MBA News and Events

COMMISSIONER MCDOWELL TO VISIT BOSTON, HOST DTV TOWN HALL MEETING

On Thursday, November 13, FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell will visit Boston to conduct a Town Hall Meeting on the digital television (DTV) transition. This visit is part of an extensive nationwide initiative the Commission has launched to increase awareness about the upcoming transition to digital television on February 17, 2009.

FCC-related Deadlines FOR MASSACHUSETTS RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS

Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, covering the prior calendar quarter, must be placed in the public inspection files of all full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A television stations within the first 10 days of the month immediately following the prior calendar quarter.

On November 27, 2007, the FCC adopted a Report and Order requiring all full-power and Class A television stations to file electronically with the FCC, as well as post on their websites and place in their public files the Standardized Television Disclosure Form (FCC Form 355). The new form, which has not yet been submitted to OMB for approval and therefore is not effective, is intended to replace the Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists currently required for television stations.

EEO IN 2008 AND FORWARD

A legal guide to the FCC's EEO rule and policies for broadcasters.

2008 Third Quarter FCC Form 388 DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report Advisory for Full-Power Television Broadcast Stations

The next FCC Form 388 DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report must be filed via CDBS and placed in full-power television stations local public inspection files by October 10, 2008, reflecting information for the months of July, August, and September.

Attention Sales and Management Staff! Sales Seminar with Paul Weyland Sept. 23rd

Join us on Tuesday, September 23, as the MBA presents Paul Weyland's half-day seminar, "Long-Term Local Direct: How to Make the Offer Your Local Client Can't Refuse."

New Public and Broadcasting Manual released

Below is a link to the revised Public and Broadcasting Manual. Broadcasters are to replace their April 2008 edition with this new version, published in July 2008, in their public files.

XM/Sirius merger

Here is a pdf version of Senator Kerry's letter to Chairman Martin regarding the FCC's ongoing consideration of the XM/Sirius merger.

Boston pirate told to pay up

Richard Clouden didn't respond when the FCC sent him a notice of apparent liability for a $10,000 fine for operating a pirate radio station on 101.3 MHz in Boston. That failure to respond has sealed his fate. The Commission has now ordered Clouden to pay up. Stay tuned to see if he responds to that notice. Boston's Dorchester neighborhood has become something of a hotbed for unlicensed radio operations lately. Just last month the FCC proposed to fine one of Clouden's neighbors for operating a station on 106.1 MHz.

FCC releases Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Sponsorship Identification Rules and Product Placement.

DTV Consumer Education Quarterly Activity Report

New filing procedures for the DTV Consumer Education Quarterly Activity Report (FCC Form 388)

Overview of FCC's Regulations Regarding Part 15 Devices

The FCC has long permitted devices employing relatively low level radio frequency signals, such as garage door openers, cordless telephones, personal computers, and computer peripherals, to be operated without the need for a spectrum license. While such operations are unlicensed, the devices themselves are not unregulated. The FCC's rules require that the manufacturer or importer2 of such devices (the "responsible party") obtain equipment authorization before marketing any such device in order to minimize the potential for harmful radio frequency interference.

New FCC TV Public File Rules

The Extension of the Filing Requirement For Children's Television Programming Report was adopted in Nov. 2007 and released January 24, 2008.

Media Bureau releases updated version of "The Public and Broadcasting"

In its recent Report on Broadcast Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission concluded that the record in the localism proceeding (MB Docket No. 04-233) revealed a substantial need for greater public understanding of broadcaster obligations, and of the procedures by which the Commission enforces those obligations. The Commission expressed its desire to better educate members of the public about the tools available to them, should they believe that their local broadcast stations are not fulfilling their service obligations. To that end, the Commission directed the Media Bureau to update "The Public and Broadcasting," a publication that all broadcasters must maintain in their public inspection files. The Commission also stated that it would establish a contact point within the agency for public inquiries about broadcast matters.

Filing update from Dick Zaragoza of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

Last Friday, your Association joined with many other State Broadcasters Associations in filing Joint Reply Comments in the FCC's proceeding considering the modification and reinstitution of the Annual Employment Report (FCC Form 395-B). That report requests data on the racial, ethnic and gender profile of all full-time and part-time employees, and their job classifications, at radio and television stations throughout the country.

Mark your Calendars! Register for June 17 EEO Seminar

Join us for this important morning session for general managers and HR personnel. The morning will begin with a Federal EEO Update and Public File How-To with Scott Flick of the Washington DC law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and counsel of the MBA Legal Hotline. Following a short break, Elizabeth Ritvo of the Boston law firm, Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels and the MBA In-State Legal Hotline will cover Massachusetts Hot Legal Topics such as lottery advertising issues, hiring and firing regulations and other HR issues such as sexual harassment and non-competes.