Washington Beat

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded Indianapolis-based WFYI Public Media a $1.5 million grant for America Amplified, a public media journalism initiative that focuses on listening to communities in the reporting process.

The award recognizes NAB’s centennial anniversary as the voice of America’s broadcasters, working to advance their interests through public policy advocacy, educational initiatives and support for content and technology innovation.

The FCC is now accepting applications from graduating law students and current judicial clerks for its Fall 2024 Attorney Honors Program. The Attorney Honors Program is the FCC’s primary vehicle for hiring entry-level attorneys.

"The NAB applauds the FCC for its hard work to ensure that its regulatory fee process allocates fees in a more fair and equitable way," says NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt, who calls this year's FY2023 final regulatory fee structure "a significant step toward ensuring all parties that benefit from the FCC's work pay their fair share."

FCC Media Bureau Chief Holly Saurer has issued a Hearing Designation Order to the licensee of five LPTV stations and Antonio Cesar Guel, the former head of Hispanic Christian Community Network, on the grounds that Guel and HCCN are "one and the same," abused Commission processes and violated its rules, and appear to have engaged in a "sham" transaction.

When a licensee fails to timely file a license renewal application, it's become a nice way for the Federal Communications Commission to meet its annual operating budget. On Thursday alone, five notices were sent to licensees of low-power TV stations for their individual transgressions. Collectively, should there be no reduction or cancellations of the proposed fines, the FCC stands to add $10,500 from its coffers. 

On August 10, 1993, the FCC was first given Congressional authority to run spectrum auctions. Five months ago, that authority expired for the first time in the agency's history.  Now, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is commemorating that anniversary with a plea to Capitol Hill legislators.

In response to the passage of Canada’s Online News Act, the Mark Zuckerberg-founded Meta blocked access to news on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users. The President/CEO of the U.S.'s National Association of Broadcasters and the President of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters condemned the move while signaling their support of Ottawa.

While the comments from pro-MVPD advocacy group ACA Connects are hardly surprising, the group led by President/CEO Grant Spellmeyer takes it a step further by using it as an opportunity to "address the real problem" — retrans and Regional Sports Networks fees.

The Chief of the FCC Media Bureau's Audio Division has handed a sizable proposed fine to the licensee of a Louisiana FM translator which was found to have constructed and operated from an unauthorized antenna for approximately two months.

From November 1 through November 8, the FCC's Media Bureau will hold a low-power FM filing window. Want to participate? The Bureau has unveiled filing procedures and requirements for getting involved, while also announcing a limited application filing freeze, which will begin on September 1.

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 funding bill put millions of dollars in advance appropriations into its version of legislation that saw the Republican-controlled House eliminate all advance dollars to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The continued expansion of its political sales division, Katz says, is designed "to meet its ever-increasing position in the marketplace." This includes new roles for individuals serving as President of Political Strategy for the Katz Television Group; a SVP of Political Sales; and VP/GM within the Katz Political Team.

The 2023 MMTC Former FCC Chairs' Symposium was heavy on discussions tied to closing the digital divide. And, given the 2-2 deadlock of the Rosenworcel Commission seen today, that's the focus of today's FCC. That said, issues of key interest to minority and multicultural broadcasters took center stage, and this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, offers excerpts from the event.  LISTEN HERE

The owner of a low-power television station licensed to a Montana city has received a proposed fine for tardiness. It's the latest example of how the FCC Media Bureau's Video Division, led by Barbara Kreisman, is pocketing at least $1,000 from a broadcaster — fines that could quickly add up to vital Commission operational funding.