Washington Beat

The licensee of four TV translator stations in Mendocino County, Calif., has agreed to sign a Consent Decree in order to end an investigation into its tardy submission of license renewal applications with the FCC.

The family-owned licensee of a trio of Eastern Washington broadcast television stations is resolving a FCC rule flap by signing a Consent Decree with the Media Bureau. At issue: issues/programs list uploads to the Online Public File and complete responses in applications submitted with the Commission.

What do a community radio station that broadcasts "a diverse and vibrant program schedule" to rural Southeast Alaska and a public broadcast service in one of America's largest markets have in common? Each are receiving a significant sum of money from CPB to upgrade their equipment to provide enhanced emergency alerting.

The junior Republican Commissioner at the FCC has been selected to serve as a keynote speaker at the annual summit staged by the voice Inside the Beltway of small and independently owned MVPD and broadband service providers across the U.S. 

The top Democrat on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee will be staying as Ranking Member once the 119th Congress begins after the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump.

The FCC's December Open Meeting concluded with the soon-to-depart Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, taking a moment to welcome one new staff member while saluting no less than seven retirees.

The voice of broadcasters Inside the Beltway wants the FCC's retroactive application of an extension to a waiver that negates a rule requiring broadcasters to provide an aural representation of visual, non-textual emergency information — such as radar maps or other graphics — on a secondary audio stream.

The Chief of the FCC Media Bureau's Audio Division has signed a Consent Decree that will end the Commission's investigation into why the licenses for an AM radio station serving Oregon's state capital and its FM translator partner were transferred between family members — twice — without proper authorization.

A group of emergency management professionals from some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene - and best served by AM radio in the aftermath - are the latest to implore Congress to get the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed by the year's end.

A coalition of New York City and State public safety officials and emergency response leaders is calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to ensure passage of the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act before the current Congress ends.

The Copyright Royalty Judges who sit on the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board have approved a cost of living adjustment to the royalty rate that certain noncommercial radio stations at secular educational institutions must pay next year. The rates are for stations not affiliated with NPR.

The American Consumer Institute, through Policy Analyst Nate Scherer, is the latest to voice strong support for the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would require automakers to include AM radio access in all new electric vehicle models.

The Chairwoman of the FCC has written to specific Members of Congress to ask them to push forward during the "Lame Duck" remainder of the current legislative session with fully funding the Commission's Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program.

Gray Television and privately held SagamoreHill Broadcasting have gotten the regulatory approval to proceed with a plan that effectively substitutes one channel for another — twice — in a Table of TV Allotments adjustment for Lubbock, Tex.

She's presently the Chief of the FCC's Media Bureau and may not be in the role come January 21. Nevertheless, Holly Saurer today is an influencer when it comes to broadcast media regulatory policy, and that likely explains why the head of the LPTV Broadcasters Association last week met with her and key colleagues to discuss the group's priorities.