcast by a noncommercial educational (“NCE”) low power FM (“LPFM”) licensee of nine announcements...

Commission Imposes $233,000 Fine for Station Group Owner’s 26 Violations of Sponsorship ID Rules and Terms of Prior Consent Decree Governing Compliance with that Rule February 19, 2021

A large radio licensee faces a six-figure penalty for multiple violations of the FCC’s sponsorship identification rule coupled with its failure to comply with the terms of a prior consent...

Political File Consent Decrees Continue to Roll In December 21, 2020

Political file consent decrees continue to be inked between the Commission and various radio broadcasters at a fairly steady clip. By our count, more than a dozen political file consent...

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...

$15,000 Fine Resolves LPFM’s Violations of FCC’s Rules Governing Underwriting, Cross-Ownership, Assignments and Transfers of Control, and LPFM Holding Period December 21, 2020

Commercial stations aren’t the only ones who have been subject to recent FCC enforcement actions: another recent Consent Decree (the “Decree”) resolves a noncommercial Rhode Island low power FM Station...

$15,000 Fine Imposed on FM Translator Licensee Who Provided Incorrect Information to FCC and Engaged in Unauthorized Antenna Operations December 21, 2020

In another case involving impermissible variances between an FCC authorization and the operations of the facility to which it applies, an Arizona FM translator licensee has entered into a Consent...

$125,000 Fine Imposed for FM Station’s Violations of Antenna Structure, Contest, and Live Broadcast Rules December 21, 2020

A Florida FM station’s recent slate of FCC rule violations have been resolved by a Consent Decree (the “Decree”) that levels the highest fine discussed in this “Eye on Enforcement”...

FCC Proposes $20,000 Fine for Television Broadcaster’s Failure to Comply with Children’s Commercial Time Limits December 7, 2020

According to a recent Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (the “NAL”), $20,000 is the price a Maryland TV licensee may have to pay for airing commercials for “Hot Wheels...