The correct call letters KHQA Licensee requested a channel swap for is KHQA-TV Hannibal, Missouri, said an FCC correction in Friday's Federal Register (see 2106150081).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied TV broadcaster PMCM’s appeal of the FCC's grant of a two-sided distributed transmission license to Connecticut Public Broadcasting’s WEDW Stamford, said (in Pacer) an unpublished order Friday in docket 20-1334. “The panel fully considered the issues and determined that a published opinion is unnecessary,” said the order from Judges David Tatel, Judith Rogers and Justin Walker. PMCM argued the FCC shouldn’t have allowed Connecticut Public Broadcasting to use a defunct station as an example of the largest coverage area in the market in its application, or allowed the reference point for the application to be moved without a formal request. It said granting the public broadcaster’s application amounts to relocating its license from Connecticut to New York City. “Given that western Connecticut viewers would receive better service, PMCM’s assertion is ‘wholly conjectural,’” the opinion said. “PMCM’s appeal lacks merit.” PMCM didn’t comment.
New House legislation would levy a performance royalty on radio stations playing music on terrestrial radio. The American Music Fairness Act, from Reps. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Darrell Issa, R-Calif. responds to the Local Radio Freedom Act. Supported by NAB, the latter would oppose any such royalty bill. NAB opposes Thursday’s introduction, said CEO Gordon Smith.
The FCC Media Bureau opened docket 21-263 for filings on a draft proposal to update broadcast radio technical rules, set for a vote at the July 13 commissioners’ meeting, said a public notice in Wednesday's Daily Digest (see 2106220060).
Oct. 1 is the opening day of the biennial broadcast ownership report filing window (see 2106210040).
Broadcasters' biennial ownership reports' window opens Oct.1, said the FCC Media Bureau in a reminder public notice in Monday’s Daily Digest. The reports “support the Commission’s policy-making efforts with comprehensive, reliable data reflecting the race, gender, and ethnicity of attributable interest holders in broadcast stations,” it said. Broadcasters are encouraged to “prepare in advance” for the filing date and “review carefully their compliance with the filing requirement,” the notice said.
The full FCC approved a limited waiver of the July 13 digital transition deadline for low-power TV stations and translators for 15 state-owned TV translator stations that serve remote communities in Alaska, in an order released Monday. “Due to novel factors” that prevented completion of the translators’ digital facilities, the deadline for those stations was extended to Jan. 10. The waiver will serve the public interest “by maintaining the sole over-the-air broadcast television service to the remote rural and Alaskan bush communities,” the order said. Construction of the stations’ digital facilities was delayed due to “extreme remoteness, limited communications, small population, and extreme weather,” the order said. It extends the translators’ digital construction permits, and requires Alaska to submit a progress report by Oct. 13. “We delegate authority to the Media Bureau to consider future requests seeking similar waiver and relief,” the order ended.
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.”
Issue a Further NPRM on expanding the base of entities that pay FCC regulatory fees to include “Big Tech and other unlicensed spectrum users” so that those companies pay “their fair share of all of the Commission’s activities from which they directly benefit,” said NAB in calls this week with aides to FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and Office of Managing Director staff, per a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-190. Spare broadcasters reg fee increases related to the Broadband Data Act, “which neither regulates nor benefits broadcasters,” said NAB. “Allocate Broadband Costs across only those core bureaus that are doing the relevant work and whose regulatees benefit from the Commission’s broadband mapping.”
Howard University's WHUT (PBS) will be ATSC 3.0 host for local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates when NextGenTV signals go live in Washington starting late summer, said Pearl TV, which is managing the “broadcast collaborative” announced Wednesday. Washington is the ninth largest U.S. TV market “and posed a unique opportunity for commercial and public broadcasting to band together,” said Pearl. NextGenTV set suppliers LG, Samsung and Sony are among nearly two dozen “supporting organizations.”