Washington Beat

"When you consider what some D.C. Communications lawyers charge per hour, we’re talking a real bargain here," says featured columnist Ken Benner. He's finger-pointing some 1,947 pages on the subject of compliance, and the price for both volumes for the code of Federal regulations.

So, you thought you'd get in to broadcast television ownership via Auction 104? A change in plans is now necessary. The FCC just scrapped its plans to conduct the low-power station swap meet.

Starting September 25, seven different types of radio station applications will transition from the existing CDBS database system to the FCC's Licensing and Management System (LMS). It's vitally important information for every radio station, as the CDBS application forms listed here will be decommissioned.

Wednesday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on STELAR reauthorization saw Montana Democrat Jon Tester state his case. He's not a fan of it, as it gives DirecTV an out for not providing local news in two DMAs where he has constituents. How did AT&T's SVP/Content and Programming respond?

Two TV stations in the South's biggest market were singled out for failing to include in their respective online political files "certain information about requests to purchase political advertising time for non-candidate issue advertisements." The Media Bureau on Tuesday issued an Order intended to resolve the matter.

Mike O'Rielly has been the radio industry's No. 1 point person at the FCC under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, largely due to his fierce efforts to silence pirate radio operators. Then, there is his anti-payola efforts. But, O'Rielly is also a key voice at the Commission on TV industry needs, and he'll be at the Grand Hyatt in Washington in March for a big cable industry event.

While the retiring Greg Walden may today be radio's best friend in D.C. politics, thanks to his former ownership of Hood River, Ore., stations, a Minnesota Republican -- teaming with a Pennsylvania Democrat -- has just made a major move that positions him as perhaps the new leading buddy for radio and TV on Capitol Hill.

The judge presiding over the royalty litigation between BMI and the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) on March 23 approved a settlement between these parties. But, as Wilkinson Barker Knauer partner David Oxenford notes, the settlement of this case still leaves many other music royalty issues for commercial radio broadcasters.

What did the NAB's COO say Wednesday to a group of U.S. Senators regarding the scope of music rights within the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)?  Curtis LeGeyt had a lot to discuss, and much of his conversation centered on the role broadcast radio plays in the U.S.

On June 9, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling and NPRM designed to foster the growth of next-generation data services enabled by the transition of digital television to the ATSC 3.0 standard. Now, it has formally established a comment and reply comment period for its Broadcast Internet NPRM, something TV stations are poised to greatly benefit from.

There's no longer any uncertainty or worry for those holding Auction 99 or Auction 100-awarded construction permits due to expire on or before June 21, 2021 who have not yet fully launched the FM translator stations associated with these CPs. That's because the FCC Media Bureau has given the green light to COVID-19 related requests for a waiver.

Democratic Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (Calif.), a senior member of the House Communications and Technology Subcommittee, has praised a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released Monday by the FCC that would require the identification of foreign government sponsored broadcast TV and radio content.

The FCC has issued a Report and Order updating its rules to promote the introduction of ATSC 3.0-enabled innovative ancillary and supplementary broadcast services, a.k.a Broadcast Internet. The positive response from key lobbying groups in Washington, D.C., was immediate, and positive.

"Congress has given the FCC its marching orders, and we are not wasting time." Those are the words of acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who released on Tuesday the agenda for the Commission's February Open Meeting. It will be her first heading the agency.

An AM/FM combo serving a small Mississippi town southeast of Memphis could be liable for a cash penalty for failing to submit its license renewal applications to the FCC in a timely manner.