Washington Beat

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.

As the FCC's July Open Meeting came to its conclusion, so did the tenure of the Chief Counsel for Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Meet the new Chief Counsel to Rosenworcel, as well as the new Chief Legal Advisor and her Acting Legal Advisor on the Affordable Connectivity Program and other wireline issues.

The FCC has handed the Hobbs Seventh–Day Adventist Church of the Texico Conf. Assn., the licensee of a low-power television station in New Mexico, a proposed fine. Why?

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved H.R. 4250, the "Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act," which provides federal-level protections for journalists regarding disclosure of confidential sources. Among those who worked hard to get the full floor vote in the House is Rep. Jamin Raskin.

Public service announcements filmed in NAB’s studio featuring over 150 members of Congress and their families are available to local television and radio stations across the country through their Extreme Reach inbox.

Consider yourselves warned, broadcasters. With the Monday release of a Public Notice, the FCC's Media Bureau is reminding all U.S. broadcast licensees of the importance of filing their biennial ownership reports.

Dollars distributed through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting via a Congressional act are vital to noncommercial educational radio and TV stations, with both NPR and PBS impacted by any Congressional action that could curtail funding. That's why the President/CEO of CPB is speaking out against a House of Representatives subcommittee's funding proposal for fiscal 2024 that strips the corporation of significant dollars.