Legislative Update
SBA’s PPP Loans Extended to May 31
On March 30, President Biden signed into law the two-month extension to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. As a refresher, the legislation extends PPP through May 31 and allows 501(c)(6) organizations and others more time to pursue a second PPP loan. Further, if eligible organizations apply by May 31, the Small Business…
Read MoreBipartisan Congressional Voices Back Media Diversity Efforts
There is fresh bipartisan backing in Congress for advancing media diversity, according to a recent InsideRadio report. Resolutions have been introduced in the House and Senate that call diversity a “core tenet” of the public interest standard in the government’s media policy. The House resolution (H.Res.277) also pledges to work with media companies to develop…
Read MoreFCC Adopts R&O To Start Round 2, COVID-19 Telehealth Program
On Wednesday (3/30) the FCC voted to formally adopt a Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration to establish Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, a $249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act. The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program supports the efforts of health…
Read MoreFOIA Package Clears Senate Committee
Legislation that would open up some records from the governor’s office and the Legislature cleared a Senate committee Tuesday (3/23) in the latest attempt to remove Michigan from the minority of states that do not currently allow access to such records, according to a report in Gongwer. Members of the Senate Oversight Committee unanimously reported…
Read MoreFCC Hearing Designation Order Reminds Broadcasters that Long Periods Where They are Not Operating May Lead to License Renewal Problems
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP On March 8, the FCC issued a hearing designation order, sending to an Administrative Law Judge the question of whether an AM station’s license renewal application should be granted. The hearing seeks to gather evidence as to whether the renewal should be granted despite the station’s record, under its current…
Read MoreMAB Will No Longer Provide Uplink, Closed Captioning for COVID-19 Press Conferences
The MAB has been proud to partner with WLNS-TV (Lansing) in to provide the live coverage of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 press conferences to our broadcasters across the state for the past year. To be able to help you bring important and vital information to the residents of our great state has been a job we…
Read MoreFCC Issues Reminder On Sponsorship Identification Requirements – Including Obligation to Ensure Syndicated and Brokered Program Providers Comply With the Rules
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau issued an Advisory reminding broadcasters about their obligation to provide sponsorship identification information to their audiences whenever they receive something of value in exchange for airing any programming. The Enforcement Bureau’s advisory was quite concise, basically just reminding broadcasters of their sponsorship identification obligations. …
Read MoreBenson Calls for FOIA Expansion in New Transparency Agenda; House Unanimously Approves FOIA, LORA Bills
The Freedom of Information Act would be extended to both the governor and Legislature, under a new transparency agenda released Monday (3/15) by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The plan also calls for elected officials would have to wait two years before working as a lobbyist, according to a report in Gongwer. Dubbed “From Worst…
Read MoreMarch Madness Trademarks: Tips To Avoid A Foul Call from the NCAA (2021 Update)
By: Mitchell Stabbe, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP via the Broadcast Law Blog This article is compiled from a 2-part series appearing in the blog. My 2020 annual update on the use of trademarks associated with the NCAA Basketball Tournament was published on the same day that the NCAA announced it was cancelling the tournament due…
Read MoreJournalism Competition and Preservation Act Introduced in Congress
House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David N. Cicilline (RI-01), House Antitrust Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Buck (CO-04), Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on Wednesday (3/10) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, legislation that seeks to…
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