Washington Beat

The American Television Alliance (ATVA) has filed a Petition with the FCC that seeks reconsideration of three aspects of an order authorizing the permissive use of the next generation broadcast TV standard known as ATSC 3.0. It seeks separate negotiations, no flash-cut transitions for LPTVs, and full disclosure should a station "degrade their signals without warning viewers and MVPDs beforehand." We've got an RBR+TVBR Observation on the matter, so fasten your seat belts, MVPDs.

As expected, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday (3/6) authorized additional funds for broadcasters repacking their channels following the recently concluded FCC incentive auction. H.R. 4986, the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services, or RAY BAUM’S Act, passed by voice vote.

With primaries in some states happening as soon as this month, the 2018 election cycle is certain to be contentious and hard-fought. That's why Fletcher Heald & Hildreth attorney Dan Kirkpatrick, who counsels television and radio stations on compliance with FCC regulations affecting their day-to-day operations, as well as in the context of sale, purchase, and financing transactions, says now is the time for broadcasters to review their systems to ensure that they will be in compliance with the FCC’s political advertising requirements.

The FCC on March 1 unveiled its tentative March Open Meeting agenda, along with a special note that the March 22 gathering will start one hour earlier than usual, at 9:30am. While most of the agenda items do not pertain to broadcast media, there's something that will be of interest to some TV station owners. 

A pair of Asset Purchase Agreements were filed with the FCC on Wednesday, March 1, that in the eyes of the Commission are no different than any other. The stations' licenses are going from one party to another. Money is being exchanged. However, there is a caveat: Through a "Shared Services Agreement," the seller will still have a large level of control of the stations. Is this fair? The Ajit Pai-led FCC says yes. Under prior FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, the likelihood of these spins passing muster with the Commission would have been far more risky.

The Attorneys General of Illinois, California, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia have filed comments with the FCC in response to a NPRM on the national television audience reach limit and the so-called "UHF discount." "As the chief consumer protection and law enforcement officers in our respective states, we are responsible for promoting and defending the public interest," they say in unison. They then politely asked the Commission to ditch the discount, and prevent any increase of the reach cap.

It's 64 degrees and sunny in Gaithersburg, Md., and spring is getting ever closer. So, it seems like a good day to announce a window opening. Only, this one is for the filing of FM translator new station Construction Permit applications for some 165 "Tech Box" proposals.

On January 18, the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) filed an extension request with the FCC, asking it to elongate the period of time provided for comments and reply comments in a rulemaking proceeding tied to new entry and ownership diversity in broadcast media. The FCC on Tuesday made its decision: No.

Two Lone Star Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, from different parties, have formally asked the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee for the inclusion of funds specifically designated for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by local radio stations from the post-FCC spectrum auction "repack" process in its 2018 appropriations bill.

In October 2015, Paul Cicelski joined Lerman Senter PLLC as an attorney following a nearly 11-year tenure at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLC. Now, Cicelski is officially a Member of the firm.

As featured Media Information Bureau columnist Ken Benner on February 17 prepared the first draft of this latest column, he was fielding panic calls and e-mails from frustrated broadcast licensees attempting to file their FCC biennial ownership reports after being warned of substantial fines for failing to do so. Benner attempted to access the appropriate FCC database, mimicking what these licenses had experienced. He quickly realized their frustration.

Tuesday will see a flood of broadcast media professionals in the Nation's Capital. Some 600 local radio and TV broadcasters will gather in Washington, D.C. to discuss legislative and regulatory issues important to their business at the NAB's annual State Leadership Conference.

Here comes another paper conservation effort from the FCC. The Commission has moved forward with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate a broadcast filing requirement and instead rely on publicly available information in its periodic reviews of broadcaster employment practices.

Don't expect Ajit Pai to be trailed by paparazzi snapping photos of him lounging poolside at the La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort in San Juan. This is a four-day early March sojourn to Puerto Rico and the USVI that's all about the status of communications restoration efforts after the 2017 hurricane season. As of Friday, between 21% and 40% of cell phone towers in eastern Puerto Rico remain dark.

A Report and Order that could make your lives easier will no longer be up for debate and discussion at Thursday's February Open Meeting of the FCC's Commissioners. That's because there is nothing left to debate — all five Commission leaders no longer believe it is necessary for broadcast TV and radio stations to maintain paper copies of FCC rules.