Washington Beat

A tentative selectee was chosen in "NCE MX Group 200" by the Media Bureau's Audio Division. Then came a Petition to Deny from one of the applicants who wasn't chosen by the Commission. Al Shuldiner, the Audio Division Chief, reviewed the petition, and subsequently denied it.

The cease-and-desist actions are a result of the PIRATE Act, and it puts the landlords on notice that they could end up with a $2 million fine if the property owner doesn't take measures to stop any individual or entity who is considered to be a broadcasting buccaneer.

In 1989, he purchased this AM, changing the format from Country to Blues, Gospel, and Soul Music. In his bio, Roosevelt Gremillion admits, “I didn’t know much about owning or operating a radio station, but I was willing to learn…I had no choice!” Now, Gremillion is learning another lesson.

Licensee, beware: the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has issued the first of its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audit letters for 2023 to randomly selected radio and television stations. What should you do if your station or stations have received a letter?

It seemed pretty plain and simple: An FM translator licensed to Opp, Alabama, was to be transferred to the licensee of WAMI-AM from the seller. Then came an informal objection courtesy of Marble City Media. It turns out that had merit with FCC Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner.

With the release on Tuesday by the Commission of a Report & Order, amendments to Part 74 of the Commission's rules for low-power television and television translators to remove obsolete rules for analog TV operations are now in effect.

Retired D.C. attorney Erwin Krasnow and Doug Ferber of Tieline are still being talked about at the NAB Show among brokers, attorneys and executives for their exclusive articles that appeared in RBR+TVBR on what can go wrong at closing for a buyer or seller, and how to ensure that the closing is completed on the scheduled date. Here's a classic column from 2019 that demonstrates what they said best.

New DTS rules for Class A television and low power television (LPTV) stations are coming, and we now know when thanks to FCC Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer.

A media company largely known for its conservative spoken word AM radio stations and Christian-themed programming has received word that it is to be audited to ensure its royalty payments to SoundExchange over the past three years are up to snuff.

In a Public Notice released last week, the FCC announced the comment deadlines concerning the March 30, 2023 NPRM to implement the Low Power Protection Act.  Comments are due May 15, and reply comments are due June 13. For the LPTVBA, comments are needed. And, the association's position is simple.

The FCC’s empty chair is a hot topic. Hispanic advocacy groups feel they are not being heard by the White House. Midterm election results are in, and the GOP controls the House. How will that impact the legislative and FCC issues facing broadcasters in Washington? An important session at the upcoming Hispanic Radio Conference in Miami is poised to tackle these questions and more.

The FCC on April 20 will hold an Open Meeting on a series of subjects that largely are outside the scope of broadcast radio or television. However, there is one agenda item pertaining to low-power TV that is up for discussion.

How costly is a television station licensee's failure to timely file a license renewal application for its facilities?  For a Nevada owner of several low-power TV stations, a possible $16,500 fine could be the penalty.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the ONE Media 3.0 subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group have successfully launched the nation’s first pilot project to use ATSC 3.0 next-generation broadcast television standard to disseminate advanced emergency information.

As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, there are exactly 129 fewer broadcast radio stations in the U.S. Of these now-erased broadcast facilities, 12 were AM stations. So, where did the bulk of disappearances occur?