With the recent revision of the Children’s Television Programming rules, the FCC has released a Small Entity Compliance Guide aimed at smaller TV stations and other organizations to help them comply with the revised rules. The new “KidVid” rules, which went into effect on September 16, cover how and when TV stations can air educational/informational… read more
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged Republican legislative leaders to quickly send her budget bills before their weekend “getaway” for a GOP political gathering, saying she needs as much time as possible to review and sign them by a September 30 deadline. Republicans countered that they would take final votes… read more
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP On September 17, the FCC announced that the due dates for Biennial Ownership Reports, which had been December 1 of this year, will now be January 31, 2020. The Order announcing that action is available here. The FCC notice says that this additional time is needed to make updates… read more
Editor’s note: Michigan experienced a State Government shutdown over the budget in 2007. Stations should be prepared that should a shutdown occur again, many services may stop, including writing checks to vendors. The Associated Press reported Wednesday (9/11) that budget talks between GOP Leaders and Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer have broken down in a dispute… read more
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP We’ve written many times about the legal concerns about advertising for various vices – including e-cigs (see, for instance, our article here) and CBD (see for instance our articles here and here). The issues with these products never seem to go away, and in recent days, they have become… read more
By: David Oxenford, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP Last week, the Radio Music License Committee issued a press release that states that Global Music Rights (“GMR”), the new performing rights organization that collects royalties for the public performance of songs written by a number of popular songwriters (including Bruce Springsteen, members of the Eagles, Pharrell Williams and… read more
In an effort to protect media coverage of courtroom proceedings, the MAB has filed comments to a Proposed Amendment to Rule 8.115 of the Michigan Court rules. In its comments, the MAB respectfully requests the elimination of any language in the Proposed Amendment which encroaches on or conflicts with Administrative Order 1989-1, which provides guidelines… read more
The MAB is researching the ramifications of this law on advertising now and in the future. Once we get guidance from our Washington FCC attorney David Oxenford, we will pass on his advice to MAB members. Watch this space. Whitmer announced Wednesday (9/4) she was moving to ban flavored e-cigarettes in Michigan by issuing an… read more
By Lauren Lynch Flick, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP The FCC has released its finalized schedule of annual Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2019, and thanks to the collective efforts of all 50 State Broadcasters Associations and the National Association of Broadcasters, there is some good news for radio stations and satellite television stations. But… read more
On August 28, State Representative Michele Hoitenga (R-102) introduced legislation to prohibit local regulations on drones that may be more restrictive than state law. H.B. 4852 proposes that “except as expressly authorized by statute, a political subdivision shall not enact or enforce an ordinance, regulation, or resolution that regulates the ownership or operation of unmanned… read more
