Washington Beat

The FCC's Media Bureau is reminding United States-based foreign media outlets of the Commission's next semi-annual disclosure deadline. Here are the details on what impacted broadcast stations should do, and by what date.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives have grown substantially in the U.S. private sector over the last two years. Now, the FCC has added a Senior Advisor for DEI matters while also welcoming a Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration.

Several stations failed to file license renewal applications. As such, their licenses will expire as of October 1 — provided no renewal application is received by midnight on the date of expiration.

But, there was an "OPIF" issue that the Media Bureau uncovered. To resolve the failure to maintain program lists and issues in the stations' online public inspection files during the relevant terms, a Consent Decree has been reached between the FCC and the licensee.

In late May, the Orono, Me., TV station offering PBS programming to the community and its surrounding region has asked the FCC for a swap of its VHF signal for a more powerful UHF facility. This came concurrent to a near-identical request from its Augusta, Me., sibling. The upgrades for the Maine Public properties are coming soon.

She's relatively new to her role as Media Bureau Chief. The LPTV Broadcasters Association is relatively new in advocating "Local Power TV," and its low-power TV licensees, in Washington. This led the LPTV leaders to chat with Holly Saurer, sharing with her the key legislative desires they have.

Joe Crowley, who heads the recording industry organization that has failed to secure Congressional support of the "American Music Fairness Act," has blasted the promise of some 218 House members who are now co-sponsors of the NAB-supported "Local Radio Freedom Act." In particular, Crowley calls the non-binding resolution "a meaningless accomplishment."

A noncommercial Class A FM serving the state capital of New Jersey has entered into a Consent Decree with the FCC's Media Bureau to resolve an 'OPIF' compliance issue that arose when it sought to renew its license with the Commission.

Among the large and small radio broadcasters the NAB says is against GeoBroadcast Solution's "ZoneCasting" technology is Urban One. Now, one of the company's board members has written to the FCC in support of ZoneCasting. Naturally, the company seeking to get the Commission to OK a rulemaking allowing ZoneCasting to happen says it is a sign the Urban One board doesn't wholly agree on the matter — even if the statement didn't come from Urban One itself.

One of the key pieces of legislation that the NAB is fighting for across 2022 is the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, presently seeking support in both the House and Senate. To gain GOP votes, there have been some revisions to the bill. And, those changes got a resounding signal of approval from the National Association of Broadcasters' President and CEO on Monday.

In 2006, after 7 years at Dish Network in its government relations arm, Ross Lieberman departed for a role at what was then known as the American Cable Association, the industry lobbying group representing small-market and smaller MVPDs across the U.S. He rose from VP/Government Affairs to SVP/Government Affairs over his nearly 15 1/2 years at the organization today known as ACA Connects. Now, he's stepping aside. 

With local shows meshed with H&I digital multicast programming, K26GS-D and its owner, Reynolds Media Inc., are perhaps the epitome of what a LPTV facility aims to be. Unfortunately, the Media Bureau has a different take on K26GS-D's operations. In particular, it violated rules regarding the appearance of legally qualified candidates for office.

Securing an attorney was key to the continuation of a license revocation hearing at the FCC, called to determine whether or not WWGH-LPFM in Marion, Ohio, had engaged in a 2019 improper license transfer and improperly listed the name of a deceased individual on its board of directors submitted to the Commission. An attorney was not secured. As such, the hearing proceeding has been dismissed.

America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) submitted comments on Tuesday in response to the third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the state of the “Next Generation” broadcast television transition.

GOP-aligned Capitol Hill publication The Hill, today owned by Nexstar Media Group, has launched a streaming channel. It marks the political news brand's first foray into OTT and "builds upon The Hill’s success as an essential, agenda-setting read for lawmakers, policymakers and influential digital consumers from Capitol Hill to Main Street."