As has been widely publicized, the FCC has proposed that broadcasters be required to air an announcement for all political ads, including both candidate and issue ads that contain content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The deadlines for comments on this proposal have now been set. Initial comments will be due by September 4, 2024,
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ETRS Form One Due Oct. 4 for All EAS Participants
By Mark Malonzo
The FCC announced today that all EAS Participants must submit their annual Form One filings no later than October 4, 2024. EAS Participants are parties subject to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules. Virtually all broadcast stations, wired and wireless cable television systems, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, digital audio broadcasting systems, and wireline video…
FCC Sets Effective Date for Foreign Sponsorship ID Rule Changes
On July 16th, the FCC announced that two changes to its sponsorship identification requirements for foreign government-provided programming, as detailed in its June 10th Second Report and Order, are set to become effective on August 15, 2024.
Recall that the FCC modified its sponsorship identification rules in March of 2022 to require broadcasters to…
New Pre-Sunrise and Post-Sunset Power Levels Available for Eligible AM Stations
By Mark Malonzo
The FCC is now accepting letter requests from AM stations for pre-sunrise authorization (PSRA) and post-sunset authorization (PSSA). PSRA permits AM stations to operate at increased power during the two hours immediately preceding sunrise. PSSA allows for increased power for the two hours immediately following sunset.
According to the FCC’s Public Notice, the Audio…
New Commercial FM Programming Non-Duplication Rule Goes Into Effect on August 2, 2024
The FCC recently announced that August 2, 2024, is the effective date of its newly reinstated programming non-duplication rule for commercial FM stations. As we have previously noted here, that rule, which was reinstated in a June 2024 Reconsideration Order, prohibits commonly owned or operated commercial FM stations with overlapping service contours from…
FCC Received Petition for New FM Broadcast Station Class
On June 20, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing a June 13 Petition for Rulemaking submitted by Commander Communication Corporation (“Commander”) to create a new FM station class “A10.” In its Petition, Commander proposed a new FM class with operating parameters of maximum of 10,000 watts effective radiated power (ERP) and 100 meters height…
Partial Return of the Radio Duplication Rule
By Daniel Brown
Continuing its progression of reversals, the FCC announced on June 5, 2024 that it would once again reinstate section 73.3556 of the Commission’s rules (the “Radio Duplication Rule” or “Rule”) for commercial FM stations. The Radio Duplication Rule does not apply to noncommercial educational stations nor AM stations.
As some of our readers might recall,…
FCC Amends and Clarifies Foreign Sponsorship ID Requirements
On Monday of this week, the FCC issued a Second Report and Order amending and clarifying its rules concerning the disclosure of foreign sponsorship of programming.
Amidst growing concerns regarding the potential influence of Russian, Chinese, and other foreign governments on recent U.S. elections, the FCC implemented new rules in 2022 requiring broadcasters to conduct…
FCC Announces Lift of Channel Change Freeze for Class A Television, LPTV, And TV Translator Stations
By Daniel Brown
The FCC has announced that the current freeze on major modification to Class A television, LPTV, and TV translator stations will be partially lifted to allow applications to change channels as of August 20, 2024, subject to certain limitations. Channel change applications will be permitted on a nationwide basis without geographic limitation. For the…
FCC Announces Exercise of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS)
By Mark Malonzo
The FCC released a Public Notice today announcing a June 10-12 exercise of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). Communications providers, including broadcast, wireless, satellite, broadband, and wireline providers, interested in participating must register by June 3.
DIRS is the FCC online system through which providers report information on the operational status of…