Bulletin Categories: FCC Regulatory Reform

Main Studio Rule Eliminated as of January 8, 2018 January 17, 2018

The Main Studio Rule was officially eliminated as of January 8, 2018. Stations will recall that the FCC adopted a Report and Order (Order) last year eliminating the Main Studio...

Main Studio Rule Elimination Effective as of January 8, 2018 December 8, 2017

As we reported previously, the FCC at its October meeting adopted a Report and Order (“Order”) eliminating the Main Studio Rule and several requirements associated with it, including the requirement...

One Less Thing to Worry About: FCC Waives This Year’s Form 317 Filing Requirement for Most TV Stations November 17, 2017

Most digital television licensees and permittees will not have to file the annual Form 317 DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report by December 1, 2017, the FCC announced in a Public Notice...

FCC Eliminates the Main Studio Rule and Related Requirements, Including Full-Time Staffing Obligation – But Changes Not Yet in Effect November 2, 2017

As expected, the FCC at its October meeting adopted a Report and Order (“Order”) eliminating the main studio rule and several requirements associated with it, including the requirement that broadcasters...

Local Media Ownership Rules to Be Relaxed Significantly at FCC’s November 16 Meeting October 27, 2017

Significant relaxation of the FCC’s local media ownership rules is close to becoming reality. At its November 16 meeting, the FCC will consider adopting an Order on Reconsideration that would...

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...