Category: Legal Law

Annual Regulatory Fees Due by September 25 – FCC Releases Public Notices and Fact Sheets on Paying Those Fees |…

The Last Two Weeks in Regulation for Broadcasters:  August 25, 2025 to September 5, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip…

Windows for Filing Applications for LPTV and TV Translator Major Changes and New Stations Announced By FCC | Broadcast Law…

Last Friday, the FCC released its Order adopting the regulatory fees to be paid by broadcasters and other regulated entities…

September 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – FCC Regulatory Fees, Political Windows, EAS Event Code, Rulemaking Comment Deadlines, and more…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  August 18, 2025 to August 22, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

BMI and ASCAP Enter into Agreements with Commercial Radio Industry – Music Royalty Rates Going Up Retroactive to 2022 |…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  August 11, 2025 to August 15, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

A Closer Look At the FCC’s First EEO Notice of 2025 –  New Questions to Root Out DEI Issues |…

FCC Issues First EEO Audit Notice of 2025 – To Audit 300 Radio and TV Stations | Broadcast Law Blog…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  August 4, 2025 to August 8, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

FCC Delays Filing Date for Biennial Ownership Report While Considering Its Value – What Other Broadcast Regulatory Obligations May Be…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  July 28, 2025 to August 1, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

August 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Watching for the Annual Reg Fee Announcement, EEO Annual Filings, Comment Deadlines, and…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  July 21, 2025 to July 25, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Court of Appeals Throws Out TV Top 4 Ownership Prohibition – What is Next for Radio and Other Local TV…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  July 14, 2025 to July 18, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

$222,500 Penalty for TV Indecency – Reminder to Secure Access to Broadcast Product | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Comment Dates Set on the FCC Request to Update the Record on the 39% National TV Ownership Cap | Broadcast…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

FCC Asks for Public Comment on Proposal to Update the 39% National Ownership Cap for Television | Broadcast Law Blog…

July 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters –Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Comment Deadlines, Political Windows, and more | Broadcast Law Blog Skip…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

FCC Announces Effective Date of Modifications to Rules Governing the Purchase of Broadcast Airtime By Agents of Foreign Governments |…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

FCC Loses Two Commissioners and a Quorum – What Does It Mean for Broadcasting? | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

June 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Annual EEO Public File Reports, Comment Deadlines, and More | Broadcast Law Blog…

A Republican FCC Majority Coming Soon as Commissioner Starks Announces Imminent Departure – What Broadcast Issues May be Affected?  |…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Court Finds FCC Has No Authority to Require EEO Form 395-B – And Narrows Scope of the Public Interest Standard…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Local Broadcast Ownership Rules – How Could Ownership Deregulation Play Out?  | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

May 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Comment Deadlines on ATSC 3.0 and EAS, Application Fee Increases, Audible Crawl Rule,…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Settlement Between NAB and SoundExchange on Webcasting Royalty Rates for 2026-2030 – Rates are Going Up for Broadcast Simulcasts |…

NAB Requests the End of the 39% Cap on Nationwide Television Station Ownership – Looking at the Issues | Broadcast…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Less Than a Week to Go Before “Delete, Delete, Delete” Proposals on Eliminating Unnecessary FCC Regulations Are Due – What…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

April 2025 Regulatory Updates for Broadcasters – Annual EEO Public File Reports, Comment Deadlines, Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Political Windows, and…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same:  Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or…

The More Things Change, the More They Remain the Same:  Risks of Using or Accepting or Engaging in Advertising or…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  February 24, 2025 to February 28, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

March 2025 Regulatory Updates for Broadcasters – Daylight Savings Time, Comment Deadlines, FCC Ownership Rules in Court, Political Windows, and…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  February 17, 2025 to February 21, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Copyright Royalty Board Announces SoundExchange Audits of Broadcast Companies Streaming Their Signals – How Do These Audits Work? | Broadcast…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  February 10, 2025 to February 14, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Copyright Office Commences an Inquiry into the Proliferation of Performing Rights Organizations – Looking at the Complexity of Licensing Musical…

FCC Enforcement Advisory Warns of Payola Concerns in Coercing Bands to Play at Broadcast Station Events with Threats of Decreased…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  February 3, 2025 to February 7, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

NMPA Calls for Takedowns of Spotify Podcasts Using Unlicensed Music – A Reminder to Podcasters of the Perils of Music…

It’s Back!  American Music Fairness Act Proposing New Music Royalties for Over-the-Air Broadcasting Introduced in the New Congress | Broadcast…

The AM for Every Vehicle Act Introduced in the New Congress – What Does It Provide?  | Broadcast Law Blog…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  January 27, 2025 to January 31, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

As FCC Chairman Announces an Investigation into Alleged PBS and NPR Advertising, a Look at the Underwriting Requirements for All…

Washington State Court of Appeals Upholds $24.6 Million Penalty Against Meta for Not Meeting State Political Advertising Disclosure Requirements –…

Mitchell Stabbe, our resident trademark law specialist, today takes his annual look at the legal issues in Super Bowl advertising…

February 2025 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – EEO, Comment Deadlines, FM Duplication Rule, Political Windows, and More | Broadcast Law…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  January 20, 2025 to January 24, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  January 13, 2025 to January 17, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

A $369,190 Proposed Fine for Improper Participation in EAS Tests Shows that Ignorance of FCC Rules Is No Excuse for…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  January 6, 2025 to January 10, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

FCC Application Fees to Increase by About 17% – Get Your Applications on File Now Before the New Fees Go…

The Past Two Weeks in Regulation for Broadcasters: December 23, 2024 to January 3, 2025 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip…

2025 Broadcasters Regulatory Calendar – Looking Ahead to Some of the Regulatory Dates and Deadlines for the New Year |…

Looking Into the Crystal Ball – What Legal and Policy Issues are Ahead for Broadcasters in 2025? | Broadcast Law…

January 2025 Regulatory Updates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Children’s Television Programming Reporting, Expansion of Audio Description Requirements, Political…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  December 16, 2024 to December 20, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  December 9, 2024 to December 13, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  December 2, 2024 to December 6, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

For the last few years at this time of the year, we’ve departed from our usual coverage of legal and…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  November 25, 2024 to November 29, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

December 2024 Regulatory Updates for Broadcasters -Annual DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report, EEO Deadlines, NCE TV Filing Window and Related Filing…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  November 18, 2024 to November 22, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

Brendan Carr to Become Next FCC Chair – What is Next for Regulation Affecting Broadcasters?  | Broadcast Law Blog Skip…

NAB Requests Further Delay in Requirement that TV Stations Provide Audio Description of Non-Textual Emergency Information While Rule Changes are…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  November 11, 2024 to November 15, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  November 4, 2024 to November 8, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

How FCC Regulation of Broadcasters May Change in a New Administration  – Looking at the Pending Issues | Broadcast Law…

RMLC Announces Arbitration Decision on SESAC Royalties for Commercial Radio Stations for 2023-2026 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  October 28, 2024 to November 1, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

November 2024 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: AM Stations Need to Adjust to the End of Daylight Savings Time, Deadline for…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters:  October 21, 2024 to October 25, 2024 | Broadcast Law Blog Skip to content

On Friday, the FCC released another EEO audit notice for 2024.  The FCC’s Public Notice, audit letter, and the list…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

The FCC last week released a Public Notice announcing the opening of a filing window for parties interested in building…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

With less than a month to go before the November election, we can expect more and more attack ads, some…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

October 2024 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues Programs Lists, Annual EEO Public File Reports, ETRS Form One, Comment…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Our recent posts have been obsessed with the FCC’s regulatory fees and the issues with the CORES fee filing system…

The FCC yesterday released a Public Notice announcing that its CORES system, through which regulatory fees are submitted, has been…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

After postponing consideration of a proposal (which we wrote about here) from the Republican Commissioners at the Federal Election Commission…

As we noted on our Blog earlier this week, there were reported problems with the system for filing annual regulatory…

As we noted this past weekend in our weekly update of regulatory actions, the FCC last Friday released its Order…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past two weeks, with links to where…

The lowest unit rate window for the November 5 general election opens today, September 6.  With that date in mind,…

It seems like virtually every panel at every broadcast and media convention, at some point, ends up involving a discussion…

On Friday, the FCC released a Public Notice confirming that the Form 395-B, reimposed by the FCC earlier this year…

September 2024 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – FCC Regulatory Fees, LUC Window for the General Election, Comment Deadlines on AI…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

This week, I spent some time at the Podcast Movement Annual Convention, this year held in the DC area.  While…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

With a number of upcoming regulatory deadlines approaching, including regulatory fees that will likely be announced in the next two…

The agenda for the Federal Election Commission’s August 15 Open Meeting was released last week, and it contains a proposed…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Last week, as we noted in our monthly look ahead at the regulatory dates of importance to broadcasters in August,…

The FCC last week issued a Declaratory Ruling approving the acquisition by a company owned by a Canadian citizen of 100%…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Last week, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that was first announced by the FCC Chairwoman three months…

August 2024 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters– Annual Regulatory Fee Details, EEO Annual Filings, Effective Date of Reinstated FM Non-Duplication Rule,…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Last week, we wrote about the impact of the FCC’s decision to standardize certifications from program buyers verifying that they…

Earlier this year, we posted updated guidelines about engaging in or accepting advertising or promotions that directly or indirectly allude…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

The FCC this week issued a Public Notice announcing the effective date of certain portions of the FCC Order released…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the longstanding Chevron doctrine, which required courts to defer to expert regulatory agencies, like the…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

The lazy days of summer continue to provide little respite from the regulatory actions of importance to broadcasters.  This month…

FCC Releases Decision on Broadcaster’s Obligations to Identify Foreign Government Sponsored Programming – There is Some Good News, and Some…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

FCC Admonishes Three TV Stations for Not Having Clauses in Sales Agreements Requiring Non- discrimination in the Purchase of Advertising…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

With the verdict in the first criminal case against former President (and now candidate) Trump having been released, we can…

Though school is out for many, the FCC does not take a summer recess.  Instead, regulation continues.  In addition to…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

We’ve written several times (see for instance our articles here, here, and here) about all of the action in state…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

In recent weeks, we saw press reports on a recommendation from the Attorney General to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

May Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – EEO Audit Responses, Comment Deadlines on Emergency Broadcasting Matters, Effective Date for Zonecasting with…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Artificial Intelligence was the talk of the NAB Convention last week.  Seemingly, not a session took place without some discussion…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Last week, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Apparent Liability proposing an $8000 fine on a Los Angeles…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

With broadcasters and those in associated industries ready to make their annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas for the NAB Convention,…

FCC Approves Origination of Programming on FM Boosters to Facilitate Geocasting – Targeting Different Ads or Programming to Different Parts…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Every year at about this time, with April Fools’ Day right around the corner, we need to play our role…

For the first time since October, we can say that the federal government is funded for the rest of the…

FCC Still Reviewing Plan to Expand Broadcasters’ Obligations to Obtain Certifications from All Program Buyers on their Connection to Foreign…

The FCC last week released its first EEO audit notice for 2024.  The FCC’s Public Notice, audit letter, and the…

Congress passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill to keep the federal government funded through the end of this fiscal year…

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of the NCAA’s assembling of the rights to an array of trademarks associated with…

Each year, as the NCAA basketball tournaments get underway, my colleague Mitch Stabbe highlights the trademark issues that can arise…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

March Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Sage EAS Compliance Deadline, Effective Dates of New FCC Rules, Comment Deadlines, Daylight Savings…

When you have been representing broadcasters in Washington for as long as I have, you see cycles in regulation of…

On February 22, the FCC released an Order reinstating the requirement for radio and television broadcasters, commercial and noncommercial, to…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this past week, with links to where you…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from this week, with links to where you can…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

Today’s post will be a bit more into the legal weeds than many of our articles, addressing the standards used…

Last week, when the NFL playoffs and upcoming Super Bowl had everyone thinking football, Congress held a hearing on how…

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you…

This week, Commissioners Carr and Starks issued a joint statement congratulating Chairwoman Rosenworcel for circulating an order to resolve the…

Mitchell Stabbe, our resident trademark law specialist, today takes his annual look at the legal issues in Super Bowl advertising…

We often write about issues concerning the royalties paid by radio stations for their various uses of music.  It is…

President Biden’s signing of the Continuing Resolution last week (see our discussion here) has kept the federal government open, with…