Washington Beat

"In this rush to election day, broadcasters need to be on the alert for allegations that an attack ad from a non-candidate group is false or defamatory, because in certain instances, the ad could result in a claim against the broadcaster," esteemed Washington, D.C. communications attorney David Oxenford warns.

Add Kelly Coldiron, Executive Director of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations, to the list of supporters that want the FCC to approve TEGNA's takeover by Soo Kim-led Standard General.

The Chairwoman of the FCC has revealed a plan to reorganize the agency to "better support the needs of the growing satellite industry," as well as to promote "long-term technical capacity" at the Commission and navigate 21st century global communications policy. Under the plan, the FCC International Bureau will be transformed.

The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology has conditionally approved 13 proposed AFC database systems to finalize development for operations in the 6 GHz band and prepare for the testing phase. These systems manage spectrum access for 6 GHz band standard-power unlicensed devices.

It's been well documented by groups such as the TVB that there's no better outlet for political advertising than broadcast television. But, would a mix of spots that incorporates streaming TV be even more impactful for a candidate? A new research study says yes.

The Commission is opening a new window for applications under its Honors Engineer Program.  During this window, the FCC will be accepting applications from recent graduates with an engineering degree and current students graduating in December 2022.

Forecast 2023 presents an up-close-and-personal chat with NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the best and brightest talent in broadcasting and advertising. Hearst Television President Jordan Wertlieb will chat with LeGeyt, discussing his first year in a role previously held by Gordon Smith and, before that, Eddie Fritts.

The Commission expects that this examination is the first step in providing for more intensive use of the 12.7 GHz band, "unlocking a significant expanse of valuable mid-band frequencies that may play a key role in delivering on the promise of next-generation wireless services," — including 5G, 6G, and beyond. 

The Commission has before it,  for comparative consideration, 32 groups of mutually exclusive (MX) applications for new noncommercial educational FM station construction permits. With this week's release of a Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission performed threshold fair distribution of service analyses and used a point system to tentatively select an application for grant in each group.

The FCC's Administrative Law Judge has directed Joseph Armstrong and his Arm & Rage, licensee of an AM radio station with an FM translator in Tennessee, to produce additional documents that the Enforcement Bureau wishes to review in the case.

While Depeche Mode's 1990 single "Enjoy The Silence" may still be highly enjoyable by a wide swath of radio listeners today, taking the title of that classic track literally isn't a good thing. Just ask Augustus Foundation. It is being handed a proposed fine from the Audio Division of the FCC for being dark for four months. 

The Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission is traveling this week to survey firsthand recovery efforts associated with both Hurricanes Fiona and Ian.

Nexstar Media-owned and partner stations are hosting nearly 50 local and statewide candidate debates and forums from the primaries through Election Day. It puts another exclamation point on the continued vital importance of free-to-air TV for U.S. politics.

In the view of Mark Jamison, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, social media firms could find content moderation less controversial and burdensome if they look to the market and reevaluate the incentives at play within their platform designs and pricing strategies.

None other than Nancy Pelosi has chimed in on the matter. The proposed buyer responded with a statement that "sets the record straight" on the subject. Now, the Media Bureau of the FCC has issued a second information request for applications to transfer control of TEGNA to the entity led by Soohyung Kim.