Man Who Threatened Pai’s Family Gets Prison Time
A 33-year man residing in the Los Angeles area was sentenced on Friday to nearly two years in prison for threatening to murder the family of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The accused offered a guilty plea on Aug. 31, 2018, following his late June 2018 arrest.
Here’s When You Can Trash FCC Form 397
On February 14, the FCC adopted a Report and Order that eliminates for good its Broadcast Mid-Term Report, which used Form 397. When can radio and TV stations stop using the form for good? Here's the answer, fresh from the Commission.
‘Regulatory Humility’: The Pai Commission Explained
"An excellent speech" was delivered Wednesday at the Media Institute's Communication Forum Luncheon by FCC General Counsel Tom Johnson. That, at least, was the opinion of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who praised Johnson for touching on everything from weddings to FM radio.
Can House Democrats Work With GOP On Key FCC Action?
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) is concerned that Democrats leading the House E&C Committee won't engage in bipartisan action on rural broadband connectivity improvements. Could this lack of bipartisanship thwart the 2018 Quadrennial Review of FCC Ownership Rules?
Pai’s Newest Crusade: Curbing Robocalls
The scourge of robocalls is a plague that has America suffering miserably. Luckily, the nation has a champion committed to putting an end to those unwanted calls. Wearing the super-hero cape as the anti-Spam Call Crusader? FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
An FCC Chairman’s 20th Anniversary Salute To WiFi
Who knew in 2008 that wireless internet technology would be an essential way of life for millions of Americans? WiFi is now two decades old, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai remarked on WiFi's past, present and future on Tuesday at the Wi-Fi World Congress 2019 in Northern Virginia.
New 39 GHz Reconfiguration Procedures for Auction 103
The FCC on Tuesday adopted updated procedures to reconfigure and modify existing 39 GHz licenses in preparation for Auction 103 -- the incentive auction of upper microwave flexible use service licenses in the 37 GHz, 39 GHz, and 47 GHz bands. Here are the details.
Redl Resigns As FM Translator Interference R&O Gets OK
For 18 months, David Redl served at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. On Thursday morning, word of Redl's resignation became known, thanks in large part to the FCC, which at its May Open Meeting said yes to a FM translator R&O.
House Committee Says Yes To More Public Broadcasting Dollars
Don't think having Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives makes a difference for PBS and NPR? The House Appropriations Committee has proposed $495 million in advance funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal year 2022.
NAB Hears Coalition For Transparency Concerns
"I never thought we’d see the day the pleadings of [my group] would ever be addressed by the NAB, despite my many years of pleading for its assistance," featured columnist Ken Benner writes."You have got to see this to believe it!" he exclaims. What's he so excited about?
FCC Reg Fee NPRM Adopted, With Comment Dates Set
A proposal “to fine-tune the FCC’s collection of regulatory fees” was scheduled to round out Thursday's May Open Meeting. However, there was no need for debate, and an NPRM was adopted Tuesday. Here are the Comment Date and Reply Comment Date details.
LRFA Support Grows In House, Senate
Five Members of the House of Representatives and two Senators have added their co-sponsorship to a resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations.
Pai’s Plea To Senate Seeks OK On 2020 Budget
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday offered a general assessment of what the Commission has accomplished in recent months while presenting a fiscal 2020 budget request that trims its 2019 dollars by a few million dollars.
FCC Opens Comment Period On Univision Radio Plan
In mid-April, it became known that Univision wants the FCC's approval to give a Mexico-based wholly owned subsidiary direct ownership of Univision Radio. A foreign ownership ruling was requested, and the FCC just said yes. Here's when Comments are due.
Polka Pans Sinclair’s Plan For RSNs
A Pittsburgh-based group is voicing its dissent to a deal that would see Sinclair Broadcast Group grab regional sports networks (RSNs) being spun in order for The Walt Disney Co. to complete its purchase of Twenty-First Century Fox.