Washington Beat

The ongoing effort to update the Commission’s application filing systems has led to the full transition to the FCC's LMS online electronic system of all call sign reservation filings. When's the effective date, and what does this mean for radio and TV broadcast licensees?

In September 2020, it was new. Now, the public will finally get the chance to see the interior of the FCC's L Street headquarters themselves. 

Nearly three years ago, Entravision filed FCC paperwork seeking an upgrade to one of its stations. It is inching closer to that goal, thanks to a January 2022 Order from the FCC that will give it the ability to serve Phoenix's western metropolitan area at 106.7 FM. To make it happen, another licensee needed to make a channel change. It wasn't free, and that licensee wants to be reimbursed by Entravision. The FCC just made sure that's going to happen.

The ATVA this week filed an ex parte letter with the FCC addressing its concerns surrounding a NAB proposal that would allow originating stations to arrange for “host” stations to transmit their ATSC 1.0 multicast programming. The pro-MVPD group took the time to suggest "modest improvements" to the plan.

The Media Bureau has denied an Informal Objection submitted to the Commission with respect to its tentative selectee of a future noncommercial FM radio station, in a group of mutually exclusive potential licensees. As such, an application from an Arizona institution of higher learning has been selected as the tentative license holder.

On January 25, the FCC released an order updating the political programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite service providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service licensees. What wasn't known then — the effective date of the new rules — has just been codified by the Commission.

Ad intelligence data firm AdImpact has chosen its cross-platform measurement partner for political linear and connected TV (CTV) campaigns.

The FCC's Administrative Law Judge is giving Marion Education Exchange exactly 20 days to respond to requests tied to a license revocation hearing that it's seemingly not heeded. The inaction even led the licensee's attorney — George M. Wolfe (pictured) — to withdraw as counsel.

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.

A number of politicians have posted comments on social media. They've Tweeted about it as well, indicating they're in favor of the report. Now, you can have your say on a Petition for Rulemaking that would establish a content vendor diversity report at the FCC.

The Policy Division of the FCC's Media Bureau has signed off on an application for certification to operate an open video system serving a host of major markets. With no comments regarding the application received by the Commission, it has gone forward with an affirmative nod to the ask.

Licensee Ted Austin received a Hearing Designation Order from the FCC that could result in the deletion of an AM radio station serving Pocatello, Idaho. It came in response to a license renewal application the Media Bureau scrutinized, questioning its minimal record of operation. Austin wanted the FCC to "delete all issues" related to the Order. The FCC's ALJ said no.

As part of an FCC initiative to bring new noncommercial FM radio stations to life, the Media Bureau conducted an auction. As part of the recent affair, mutually exclusive (MX) applicants arose, as is normal in such endeavors. For one MX group, the Media Bureau identified a tentative selectee. Another applicants protested. And, they've indirectly gotten their wish.

A Republican GOP Member from Kansas has introduced bipartisan legislation that would lengthen the federal government’s authority to auction off wireless spectrum, "reauthorizing an important source of revenue for the U.S. Treasury." It would involve radio spectrum, but would it impact broadcasters in any way?

The successor to Matthew Polka as the leader of the nation's key advocacy and lobbying organization representing small-sized and independent MVPDs and broadband services providers has been revealed. Taking over as the head of ACA Connects, formerly the American Cable Association: an individual who was most recently Vice President of Government Affairs at U.S. Cellular.