Category: Legislative Update

Supreme Court Reinstates 2017 FCC Changes to Broadcast Ownership Rules Including the End to Newspaper-Broadcast Cross-Ownership Ban – But Radio Changes Yet to Come

April 9th, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP On April 1, The United States Supreme Court released its decision upholding the FCC’s 2017 changes to its ownership rules in the FCC v Prometheus Radio Project case (see our summary here). Those rules had been put on hold in 2019 by a decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals which… read more

FCC Announces Freeze on FM Minor Change Applications Beginning April 28

April 9th, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

The FCC’s Media Bureau has announced that it will not accept FM commercial and noncommercial educational (NCE) minor change applications during the Auction 109 Form 175 application filing window. This window will open on April 28, 2021, and close on May 11, 2021. In Auction 109, scheduled to begin on July 27, 2021, the Media… read more

NAB Announces Leadership Transition: Curtis LeGeyt Named President & CEO

April 9th, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

On April 7, National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon H. Smith announced his plans to transition to an advisory and advocacy role effective Dec. 31, 2021. The organization’s Chief Operating Officer Curtis LeGeyt has been named the next president and CEO of NAB effective Jan. 1, 2022. In a video message to members,… read more

SBA’s PPP Loans Extended to May 31

April 1st, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

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 more

April Brings End to Some COVID-19 Unemployment Provisions

April 1st, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, COVID-19, Legislative Update, Front Page

Mlive reported on Wednesday that COVID-19 is no longer a valid excuse to get state unemployment in Michigan starting April 1, however, people sidelined from work for a virus-related reason can still get federal unemployment pay – if eligible. The change comes as a state law expires without being renewed by the Legislature and Gov…. read more

Bipartisan Congressional Voices Back Media Diversity Efforts

April 1st, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

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 more

FCC Adopts R&O To Start Round 2, COVID-19 Telehealth Program

April 1st, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, COVID-19, Legislative Update, Front Page

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 more

Copyright Royalty Board Given Two More Months to Complete Decision on Webcasting Royalties for 2021-2025

April 1st, 2021 Posted in: April 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP The Copyright Office this week granted a request from the Copyright Royalty Board for more time to decide on the royalties to be paid to SoundExchange for the public performance of sound recordings by webcasters, including broadcasters who simulcast their programming on the Internet. As we wrote in July, the CRB decision on the webcasting royalties for 2021-2025 was initially… read more

FOIA Package Clears Senate Committee

March 25th, 2021 Posted in: March 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

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 more

FCC Hearing Designation Order Reminds Broadcasters that Long Periods Where They are Not Operating May Lead to License Renewal Problems

March 25th, 2021 Posted in: March 2021, Legislative Update, Front Page

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 more