FCC Votes to Eliminate Physical Broadcast License Posting

Latest in regulatory weed whacking

Author:: John Eggerton
Publish date:: Dec 12, 2018

WASHINGTON—The FCC has voted on a Report and Order (a final vote) on eliminating requirements that broadcasters, TV and radio, keep copies of their licenses and related info in specific physical locations, like transmitter sites.

That came in a notice that the item had been deleted from the agenda for the Dec. 12 public meeting because it had already been voted by the commissioners in advance of the meeting. Such early votes are generally for noncontroversial items, which this one was.

It is the latest whack of a regulatory weed in an ongoing effort by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to eliminate what he and a majority of commissioners conclude are outdated or obsolete rules.

The move was unopposed by commenters in the proceeding and reflects the fact that licensing info is available online in FCC databases.

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Regulatory and Standards

In its now familiar monthly regulation weed-whack, the FCC has voted, in this case unanimously, to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) eliminating the requirement that broadcast stations file paper copies of contracts with the FCC.

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Regulatory and Standards

FCC order formally eliminates requirement that broadcasters post licenses at a physical location.

FCC Headquarters

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Will not include national ownership cap or UHF discount.

FCC Headquarters

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The agency ended the practice as part of its effort to modernize media regulations

FCC

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Points to rise of net and FCC station document database.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has denied a petition from Prometheus Radio Project that it effectively stay the FCC's November vote to deregulate local broadcast ownership.

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It could allow Sinclair's proposed merger with Tribune to go through even if a court decision ultimately reverses the FCC's UHF discount decision.

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Regulatory and Standards

“It’s a simple proposition: the media ownership regulations of 2017 should match the media marketplace of 2017,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.