WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FCC’s December Open Meeting is scheduled for December 11, and the official agenda has been released by the Commission. It will be the final meeting to see Jessica Rosenworcel preside as the agency’s head, and among the items up for consideration is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would amend its rules for radio and TV stations “to reflect current application processing requirements.”
The “Broadcast Rule Update,” MB Docket No. 24-626, is also designed to “clarify and harmonize provisions, and remove references to outdated procedures and legacy filing systems.”
In Rosenworcel’s words, “These changes would help ensure that the Commission’s rules are accurate, reducing potential confusion among the public, applicants, licensees, and practitioners, and alleviating unnecessary burdens.”
While not specific, these changes will be part of the final items that Rosenworcel will vote on, as she is expected to depart with the conclusion of President Biden’s term. As such, it is expected that a controversial Notice of Proposed Rulemaking mandating broadcasters to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in political advertisements on radio and television will be left to the forthcoming Carr Commission. The broadcasting industry and Republicans in Washington have expressed their displeasure with the NPRM. And, with partisan rulemaking likely suspended through the remainder of a “lame duck” Congress, the proposed legislation is likely dead.
Meanwhile, Thursday will see Commissioners consider a proposal to further bring GeoBraodcast Services’ “ZoneCasting” to life by allowing FM booster stations to originate programming beyond its current experimental basis. This was approved unanimously by the FCC in April, pending the adoption of specific rules under a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
