Washington Beat

Here’s a list of the FCC’s latest licenses, construction permits and transfers of control—granted and dismissed—for TV, AM and FM. This list is current as of 3/24/14:

The FCC’s failure to change its 41-year-old media cross-ownership rules doesn’t sit well with the media brokers who spoke with RBR+TVBR

Does the First Amendment care who won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8, 2016? Erwin G. Krasnow, the co-chair of the Communications Group of Washington, D.C. law firm Garvey Schubert Barer, tackles this question in a column that delves into fairness, and the First Amendment, and where broadcasters are under a Trump presidency.

A longtime association member, former Chairman of the Board and current Foundation Secretary/Treasurer has been named "Incoming Executive Director" of the Radio Television Digital News Association and Foundation (RTDNA/F).

If there was one event that could bring together FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the top leaders of the broadcast television industry and an endless array of exhibitors eager to grow their media tech sales, the 2017 NAB Show now officially underway in Southern Nevada is the definitive draw.

In an unanimous 3-0 vote at today's FCC May Open meeting, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate the rule, which requires each AM, FM, and television broadcast station to have a main studio located in or near its local community.

Forget Taco John's: FCC Chairman Ajit Pai now has an opportunity to visit Torchy's, Velvet Taco or even the vegetarian/gluten free-friendly Tacodeli. Or, perhaps the JW Marriott in Austin, Tex., may want to have a plate of carnitas and carne asada at the ready. That's because Pai has been secured as a keynote speaker at the 2017 Radio Show's "Radio Luncheon" on Sept. 6 in Texas' capital city.

A March 8 House Communications and Technology Subcommittee oversight hearing of the FCC was scrubbed, as it was scheduled just hours after a similar hearing conducted by the Senate Commerce Committee. It has yet to be rescheduled, despite assurances it would be held by the end of July. Now, Democratic leaders are pressing hard for a date.

The first filing window for AM broadcasters to obtain new FM translator stations officially closed yesterday, concluding another chapter in the FCC's ongoing efforts to revitalize AM radio. According to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, more than 1,000 AM stations took advantage of it.

A bipartisan bill supporting the safe development of self-driving cars is set to be considered on the House floor next week, once Congress returns from its summer recess. The House Energy & Commerce Committee's two top leaders applauded the announcement, putting the Self Drive Act (H.R. 3388) on a fast track that may result in a long-term impact on broadcast radio.

There are moving boxes heading in both directions in the office of Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. That's because a senior legal advisor is returning after an 18 month absence, while another legal advisor is exiting.

The FCC acted quickly in giving its OK to WC Docket No. 10-90, which effectively removes what would have been the first order of business at its October Open Meeting from the agenda. This immediately provides up to $76.9 million to help restore cellular and other communications services in Puerto Rico and the USVI.

As the FCC moves toward a decision in "GN Docket No.16-142," which authorizes the permissive use of the much-heralded "Next Generation" broadcast television standard (ATSC 3.0), one big MVPD has asked the Commission to start applying its "light-touch regulation" Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Michael O'Rielly have been advocating since January.

Following details leaked by a source to The Wall Street Journal, the FCC on Tuesday morning made Washington's worst-kept secret official: What some call "net neutrality" and others bemoan as a hindrance to internet freedom will be up for vote at the Commission's Dec. 14 Open Meeting. The results won't be a surprise, with the GOP majority clearly in support of the "Restoring Internet Freedom Order." Why is this important for broadcasters? We have an RBR+TVBR Observation on that.