By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Radio,General FCCThe PIRATE Act, imposing Federal penalties on pirate radio station operators, was passed last week by the US House of Representatives and referred to the US Senate for consideration. We wrote about versions of this bill introduced in prior Congressional sessions here and here. This bill, among other things, would impose penalties of up to… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Radio,FM Translators and LPFM,General FCCYesterday, the FCC announced that it had seized the equipment of another pirate radio operator, this time one who was operating from a high-rise in Manhattan. The pirate was operating an unauthorized FM radio station from a New York apartment building. As we recently wrote in connection with another seizure of the equipment of a pirate… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in AM Radio,FCC Fines,FM Radio,FM Translators and LPFMAt this week’s NAB Convention, issues about FM translators and pirate radio dominated the radio news from the sessions that featured FCC speakers. On the translator front, FCC Chairman Pai, in his speech to the convention, announced that there is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that has been drafted and is being considered by the… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Radio,General FCCYesterday, the FCC adopted a Notice of Apparent Liability proposing to fine three individuals $144,344 for operating a pirate radio station in North Miami, Florida. One individual is alleged to have programed and operated the station while the other two are a husband and wife who owned the property from which the station transmitted. The… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Radio,Programming RegulationsIt seems like virtually every day, the FCC announces that it has sent numerous Notices to pirate radio operators warning them that their operations are illegal and that, if the operations do not cease, legal penalties may follow. Yesterday, the FCC released ten such Notices, including ones sent to operators of pirate radio stations themselves… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in AM Radio,EEO Compliance/Diversity,General FCC,Multiple Ownership RulesAfter months of speculation, Chairman Wheeler today announced that he will step down from the FCC on Inauguration Day. Together with the Senate not confirming the renomination of Commissioner Rosenworcel (as the Senate is effectively on recess and not expected to return before the end of the term, her renomination will almost certainly not be… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Translators and LPFM,General FCCA few months ago, we wrote about pirate radio and the FCC’s efforts to stop these stations from popping up all around the country. In the last few weeks, the FCC has issued several fines to pirate radio operators – including one who shut down his operations and gave his transmitter to the FCC when… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Radio,General FCC,Programming RegulationsPirate radio is still a problem. While pirate radio was much in the news a decade ago, and was even glamorized in movies, the popular perception may be that it has disappeared. In fact, particularly in major urban areas, it is still a major issue – causing interference to licensed broadcast stations and even, at… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in FCC Fines,FM Translators and LPFMFor an industry that some say is about to be made obsolete because of its digital competition, there are still many people who want a piece of the FM spectrum. We’ve written much about the contest between LPFM and translator proponents seeking their piece of FM spectrum – a contest that we should see resolved by… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Digital TelevisionWith the final transition of television from analog to digital soon upon us, the FCC has scheduled for consideration at its November meeting two items that will address the use of the television spectrum after the transition – one designed to improve television reception, and the other viewed by television broadcasters as a threat to… Continue Reading
By David Oxenford on Posted in Digital Television,FM Radio,FM Translators and LPFM,Low Power Television/Class A TVAt last Tuesday’s FCC meeting, the Commission adopted a controversial order, over the objection of two Commissioners, that could limit the processing of some applications for improvements by some full power FM stations, and would restrict translator applications, all in the name of encouraging Low Power FM (LPFM) stations to provide outlets for expression by… Continue Reading
