Legal File
Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! It’s the Olympics Calling!
Earlier this year, we posted updated guidelines about engaging in or accepting advertising or promotions that directly or indirectly allude to the Super Bowl without a license from the NFL or the Final Four Tournament without a license from the NCAA. See here, here and here. Now, it is time to think about these issues in the context of the 2024 Paris Olympics!
Read MoreAugust 15 Is the Effective Date of Requirements for Foreign Government Certifications for Political Issue Advertising and Paid PSAs
The FCC this week issued a Public Notice announcing the effective date of certain portions of the FCC Order released in June adopting changes to its requirements that broadcasters obtain certifications from buyers of program time on their stations that the sponsors are not foreign governments or agents of those governments.
Read MoreSupreme Court Rejects the Chevron Doctrine – What Does it Mean for Broadcasters Regulated By the FCC?
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the longstanding Chevron doctrine, which required courts to defer to expert regulatory agencies, like the FCC, when interpreting ambiguous statutes, unless the agency acted unreasonably.
Read MoreJuly Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Comment Deadlines in Multiple Proceedings, Political Windows and More
The lazy days of summer continue to provide little respite from the regulatory actions of importance to broadcasters. This month brings quarterly requirements, including most importantly, the obligation to upload Quarterly Issues Programs Lists to a station’s online public file, and a number of comment deadlines in important FCC proceedings, as well as the opening of political windows in this major election year.
Read MoreFCC Admonishes Three TV Stations for Not Having Clauses in Sales Agreements Requiring Non-discrimination in the Purchase of Advertising Time – A Reminder to Broadcasters
Today, we will focus on a less publicized set of actions taken last week that remind broadcasters of a decade-old requirement to which not much attention has been paid since its adoption – the requirement that broadcasters not discriminate in the sale of advertising time and include in sales contracts statements informing their ad buyers of their polices against such discrimination.
Read MoreTrump Verdict Raises Concerns About A Nasty Election Campaign Getting Nastier – Looking at a Broadcaster’s Potential Liability for Attack Ads
Given the potential for a nasty election season getting even nastier, we thought that we would revisit our warning about broadcasters needing to assess the content of attack ads – particularly those from non-candidate groups.
Read MoreJune Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – EEO Public File Reports, Rulemaking Comments, Political Deadlines and More
Though school is out for many, the FCC does not take a summer recess. Instead, regulation continues. In addition to the regular EEO Annual Public Inspection File Report deadline for broadcasters in a number of states, there are several comment deadlines in June on issues that directly impact broadcasters
Read MoreFCC to Consider Disclosure Requirement for AI-Generated Content in Political Ads
This past Wednesday (5/22), FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed requiring disclosure of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in political ads on radio and TV. Rosenworcel is asking her colleagues to vote to advance a proposed rule that would require disclosure of AI content in both candidate and issue advertisements.
Read MoreDon’t Start Counting Marijuana Advertising Dollars Yet – Cautions Despite Possible Changes in Its Federal Classification
In recent weeks, we saw press reports on a recommendation from the Attorney General to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana – reclassifying it by moving it off Schedule I (an illegal controlled substance with no medical uses and a high degree of potential abuse) to Schedule III, where many other drugs, including some requiring a prescription, are listed.
Read MoreMay Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – EEO Audit Responses, Comment Deadlines on Emergency Broadcasting Matters, Effective Date for Zonecasting with FM Boosters, LUC Windows, and More
While May is one of those months that does not have any routine, scheduled FCC filing deadlines, there are still a number of regulatory dates and deadlines for broadcasters that are worthy of note.
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