Monty Tayloe

The FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment will be rechartered with a broader focus as the Communications Equity and Diversity Council, acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced Thursday at the virtual, final meeting of ACDDE’s current charter. “The Council’s mission will expand from its initial focus on the media ecosystem to review more broadly critical diversity and equity issues across the tech sector,” said an agency news release Thursday. One meeting vote was divisive.

NAB, ABC and the Educational Media Foundation said the latest proposal to allow increased power (see 2106140045) for low-power FM stations is a threat to the radio band. Many LPFM advocates and broadcasters argue the Simple 250 plan would preserve localism and benefit rural areas, in comments filed by Monday’s deadline in RM-11909. But the FCC “should not have any confidence that LPFM stations are willing or able to ensure the technical integrity of the FM band,” said NAB. Concerns about interference from more powerful LPFM stations are “purely speculation and conspiracy,” said petition for rulemaking author REC Networks.

The FCC low-power FM order on reconsideration changed little from the draft, as expected (see 2106160048). A footnote changed for the final version acknowledged concerns by REC Networks and Common Frequency about rejection of criticisms of rules requiring LPFM stations use certified equipment. Common Frequency argues those rules are stricter than what's required of FM translators owned by full-power FM broadcasters. Both versions suggested LPFMs could seek a petition for rulemaking, the final saying a carve-out suggested by REC “could create industry confusion regarding our transmitter certification requirements.” The final suggested some LPFM outlets with certification issues could seek waivers: “Our rules already permit waivers upon a public interest showing from any applicant with unique circumstances.”

Broadcast advertising revenue is improving as jurisdictions reopen, streaming services are putting increasing pressure on MVPDs, and sports betting is on the rise as a category, panelists told S&P's Kagan Media Summit. Core ads are “set up for a growth streak,” said Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley on Thursday. “Habits picked up during the pandemic are likely to have lasting effects on video consumption,” said Kagan's Deana Myers.

The FCC unanimously approved an order on reconsideration of low-power FM rules and deleted it from the agenda of Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, said a deletion notice Wednesday. Though the text wasn't released yet, an FCC official told us no significant changes were proposed. The draft order rejected recon petitions from Common Frequency and the Foundation for a Beautiful Life that had sought changes to LPFM technical rules and increased power levels for the radio service. A subsequent proposal for increased power levels is seen as more palatable to the FCC (see 2106140045). Comments on that Simple 250 petition from REC Networks are due Monday.

The top four network broadcast affiliate groups said streaming services should be required to disseminate emergency alert system messages, while a wide range of opponents from NPR to NCTA contend that’s not necessary or practical, in replies filed by Monday’s deadline in docket 15-94. Streaming services “are not ill-equipped to distribute EAS information, and no wholesale reconfiguration of Internet-based programming distribution technology would be needed,” said affiliate groups for Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC. “Requiring streaming services to create this infrastructure and solve these technical challenges would be infeasible in many cases, and costly and unduly burdensome in others, especially when EAS alerts already are delivered widely through traditional broadcast and wireless means,” said NPR. Requiring this would be “technically impracticable” and “produce little, if any, benefit,” said MPA, the Digital Media Association, Digital Content Next and Internet Association. Streaming is too vague a term, said the Information Technology Industry Council. “The difficulty of defining an unbounded term such as 'streaming' makes any effort to bring streaming services into the EAS untenable.” Comtech sided with affiliate groups, saying it's “absolutely imperative” to enable such alerts and conceding it would involve “significant technical challenges.” Instead of new alerting requirements, the FCC should consider convening a multistakeholder working group to study “the alerting ecosystem as a whole” and how to best to reach consumers, said NCTA.

The FCC is expected to unanimously reject two low-power FM petitions for reconsideration at Thursday's commissioners' meeting (see 2105270085). LPFM advocates said in interviews they view the move as paving the way for an upcoming LPFM application window and believe this FCC could look favorably on the latest effort to increase LPFM power levels. “We aren’t being dismissed. We’re being listened to,” said Caitlin Reading, who advises the LPFM Coalition. “That’s exciting.”

Ransomware cyberattacks on massive targets such as Colonial Pipeline are rising and in the public eye, but TV and radio stations can also be attractive targets, said cybersecurity experts and broadcasters in interviews. And sometimes, such attacks on station owners are high profile.

Media Bureau approval of a channel 6 TV station’s request for special temporary authority for what some deem Franken FMs could signal to similar stations that the FCC will let them stay on air in analog audio if they follow an ATSC 3.0-based template. The requirement all low-power TVs cease analog broadcasts by July 13 was considered a threat to the stations that are primarily on audio receivable by FM radios (see 2104300063). Wiley's Ari Meltzer, who represents STA applicant Venture Technologies, said in an interview Thursday’s STA gives at least a temporary nod to a solution.

Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council CEO Robert Branson said Thursday that the emergency broadband benefit program and closing the digital divide are the major areas the FCC should be focusing on. Branson succeeds Maurita Coley (see 2105240079). There's “a groundswell of support” for making the EBB permanent, he told a virtual meet and greet, and MMTC should push for it whenever there’s opportunity. He said broadband infrastructure and the digital divide are among MMTC priorities, along with access to capital and privacy.