Following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to administer the Universal Service Fund (USF or Fund), a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress...more
On Thursday, August 7, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) held its monthly Open Meeting, where it considered items spanning several industries, including broadcasting, satellite communications, and...more
The FCC’s rules require that all Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants update their identifying information in the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) annually. Accordingly, the FCC has released a Public Notice announcing...more
Earlier this year, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr initiated a sweeping initiative to review “every rule, regulation, or guidance document” that could be eliminated “for the purposes of...more
This advisory is directed to television stations with locally-produced programming whose signals were carried by at least one cable system located outside the station’s local service area or by a satellite provider that...more
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that held both Congress’s delegation of USF authority to the FCC and the FCC’s subsequent delegation of its authority to a private administrator...more
Broadcasters’ next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2025, reflecting information for the months of April, May, and June 2025....more
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more
5/30/2025
/ California ,
Consent Decrees ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FCC ,
Filing Deadlines ,
License Renewals ,
Licensing Rules ,
Montana ,
Penalties ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Telecommunications
June 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming to place their Annual...more
5/23/2025
/ Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
EEO ,
Employment Discrimination ,
FCC ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Non-Exempt Employees ,
Radio Stations ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Telecommunications ,
Television Broadcast Stations
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more
4/1/2025
/ Appeals ,
Broadcasting ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Communications Act of 1934 ,
Consent Decrees ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FCC ,
Licenses ,
Radio Broadcasting ,
Radio Stations ,
Telecommunications ,
Television Broadcast Stations
Broadcasters’ next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by April 10, 2025, reflecting information for the months of January, February, and March 2025....more
April 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas to place their Annual EEO Public File Report in their Public Inspection File and post...more
Executive orders, funding freezes, and what’s next for federal disbursements - In his first week in office, President Trump issued a record number of executive orders (EOs) and key executive memorandums, setting new federal...more
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more
1/31/2025
/ Broadcasting ,
Consent Decrees ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FCC ,
Licenses ,
Media ,
Radio Broadcasting ,
Radio Stations ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Telecommunications ,
Television Broadcast Stations
February 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma to place their Annual EEO Public File Report in their Public...more
1/28/2025
/ Audits ,
Broadcasting ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EEO ,
Employment Discrimination ,
FCC ,
Radio Broadcasting ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Television Broadcast Stations
President-elect Trump is expected to sign a slew of executive orders on Day One, addressing areas like immigration, trade and energy. These actions aim to reverse many Biden-era policies and set new priorities, including...more
1/13/2025
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
Executive Orders ,
Immigration Reform ,
Paris Agreement ,
Presidential Appointments ,
Presidential Pardons ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Policy ,
Trump Administration
Broadcasters’ next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by January 10, 2025, reflecting information for the months of October, November, and December 2024....more
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more
Beginning January 1, 2025, the FCC’s audio description requirements will expand to commercial television stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC in 10 additional Nielsen Designated Market Areas (DMAs): Johnson...more
Items of Note in 2025 -
I. Commercial and Noncommercial Biennial Ownership Reports: December 1, 2025 is the deadline by which all commercial and noncommercial radio and television stations must file their biennial...more
12/18/2024
/ Certifications ,
Copyright ,
EEO ,
FCC ,
Fees ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Foreign Governments ,
Radio Broadcasting ,
Royalties ,
Television Broadcast Stations ,
Third-Party
At its final Open Meeting of 2024, the FCC on December 11 adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on the elimination or updating of several rules applicable to broadcast stations, as well as other...more
Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published the FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more
12/3/2024
/ Broadcasting ,
Consent Decrees ,
Enforcement Actions ,
FCC ,
Fines ,
License Applications ,
Licensees ,
Radio Broadcasting ,
Radio Stations ,
Telecommunications ,
Television Broadcast Stations
December 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and...more
December 1 is the deadline for broadcast stations licensed to communities in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and...more
FCC Proposes $146,976 Fine Against National Cable Sports Network for Transmitting False EAS Tones -
The Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) to a cable sports...more