Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.

  • The FCC released a draft Report and Order that, if adopted at its next Open Meeting on March 26, would update and clarify several broadcast rules.  These changes include updating rules conform to current licensing systems (including replacing outdated CDBS application form references with those currently used in LMS); eliminating outdated and obsolete requirements (including post-incentive auction viewer/MVPD notification requirements, the requirement for a 20% increase in AM station power for a power increase application to be processed, and the rule that restricted Special Temporary Authorizations for technical and equipment problems to 90 days when other STAs can be granted for up to 180 days); modifying the rules as to who can sign FCC applications to allow corporate directors and duly authorized employees of corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations, or government entities to certify applications; and revising several broadcast rules for clarity (including clarifying when stations’ local public notice obligations are triggered for their applications). 
  • The FCC released a Memorandum Opinion and Order granting the transfer of an individual’s interests in the licensee of several Wyoming radio stations to her ex-husband following her felony conviction for income tax evasion.  Criminal convictions call into question an individual’s character and fitness to hold an FCC license, and the FCC generally prohibits the assignment or transfer of a station’s license when character qualification issues are pending against the transferor.  However, as ex-husband was not implicated in the wrongdoing and had a long history of FCC compliance, and as the wrongdoer will receive no consideration from the transaction and will no longer be part of the broadcast industry, the Commission found that grant of the application will preserve broadcast service to the Wyoming communities served by the stations and was otherwise in the public interest.
  • Cumulus Media announced that filed for bankruptcy in a Texas federal bankruptcy court to eliminate roughly $600 million in debt.  Cumulus stated that it will continue operating normally during the bankruptcy proceeding.  Cumulus’ bankruptcy plan will need to be approved by both the bankruptcy court and the FCC (through the filing of transfer applications for its stations) before it can complete its bankruptcy restructuring. 
  • The FCC announced that comments are due May 1 in response to the following AM and FM stations’ proposed community of license changes: WZON(AM), Bangor, Maine, to Norridgewock, Maine; WAKE(AM), Valparaiso, Indiana, to Hobart, Indiana; WFAD(AM), Middlebury, Vermont, to Bridport, Vermont; WLBE(AM), Leesburg-Eustis, Florida, to Geneva, Florida; WLCZ(FM), Lincolnton, Georgia, to Appling, Georgia; WLNK-FM, Indian Trail, North Carolina, to Weddington, North Carolina; KXAV(FM), Hebbronville, Texas, to Bruni, Texas; and WMSU(FM), Starkville, Mississippi, to Artesia, Mississippi.