Legislative Update
Majority of House of Representatives Now Cosponsoring Local Radio Freedom Act
The NAB announced that a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives are now cosponsoring the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), which signals members of Congress’s opposition to any potential legislation that imposes new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 222 cosponsors in the House and 28 in the Senate.
Read MoreFCC Releases Second EEO Audit Notice for 2022 – Reviewing a Broadcaster’s EEO Obligations (Five Michigan Stations on List)
The FCC last Friday released its second EEO audit notice for 2022 (available here), this time targeting approximately 130 radio and TV stations. Those stations, and the station employment units (commonly owned stations serving the same area) with which they are associated, must provide to the FCC…
Read More$60,000 Fine on LPTV Station For Political Broadcasting and Sponsorship Identification Issues with Ad Packages Containing News Program Appearances
Last week, the FCC entered into a consent decree with the operator of a low power TV station, where the broadcaster admitted to violating FCC rules by selling advertising packages that included guaranteed appearances of the advertiser on a local news and information program…
Read MoreFCC and FEMA Warn Broadcasters and MVPDs that EAS Systems Have Security Vulnerability
Last week, both the FCC and FEMA issued notices to broadcasters, cable and other EAS participants that there was a vulnerability in the EAS technologies that could make those systems subject to hacking, potentially allowing bad actors to send out messages to the public using the alerting system…
Read MoreWhy Federal and State Issue Ads Have Different Broadcast Public File Requirements
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Recently, I’ve received many calls from broadcasters about the FCC public file obligations for issue ads (those ads not bought by legally qualified candidates or their authorized committees) – particularly concerning the different treatment between issue ads dealing with federal candidates or federal matters, and those dealing with state and…
Read MoreLooking at Legislative Proposals that Would Allow Broadcasters to Accept Marijuana Advertising
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP As more and more states revise their laws to decriminalize or legalize marijuana use (for medical and recreational purposes), and more and more cannabis businesses in those states begin operations, broadcasters have been looking to provide their advertising services to these new companies. But, as we’ve written before…
Read MoreFCC Cracking Down on Long Periods of Station Silence – Short-Term Renewals for Radio Stations Silent More than 25% of License Term
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP The FCC’s Audio Division, in the latter part of the license renewal cycle for radio stations, seems to have adopted a more aggressive position on stations that were silent for extended periods of time during their license term. In our summary of last week’s events of importance to broadcasters, we noted one case where an Oklahoma…
Read MoreMAB to Offer Political Revenue Webinar in August
The political season is in full swing and broadcasters have the opportunity to learn about the opportunities available both for on-air and digital campaigns. During the August Third Thursday (August 18), the MAB is offering a two-part webinar starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. In Part One, AdCellerant will discuss digital marketing revenue opportunities, tactics and…
Read MoreMAB Lobbyist Firm Kelley Cawthorne Adds Three Partners to Leadership Team
Kelley Cawthorne, the Midwest’s leading multi-client lobbying firm, continued its rapid growth by announcing (7/14) the elevation of three team members to partnership status and promotion of another to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Government relations professionals Jim Kirsch, Jason Sheppard and David Hildenbrand have achieved partnership status at the firm as of July…
Read MorePublic Performance Royalties for Comedy Recordings? – New PROs Claim that Additional Royalties Are Due
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP In recent months, lawsuits have been filed against streaming audio service Pandora by comedian Lewis Black, the estate of Robin Williams and representatives of other comedians seeking public performance royalties for the underlying comedic work – not the recording of the comedy bit for which a royalty is…
Read More