Engineers and broadcasters disagree whether more experimentation with possible interference concerns is needed before allowing AM broadcasters go all-digital (see 2003100062). Some argued the FCC should pursue other solutions for the band, in replies posted through Tuesday in docket 19-311.
The FCC rejected Free Press’ emergency petition for inquiry into broadcasters airing allegedly false information about COVID-19 (see 2004060026). FCC Republicans slammed the petition as an attack on free speech. “At best, the Petition rests on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Commission’s limited role in regulating broadcast journalism,” said a Monday letter from General Counsel Tom Johnson and Media Bureau Chief Michelle Carey. “At worst, the Petition is a brazen attempt to pressure broadcasters to squelch their coverage of a President that Free Press dislikes.”
TV and radio public service announcements are a good choice for spreading information about the COVID-19 pandemic in the fractured U.S. media landscape, said academics and marketing CEOs asked about the White House and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's focus on PSAs as a virus response (see 2003170068). “Considering how broken up mass media is, the ability to reach a large audience is something they have to take advantage of,” said Joseph Cappella, University of Pennsylvania professor of communication.
Entertainment Media Trust is broadcasting after having its licenses canceled by the FCC, confirmed St. Louis-area listeners and on-air radio host Bob Romanik. He was accused by the Enforcement Bureau of being the true party in control. We phoned the station previously licensed as KQQZ Fairview Heights during Romanik’s On the Dark Side, and station personnel initially asked if we wanted to go “on the air.” “We’re still fighting them,” Romanik said in an interview. He said he hadn’t received many of the communications from the FCC about the hearing and license issues: “We never got any of it, we’re just gonna play it by ear till we see what the final outcome is.” The Media Bureau said in a March 20 public notice that the order from Administrative Law Judge Jane Halprin dismissing EMT’s applications to renew the licenses was final, and that EMT’s former frequencies would be protected from interference by other stations. The Multicultural Media Telecom and Internet Council pushed the agency to preserve the licenses under new ownership as broadcast incubator stations (see 2003200068). EB didn’t comment.
Commissioner Mike O’Rielly vowed to prevent broadcast ownership regulations from applying to ATSC 3.0, in his written remarks Tuesday on the FCC NPRM on distributed transmission systems. That NPRM and media items on program carriage and significantly viewed stations were, as expected (see 2003300054), approved unanimously before a brief teleconference-only commissioners’ meeting Tuesday. Commissioners mostly held off on comments (see 2003310067). Telecom items also were OK'd (see 2003310039).
An item on circulation listed by the FCC as concerning WCNC-TV Charlotte’s political file is NAB’s petition for reconsideration of the agency’s guidance on political files, an agency official told us. Numerous broadcasters and NCTA filed in support of the recon petition (see 1912310044). Several commenters said the FCC should have held a public comment period before issuing the policy shift. Transparency groups such as Campaign Legal Center have supported the policy.
Media items slated for Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting -- on distributed transmission systems (DTS) for ATSC 3.0, the definition of significantly viewed, and revised program carriage rules -- are expected to be approved unanimously, FCC and industry officials told us. The agency’s COVID-19 meeting procedures include voting the meeting items on circulation (see 2003240057) by the meeting’s 10:30 a.m. start time. An official said eighth-floor offices were entering votes Monday on items that had completed the editing process. A spokesperson said deletion notices will be issued for any items adopted before the meeting -- “as we have said we expect them to be.” No media items are considered controversial.
COVID-19 is having a negative impact on radio advertising, which could worsen once ratings start showing drops in listenership due to less telecommuting and rising unemployment, said analysts, broadcasters and company news releases late last week. iHeart Radio, Salem Media and Urban One rescinded projections for 2020, citing uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
Low-power and TV translator stations can start getting reimbursed for expenses for being displaced by the post-incentive auction repack, said a public notice Thursday from the FCC Media Bureau and Incentive Auction Task Force. Stations “may immediately begin submitting documentation of actual expenses incurred for approval to be drawn down against their individual allocations,” blogged IATF Chair Jean Kiddoo and Deputy Chair Hillary DeNigro. “It is important to make an initial allocation promptly and without waiting for greater visibility into any future changes so that LPTV/Translator stations can begin to be reimbursed for their expenses, which in some cases have already been incurred,” the PN said.
The FCC’s March 31 commissioners' meeting will be livestream only (see 2003240030). Items will be voted ahead of time on circulation and commissioner remarks will be shortened, agency officials said in interviews. The meeting’s changed format takes into account the agency’s COVID-19 preventive measures, which include closing headquarters to most visitors and staff being asked to telework.