By David Oxenford on Posted in Children's Programming and Advertising,FCC Fines,License Renewal,Programming RegulationsLast week, Commissioner O’Rielly published an article on the FCC blog, suggesting that one of the next steps in the FCC’s Modernization of Media Regulation initiative should be the review of the FCC rules setting obligations for television stations to air educational and informational programming directed to children. Stations are required to air an average… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Advertising Issues,License Renewal,Public Interest Obligations/LocalismYesterday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a one-page memo (here) advising Federal prosecutors to use their discretion in pursuing marijuana prosecutions – even in states where state law has made marijuana legal for either medical or recreational use. Even though some states have removed state law restrictions on the sale or use of marijuana, marijuana… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in License Renewal,Programming Regulations,Public Interest Obligations/LocalismLast week, the FCC issued a consent decree entered into with a broadcaster who is the licensee of multiple radio stations, many of which were silent for long periods during the last license renewal cycle. As part of the deal, in order to get renewals for 12 stations granted, the licensee agreed to either surrender… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,General FCC,License RenewalLast week, we wrote an article which received much attention, addressing the legal issues that could come up if contests are not conducted properly. One issue that we did not anticipate was reflected in an FCC order released yesterday, designating for hearing the license renewal of the Entercom Sacramento radio station that was involved in… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Assignments and Transfers,FCC Fees,License RenewalWhile most broadcasters are awaiting word of when the FCC’s annual regulatory fees will be due (an announcement that should be coming any day now as regulatory fees will be paid in September by all commercial broadcasters to offset the cost of being regulated), the FCC announced yesterday that its application fees are going up… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Advertising Issues,License Renewal,Public Interest Obligations/LocalismIn the few days since I posted this update on concerns about marijuana advertising, there has been much attention devoted to the subject – and none of it undermines my belief that broadcasters need to continue to be cautious in this area. Yesterday, there was an article in the Sacramento Bee newspaper, specifically addressing the… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Advertising Issues,License Renewal,Public Interest Obligations/LocalismLast week’s letter from the FDA detailing its position that there should be no change in marijuana being classified as a Schedule I drug under Federal law reinforces the fact that, under Federal law, the drug is still illegal – no matter what certain states may do to legalize or decriminalize its use. As the… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Advertising Issues,General FCC,License Renewal,Public Interest Obligations/Localism Broadcasters, like other federally regulated industries, continue to be leery about advertising for marijuana, even in states where cannabis dispensaries have been legalized for medical or even recreational use. This week, the NY Times ran an article about companies trying to provide ways for dispensaries to use electronic payment systems, as federally regulated banks… Continue Reading