Washington Beat

On January 8, 2018, the FCC's Media Bureau issued a Maine permittee a construction permit for an FM translator. The owner of the facility had three years to submit an application for a license. But, it didn't make that deadline date. The FCC is accepting the tardiness, but it will come at a price.

Not much has changed in its mission as Jack Mills has been elected to replace the retiring John Terrill as NTA President. As such, Mills will assume the leadership of an organization devoted to serving its members in the same way it always had. Only, it has a new name.

The Commission has signed off on two Consent Decrees — with no financial penalty, or contribution to the U.S. Treasury, to worry about — handed to a pair of broadcasting companies devoted to super-serving Spanish-language listeners. 

Some 1,282 applications were received; all were reviewed to identify singletons — applications that are not mutually exclusive with any other application filed in the window and can be accepted for filing. Some had defects, the Media Bureau says. And, those defective singleton applications have been dismissed.

One decade ago, then-FCC Chairman Jules Genachowski praised the Obama Administration's Democratic nominee for a seat on the FCC. Today, that nominee is now Chairwoman. As she looks ahead to her new role, how Jessica Rosenworcel got to the highest post at the FCC wasn't an easy ride.

The NBC affiliate serving Panama City Beach, Fla., has become the latest television station to receive a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for failing to timely file its quarterly TV issues/programs lists. How much is Gray Television paying to the FCC as a result of the transgression?

For the first time since 1992, reauthorization of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration could be at hand. A bill introduced Wednesday by the Senate Commerce Committee's Ranking Member and the top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband would do so. And, the legislation would also reform NTIA's role in a way.

On November 15, the FCC adopted and released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to update its rules for applicants proposing directional antenna facilities for FM and Low Power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations. With the NPRM's publication on Tuesday in the Federal Register, Comment and Reply Comment dates are now in effect.

The FCC's Media Bureau has identified 231 MX groups, comprising some 883 applications, in its filing window for applications for new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits, which closed on November 9. What's next? A new window for settlements and technical amendments.

He's a NAB board member and the only Black owner-operator of full-power "Big Four" network broadcast affiliates in the U.S. Now, Byron Allen is vocalizing his support of President Biden's choice to serve as a Democratic Commissioner on the FCC: Gigi Sohn.

A December 2 forum will explore the state of closed captioning availability for online video programming and discuss ways to enhance accessibility.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) are providing additional details on a "Section 230" legislative hearing.

Come December 14, Jessica Rosenworcel hopes to hit a high note with a proposal intended to improve the clarity and accessibility of Emergency Alert System visual messages and tests, especially for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or are otherwise unable to access the audio message.

The Copyright Royalty Judges have made a cost of living adjustment to the royalty rate that non-NPR Member noncommercial radio stations "at certain colleges, universities, and other educational institutions" must pay for the use in 2022 of published nondramatic musical compositions in the SESAC repertory — pursuant to the statutory license under the Copyright Act for noncommercial broadcasting. 

It's little secret that they are very much against the “Build Back Better” reconciliation package passed on a party-line vote by Democrats. But, two leading Republicans on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee are disgusted over what they perceive is an "unprecedented influx of funding" to the FCC.