OAB FCC Information

OAB FCC Information is courtesy Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC.

FCC REVISES POLITICAL PROGRAMMING AND ADVERTISING RULES

Posted On: Jan 26, 2022

Today, the FCC released a Report and Order (Order), updating the political programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees.  The Order revises the definition of “legally qualified candidate for public office” to add the use of social media and creation of a campaign website to the existing list of activities that may be considered in determining whether an individual running as a write-in candidate has made a “substantial showing” of his or her bona fide candidacy,

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Virginia’s New Consumer Data Protection Act

Posted On: Jan 25, 2022

On March 2, 2020, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (“VCDPA”) into law, making Virginia only the second state to enact such comprehensive data protection legislation (after California).  The law itself becomes effective on January 1, 2023 and will be codified at Virginia Code §59.1-571.

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FCC Adopts Affordable Connectivity Program

Posted On: Jan 19, 2022

On Friday, January 14, 2022, the FCC voted to adopt a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that provides detailed guidance for a long-term internet discount program: the Affordable Connectivity Program. The new rules take effect upon publication in the Federal Register, or after the appropriate publication period has passed – either 30 or 60 days depending on the specific rule at issue.

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FCC License Renewal Applications due on February 1st for Radio Stations in New York and New Jersey, and TV stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma

Posted On: Jan 12, 2022

FCC License renewal applications and associated EEO Program Reports are due on or before Tuesday, February 1st for radio licensees located in New Jersey and New York and television licensees in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Radio and television stations must file renewals regardless of commercial or noncommercial status in the FCC’s licensing Management System (LMS).

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FCC Ends the CDBS Filing Era with switch to LMS

Posted On: Jan 12, 2022

Effective at 5 p.m. EST today, Wednesday, January 12, the FCC’s Media Bureau will no longer accept filings in the Consolidated Database System (CDBS). This move by the Media Bureau is part of the ongoing transition to the Licensing and Management System (LMS) database. The Media Bureau’s sunsetting of CDBS filings will be permanent. 

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Attention Webcasters: January 31 Deadline for Filing Minimum Fee for Webcasting is Rapidly Approaching

Posted On: Jan 11, 2022

The January 31, 2022 deadline for filing your annual minimum fee and related statement of account with SoundExchange under the webcasting statutory licenses under 17 U.S.C. § 112 and 114 allowing radio broadcasters and others to stream sound recordings (the “statutory licenses”) is just around the corner.  The easiest way to pay this fee is to log in to SoundExchange’s “Licensee Direct” online filing portal.

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Political Broadcast Rules on the Agenda for FCC’s January Open Meeting

Posted On: Jan 11, 2022

On January 27, 2022, the FCC will hold its monthly open meeting. The meeting will address increasing the transparency of internet access service providers, amending the definition of a library to clarify that Tribal libraries are eligible for support from the E-Rate program, and resolving issues associated with white space devices and databases.

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Senate Confirms Rosenworcel as First Woman to Head the FCC

Posted On: Dec 08, 2021

On Tuesday December 12, the Senate voted 68 to 31 confirming Jessica Rosenworcel for a third five-year term. The vote came just weeks before her term ended and officially confirmed Rosenworcel as the first female chair of the FCC in the 86-year history of the agency. Although the confirmation of Rosenworcel blocked the GOP from gaining an FCC majority,

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