Legislative Update
Congress Passes Legislation to Fund FCC and CPB
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills, including $388 million for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and $565 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) fiscal year 2024 advance appropriation. The $617 billion package passed by a 219-208 vote along party lines; the Senate has…
Read MoreCarl Levin: 1934 – 2021
Former Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), a 36-year veteran of the Senate has died at the age of 87. The Levin Center at Wayne State University announced the late senator’s death Thursday evening, calling him “a dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, and life-long public servant.” In 2014, Levin was presented with the MAB’s…
Read MoreFCC To Clarify Political Advertising Rules – No Significant Changes Proposed
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, it was announced that the FCC would be considering some changes to its political broadcasting rules at its monthly open meeting in August. In some quarters (see, for example, this article), that raised concern that significant changes were coming in time for the 2022 Congressional elections. But,…
Read MoreMichigan House Approves Final End of Emergency Powers of the Governor Act
The Michigan House voted on Wednesday (7/21) to approve a citizen initiative by Unlock Michigan to entirely remove the 1945 law, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used to make controversial COVID-19 orders in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. The Michigan Senate approved the initiative last week. Because the measure came to lawmakers as a…
Read MoreCould a Supreme Court Decision Affect Disclosure Obligations on Political Advertising?
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, we wrote about two dissenting opinions in a Supreme Court decision that highlight the debate that is underway on the principles that govern defamation liability in the United States. While we are reviewing Supreme Court decisions that could have an impact on broadcasters, including on political advertising, we…
Read MoreMore Michigan Congressmen Sign LRFA
The MAB is pleased to announce another cosponsor has signed on to H.Con.Res.33, the House Local Radio Freedom Act. Congressman John Moolenaar (R-4) has joined fellow Representatives Jack Bergman (R-1), Debbie Dingell (D-12), Fred Upton (R-6) and Tim Walberg (R-7) in support of the resolution. The NAB reports that they are up to 159 cosponsors…
Read MoreNAB Statement on Recent Incidents Involving Broadcast Journalists
In response to recent incidents of violence involving broadcast journalists, NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith released the following: “NAB is gravely concerned by recent incidents of violence directed against broadcast journalists who are covering local news. A cornerstone of American democracy is the right of the free press to document the stories and events…
Read MoreHouse Members Target Local Radio Stations with Bill to Impose Performance Royalties
Supporters of a performance right on radio airplay moved to change federal copyright law with the newly proposed American Music Freedom Act, which was introduced Thursday (6/24) by U.S. Reps Tef Deytch (D-FL) and Darrell Issa (R-CA). Details of the bill were still forthcoming, according to a report in InsideRadio, but like a previous attempt…
Read MoreState Associations Ask FCC to Reconsider Regulatory Fees and Late Payment Penalties
Three state broadcast associations are fighting against proposed increases in annual regulatory fees on stations. The associations representing broadcasters in Colorado, Florida, and Puerto Rico are also pushing the Federal Communications Commission to rework the process for deciding whether an outlet qualifies for a financial hardship waiver. And, in a separate filing, 50 state broadcast…
Read MoreHouse Pushes Bill to Prohibit FOIA-Avoiding Messaging Apps
Gongwer reports that the Department of Technology, Management and Budget would have to issue a directive to all agencies not to use any app, software or other technology on an electronic device that prevents the preservation of a public record under a new bill unanimously passed in the state House on Wednesday (6/23). DTMB has…
Read More