Washington Beat

Need to know what to plan for over the next three months? Fletcher Heald & Hildreth has provided a great summary of the broadcast deadlines you'll need to take note of. Simply click here, and be sure to print it and share with those at your radio or TV stations who are actively involved with these tasks!

On September 24, the U.S. Department of Labor published final regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act that raised the minimum salary level necessary to be exempt from federal overtime rules under the Act by almost 50%.  While the changes affect all businesses subject to the FLSA, broadcasters in particular may feel the impact.

Who's representing the individual representing the licensee of a group of AM radio stations in the St. Louis market involved in a license revocation hearing? That's unclear, and the Administrative Law Judge involved has received documents indicating it is not a Fletcher Heald & Hildreth attorney.

In June, Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner and his wife, Karen, were engaged in a 100+ station alternative broadcast inspection tour during which there was substantial concern about translator compliance. He writes about his experiences in this exclusive column.

What's on the agenda? Three enforcement actions, and a report and order that would revise the Commission’s Noncommercial Educational Broadcast Station and Low Power FM Station comparative processing and licensing rules, are up for discussion on Dec. 12. 

The FCC on Friday announced the winners of the agency’s Excellence in Economic Analysis, Excellence in Engineering Analysis, and Employee of the Year Awards. Chairman Ajit Pai made the announcement at the Novembers Open Commission Meeting, commending the winners.

Despite overwhelming opposition to any new royalty payments for radio stations on Capitol Hill, legislation pushed by the Recording Industry Association of America and artist and music publishing organizations continues to pop up. In the House, the latest effort is the "AM/FM Act."

Without the tools needed to foment multicultural owners, "we may not have an opportunity to learn, to lead, and to own," warns the VP/GM of an Urban radio station in the nation's No. 1 revenue market. The comments came at the FCC Media Bureau symposium on current and future trends in broadcast media.

A partnership with Google News Initiative will allow Stringr to supply national and local news organizations of all sizes with broadcast, digital, and raw video content to supplement their election coverage efforts.

An appellate litigator and nearly 50-year veteran of the FCC's Office of General Counsel has passed. The death of Grey Pash led to several tributes on social media, including one from General Counsel Tom Johnson, who called Pash "a kind and humble colleague and devoted public servant with an impressive record."

On Nov. 6, the "STAR" act made its unofficial debut in the Senate. On Monday, a New York Congressman put the wheels in motion on a likely introduction of what's being called the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act of 2019—companion legislation with a slightly different tone. 

"Senate passage of the 'PIRATE Act' is imminent and that we should see it signed into law in the near term," says FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association's Sound Bites 2019 event in the city of Framingham.

The FCC in October adopted and released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on whether it should eliminate or revise the requirements, in sections 73.239 and 73.635 of the Commission’s rules, regarding access to FM and TV broadcast antenna sites. The due date for formal comments and reply comments is now set.

Of the 57 pages of informational handouts Alternative Broadcast Inspector and Media Information Bureau featured columnist Ken Benner also carries with him when visiting every radio or TV station is one that he's pleased to share with RBR+TVBR readers today.