Broadcasters urged the FCC to issue an NPRM on NAB’s proposal to allow them to use virtual, software-based emergency alert system equipment instead of physical devices, according to an ex parte filing recapping a meeting with an aide to Chairman Brendan Carr. “Certain changes in the EAS marketplace increase the need for prompt attention to this proposal,” said representatives of iHeartMedia, Beasley Media, Cox Media, New York Public Radio and NAB in the filing, posted Thursday in docket 15-94.
Proponents of the 5G broadcast standard for low-power TV haven’t adequately shown that the new standard won’t cause interference to other services, said Sinclair Broadcast and NAB in reply comments filed in docket 25-168 in response to a petition from HC2 (see 2506030060). The petitioner “has not submitted a detailed engineering analysis or a technical study demonstrating that LPTV stations can operate using 5G Broadcast without interfering with existing television services,” said Sinclair.
The Media Bureau has approved Sinclair’s sale of five stations to Rincon Broadcasting and waived a limit on common ownership of top-four stations in the same market, said an order Tuesday. The bureau also rejected a petition to deny the deal from recently formed public interest group Frequency Forward (see 2504150056). The group’s “allegations concerning Sinclair’s character qualifications have repeatedly been considered and rejected,” the order said.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously denied a Radio Communications Corp. petition for review of the FCC’s implementation of the 2023 Low Power Protection Act (LPPA), which allowed low-power TV stations fulfilling certain criteria to upgrade to Class A status (see 2411180040). “We are unpersuaded by RCC’s arguments. The FCC’s Order adheres to the best reading of the statute,” said Judge Harry Edwards in the opinion Friday.
Twenty-three state attorneys general filed a joint amicus brief Monday supporting PBS and NPR lawsuits that challenge a White House executive order cutting public broadcasting funding. The brief -- from states including Colorado, Michigan, Arizona, New York and North Carolina -- argued that ending funding “would gravely harm Americans” by cutting access to emergency alerts and vital information. Rural areas and tribal communities “stand to suffer particular harms in the event public radio and television broadcasters discontinue or reduce the services they provide to those areas.” The White House’s order to cut funding usurps Congress’ authority, the filing added. “It is up to Congress, with its exclusive power of the purse, to decide whether and how to fund public media,” it said. “If the Executive Branch disagrees, the lawful course is to ask Congress to rescind appropriations, as it has now belatedly asked. But the Executive Branch’s actions challenged here, unilaterally terminating appropriations, are unlawful.”
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is reviewing a proposed FCC rule titled “Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems,” which could be related to NAB’s proposal to allow software-based emergency alerting equipment, according to the OIRA website and industry officials. Since April 21, all agency regulations have been required to undergo OIRA review, but it has been unclear how that process would interact with the FCC’s procedures (see 2505090004). The alerting item posted by OIRA doesn’t appear to correspond to any item listed as having been circulated to the FCC’s 10th floor as of Friday. The OIRA website listing contains almost no details about the item, only that it was submitted for review May 30, a few days after the final reply comment date on NAB’s proposal (see 2505230056). The FCC didn’t respond to queries about the OIRA listing. OIRA’s webpage shows that a number of FCC and NAB officials met about the item via teleconference June 13.
IHeartMedia wants the FCC to allow Global Media and Entertainment Investments (GMEI), an existing foreign-owned investor in iHeart, to transfer its interest in iHeart to a related corporate-owned entity, said a petition for declaratory ruling posted Wednesday in docket 25-200. GMEI is organized in the Bahamas and principally owned by U.K. citizens, including British horse-racing and media entrepreneur Michael Tabor. The FCC has previously approved foreign ownership of up to 100% of iHeart’s equity and voting interests, as well as the specific participation of GMEI, iHeart said. The petition stems from “anticipation” that Tabor’s son, Ashley Tabor-King, who is currently executive president of two of GMEI's sister companies, “will serve as a close advisor to Mr. Tabor and exert some degree of influence with respect Mr. Tabor’s investment in iHeart,” the filing said. It sought permission for Tabor-King, several GMEI-associated companies, and multiple U.K.-based people who could have influence over the companies to hold up to a 5% interest in iHeart. “The proposed changes described in the Petition do not change the aggregate amount of foreign ownership of iHeart,” the filing said. Comments on the petition are due July 18, replies Aug.4.
Industry officials expect Chairman Brendan Carr to circulate an NPRM Wednesday evening on relaxing the national broadcast ownership cap, they told us after Breitbart reported on the proposal. Carr has repeatedly said he believes the FCC has the authority to change the cap, and he wants to empower local broadcasters to reduce the power imbalance between station owners and national networks (see Ref:2505160064]). The current rules limit a single company from owning stations that reach more than 39% of U.S. TV households. With Wednesday’s confirmation of incoming FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, Carr is seen as having the votes to relax the rules. Opponents of broadcast deregulation have said the FCC doesn’t have the authority to alter the ownership limit, and any FCC action to change it is certain to draw a legal challenge.
Common Frequency CEO Todd Urick told Commissioner Anna Gomez that the FCC could help address concerns about declining local broadcast news by allowing low-power FM broadcasters to increase their power levels and creating an alternate funding source for local nonprofit journalism, according to an ex parte filing posted in docket 24-14. Urick proposed that the agency create a nonprofit foundation to which commercial broadcasters could donate funds in exchange for exemptions from some public interest obligations, such as public file requirements. “These funds could go towards FCC grants for local nonprofit journalism initiatives and local nonprofit media,” the filing said. Previous FCC efforts to help local journalism, such as former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s stalled proposal to prioritize applications from broadcasters that create local programming, have “faded,” the filing said. The lack of local news and programming is leading to a market failure soon to extend to local television and public radio.”
Tegna plans to increase its daily newscast output by adding two hours of streaming local news content from 7 to 9 a.m. in more than 50 markets, it said Monday. The content will be available live and on-demand on streaming services, connected TV apps and news station websites, the release said. The expansion “is designed to meet audiences’ growing demand for coverage of their communities wherever they want to watch and will deliver over 100 hours of daily breaking news, weather, and traffic to over 100 million viewers.”