Members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have long expressed concern about the consumer impacts of so-called retransmission consent “blackouts,” which occur when a multichannel video programming distributor...more
On October 17, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) unanimously adopted a Second Report and Order (Order) that will expand the Commission’s audio description mandate to television stations in all...more
On October 26, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in which the Commission proposes to amend its sponsorship identification rules to require...more
The FCC has released its annual Report and Order showing the regulatory fees due for the 2020 fiscal year. Fees must be paid by 11:59 pm Eastern time on September 25, although the FCC's Fee Filer is accepting fee payments...more
On December 20, 2019, the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 (new Section 642 of the Communications Act) became law as part of the "must-pass" 2020 appropriations act. ...more
IRS Large Business and International (IRS LBI) currently has 59 Active Compliance Campaigns. The purpose of the IRS compliance campaign strategy is to redefine large business compliance work and build a supportive...more
Every three years, commercial television stations must choose between retransmission consent and mandatory carriage, also known as must-carry status, for the carriage of their broadcast signals on cable and satellite systems...more
In 2013, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules requiring MVPDs to ensure, upon request of a subscriber, that navigation devices (set-top boxes) and pre-installed MVPD apps that provide on-screen text menus and...more
C-Band Registration Filing Window Closes October 17, 2018 - Cable operators, Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs), radio and/or video broadcasters, video programmers, and other Fixed Satellite Service (FSS)...more
Talk about a shellacking. In his recent opinion in the latest incarnation of U.S. v. AT&T, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon rejected, in no uncertain terms, the U.S. Justice Department’s efforts to block AT&T’s...more
On October 26, 2017, the FCC released a draft Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would permit TV broadcasters to use the next generation broadcast television transmission standard (“ATSC 3.0”) on...more
According to a newly-released Public Notice, the FCC has directed the U.S. Department of Treasury to pay all broadcasters who had winning bids in the recently concluded spectrum incentive auction. The only exceptions are...more
In advance of its July Open Meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) unanimously adopted a Report and Order (Order) that revises the rules requiring certain video programming providers to make video...more
Today, July 10, 2017, is the compliance deadline for the FCC’s rules regarding video description of emergency information on “second screens.” Multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) are now required to pass...more
On January 31, 2017, the Large Business & International Division of the IRS (LB&I) released the subjects of its first 13 campaigns. Each campaign addresses a specific area that the IRS has identified as a substantial...more
In the days since the recent election, many tech, media and telecom industry observers remain unsure of what to expect from the Federal Communications Commission under the Trump administration. Fortunately, there are some...more
On June 3, a group of 15 state attorneys general and the consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog each filed letters with the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) urging the FCC to incorporate more stringent...more
On February 18, the FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking that proposes new rules intended to open up the market for devices and software used to transmit video programming from multichannel video providers ("MVPDs") to...more
FCC Will Seek Comments - The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday took two steps designed to give consumers greater access to multichannel video programming, including programming now provided via public,...more
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed rules requiring all participants in the nation's emergency alert system ("EAS") to implement certain cybersecurity risk management practices. The proposed rules could apply...more
The FCC has amended its accessibility rules to add new requirements for audible on-screen program guides and activation mechanisms for closed captioning and video description. It also proposed additional rule changes that...more
This is a reminder that all MVPDs must file their Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Program Annual Report by September 30th. In addition, specific MVPDs identified by the Commission must complete the Supplementary...more
On May 28, 2015, the FCC released a Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking pursuant to authority granted by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released the text of its Second Report and Order (R&O) adopting rules requiring multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to pass through the secondary audio stream...more
Late last week, the FCC released a Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking imposing additional emergency alert accessibility obligations on both device manufacturers and multichannel video...more