Legislative Update
A Look at Developments in SoundExchange Webcasting Royalties (Including for Broadcast Simulcasts) From the End of 2021
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP As 2021 wound down, there were significant developments on SoundExchange royalties for webcasters – including broadcasters who simulcast their on-air programming through IP channels (such as on their websites and on mobile apps). While we covered many of these matters in our weekly Sunday updates on regulatory matters of importance to broadcasters,…
Read MoreA Seat at the Live Streaming Table for Michigan Broadcasters: MHSAA Amends Rules
Michigan broadcasters have new opportunities to cover local high school sports. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) worked with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to amend its live streaming policy which now allows local TV and radio stations to stream regular season games on their website and social platforms as well as over…
Read MoreSenate Confirms FCC Chair Rosenworcel
On December 7, the Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, the first woman to hold that title, to another five-year term, narrowly avoiding a Republican majority at the agency once her current term was set to expire at the end of the year. Rosenworcel gained the support of key Republicans,…
Read MoreFCC Forum on Accessibility of Online Video Programming – Looking Beyond the Regulation of Broadcasters
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP On December 2, 2021, the FCC held a forum on the accessibility of video programming delivered through online platforms (a recording of the event is available on the FCC website, here). What is perhaps most notable about this forum is that it looked at whether the FCC could extend its authority…
Read MoreIf You Have Political Advertising Questions……We Have Answers!
David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker and Knauer, LLP is the MAB Washington Attorney and answers your Legal Hotline Questions. David and Bobby Baker, Gary Schonman and Sima Nilsson of the FCC Office of Political Programming held a terrific Political Advertising Webinar for MAB members on November 18. MAB Members may access it in the members only…
Read MoreDr. Oz Decides to Run for the Senate – What to Do When Your On-Air Employee Decides to Run for Public Office
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP On Tuesday (11/30), we were deluged with press inquiries about Dr. Oz’s declaration that he was going to seek the open U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania – with many questions as to whether his syndicated television program would subject stations that aired it to equal time obligations. The…
Read MoreMichigan’s Huizenga Latest Co-Sponsor of Local Radio Freedom Act
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI2) is the latest co-sponsor of the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA). LRFA is a bipartisan Sense of the H ouse resolution which opposes any new fees, taxes, or royalties on local radio stations. The Michigan Broadcasters Association supports the measure and urges all members of Congress to cosponsor it. There are…
Read MoreOSHA Suspends Enforcement of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Businesses
The Hill reports that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is suspending enforcement of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large private businesses after a federal appeals court upheld a stay on it last week. OSHA said in a statement published on its website Friday night that while it is confident in its…
Read MoreWith Two Nominations to Fill Out the FCC, What Are the Issues for Broadcasters?
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP With the Administration’s decision to renominate Jessica Rosenworcel for another term on the FCC and to select her as the permanent chair of the Commission, and the nomination of Gigi Sohn to fill the vacant seat on the FCC, and assuming both are confirmed by the Senate (though…
Read MoreFCC Announced Closing of NCE Application Window
On November 10, the FCC’s Media Bureau announced the close of the Non-Commercial Educational application window and introduced an immediate freeze on any amendments to applications submitted during the window. The window officially closed at 6 p.m. Eastern on November 9. The freeze, which will be in effect through November 29, will allow Bureau staff…
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