Washington Beat

The process of renewing a radio station's license has the potential of uncovering a failure to adhere to Commission rules. And, that's exactly what has happened to an Iowa broadcaster, who faces fines for not abiding by online public file requirements.

The ceremony, which honors broadcasters for their outstanding commitment to public service, will be held on June 6 at The Anthem in Southwest Washington and will see ABC News' weekend "Good Morning America" co-anchor hold the emcee mic.

On May 23, three key members of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee announced plans to hold a Committee hearing in early June on the importance of AM radio installation in new cars. On Tuesday, full details as to when the hearing would take place were revealed.

The FCC's Media Bureau has granted an additional 18-month waiver of emergency information accessibility requirements, something that the NAB had petitioned for.

The FCC council charged with providing recommendations to ensure that underserved communities "are not denied the wide range of opportunities made possible by next-generation networks without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability" will be active for another two years.

The NAB-fueled Congressional quest to mandate AM radio accessibility in all new vehicles sold in the U.S. is rapidly moving forward, as three key members of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair have announced plans to hold a Committee hearing in early June on the importance of AM radio installation in new cars.

The White House not only moved forward with its intention to nominate Anna Gomez to fill the fifth FCC Commissioner's seat, but also signaled on Monday that it will re-nominate a Republican and a Democrat for additional five-year terms as Commissioners. 

As RBR+TVBR reported on Wednesday, the FCC has released a lengthy Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that offers one important takeaway for broadcast media companies — regulatory fees for fiscal 2023 are going down. The NAB is quite pleased with that.

New rules preserve a portion of the band for Advanced Satellite Broadband while considering how to promote Advanced Terrestrial Broadband in the rest of the band, the Commission announced on Thursday following a unanimous vote at the FCC's May Open Meeting.

How much could your radio or TV station pay in regulatory fees to the FCC for fiscal 2023? The proposed new rates have been issued in a Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. They are not final, and a comment date and reply comment date have been established.

A September 2021 reconsideration letter sent to the FCC by the licensee of a FM translator serving Bennington, Vermont, that saw its license expire and call letters deleted has scored a victory at the Commission. As such, this mini-FM is coming back from the dead.

On Monday, funding for the proposed acquisition of TEGNA by Standard General, led by Soohyung Kim, expires. Two key Members of Congress are less than pleased with that situation, and have called on the Inspector General of the FCC to "investigate Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s unprecedented actions against Standard General’s application to acquire TEGNA.”

"After more than three years, the unprecedented circumstances that necessitated the 2020 Public Notice are no longer present," says the FCC's Media Bureau. As such, the temporary relief provided by the Commission when it comes to lowest unit charge guidance for political advertising has been rescinded.

A digital LPTV station operated at reduced power without proper special temporary authority for nearly three and a half years. While the licensee blames the transgression on "a confluence of misjudgments and distractions," Video Division Chief Barbara Kreisman is moving forward with a proposed fine.

Are the lone opportunities in television associated with low-power TV stations? Is the broker pool about to get shallower, because the deal-making marketplace simply can no longer support so many? Bob Heymann, the Chicago-based broker with Media Services Group, answers these questions and more in this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, hosted by Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson.  LISTEN HERE