Bulletin Categories: FCC Regulatory Reform

June 29 Effective Date for Elimination of “Correspondence Files” at Station Main Studios June 28, 2017

We have been talking about it for months, and the date is finally here! Effective tomorrow, June 29, 2017, broadcasters will no longer be required to maintain the “Correspondence File”...

FCC Launches Omnibus Media (De-)Regulation Proceeding May 19, 2017

The FCC adopted—by a 2-1 vote—to issue a Public Notice launching a sweeping, top-to-bottom review of its rules applicable to media entities, including television and radio broadcasters and MVPDs. Chairman...

More Broadcaster-Friendly Deregulation: FCC Launches Proceeding to Eliminate Broadcast Station Main Studios May 19, 2017

As expected, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (“NPRM”) that proposes to largely eliminate the main studio requirements for radio and television broadcast stations. While the NPRM was...

Petitions Seek to Change the Process for Resolving FM Translator Interference Complaints May 3, 2017

In April 2017, the FCC received two petitions for rulemaking seeking to remake the process for administering and resolving complaints of interference against FM translators. The two petitions—one from the...

Public Inspection File Update: the FCC’s Elimination of Correspondence Files Is Under Review at OMB March 31, 2017

As we reported previously, one of the first actions taken by the FCC under the Chairmanship of Ajit Pai was to vote in favor of the elimination of the rule...

FCC to Consider Reinstatement of UHF Discount March 31, 2017

The FCC has released the tentative agenda for its April 20 meeting, which includes the adoption of a proposed order to reinstate the UHF discount component of the national television...

FCC Officially Launches ATSC 3.0 Rulemaking Proceeding and Relaxes Geographic Restrictions on Siting of FM Translators for AM Stations February 24, 2017

Thursday morning, February 23, at its monthly meeting, the Commission took action in two proceedings of great interest to broadcasters: (1) the FCC formally launched its rulemaking proceeding on the...

FCC Eliminates “Correspondence Folder” from Commercial Broadcaster Public Inspection File Requirements January 31, 2017

At today’s meeting—the first under new Chairman Ajit Pai—the three-member Commission voted unanimously to eliminate the requirement that commercial broadcast stations retain and make publicly available (as part of the...

FCC Proposes to Eliminate Public Correspondence Files for Commercial Stations May 25, 2016

At its open meeting today, May 25, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (“Notice”) relating to broadcast station public inspection files. The principal proposal in the Notice...

Will the FCC Get a Prize for Adopting New Rules to “Modernize” the Station-Conducted Contest Regulations? September 1, 2015

On August 27, the FCC released the “tentative” agenda for its open meeting scheduled for September 17, and we are excited to report that the following item is listed: Modernizing...