Broadcasting&Cable
STELAR to Sunset Dec. 31
The Senate passed the Television Viewer Protection Act (TVPA) and the Satellite Television Community Protection and Promotion Act of 2019, two bills that orginated in the House.
Senate Commerce Approves C-Band Auction Bill
In a straight party-line vote, the Republican-controlled Senate Commerce Committee has favorably reported out an amended bill that would require the Federal Communications Commission to auction, by the end of 2020, at least 280 MHz of C-Band spectrum for 5G, with at least half of the gross proceeds, and potentially more, going to the US Treasury and 10% to rural broadband buildouts. Democrats argued that allowing even 50% of the
Broadcasters Fight Political Ad Disclosure Changes
With billions of political ad dollars on the line, broadcasters are working hard to make sure a new Federal Communications Commission ruling does not take even a little bite out of their share of that likely record political pie. Broadcasters want the FCC to loosen up when it comes to the reporting requirements for political ads — rules they say could lead to them having to turn down political ad dollars. The reporting obligation stems from the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, but the FCC has discretion in how it interprets the requirements in its rules implementing that law.
National Association of Broadcasters Warns FCC About 6 GHz Interference with Electronic Newsgathering (Broadcasting&Cable)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Fri, 12/06/2019 - 11:33House FCC Oversight Hearing
Chairman Ajit Pai and the rest of the Federal Communications Commission took hits from both sides of the aisle in a House Communications Subcommittee oversight hearing Dec 5. Democratic Reps were particularly pointed in their criticisms of the FCC over broadband mapping, internet deregulation, merger approvals, and the funding cap on the Universal Service Fund, among other issues.
Comcast senior EVP and chief diversity officer David Cohen stepping down, will remain top adviser to CEO Brian Roberts (Broadcasting&Cable)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Thu, 12/05/2019 - 13:09Consumer Technology Association: Privacy Bill Must Balance Protection with Innovation (Broadcasting&Cable)
Submitted by Robbie McBeath on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 13:08Broadcast Ownership Deregulation Could Be Headed to Supreme Court
Don’t be surprised if the Federal Communications Commission and National Association of Broadcasters ask the US Supreme Court to weigh in on broadcast ownership deregulation. That comes after the full 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to hear the FCC’s appeal, supported by NAB as an intervenor, of a lower court decision to throw out most of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's deregulation order. That order included eliminating the newspaper-broadcast and radio-TV cross-ownership rules.