Broadcast Law Blog

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: October 26, 2026 to October 30, 2026

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can ...
Broadcast Law Blog

November 2026 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Nationwide EAS Test and ETRS Reporting, NCE FM Translator Filing Window, Daylight Savings Time, and more

With much of everyone’s focus on the outcome of the November 3 midterm elections, broadcasters cannot forget the regulatory ...
broadcastlawblog

AI in Political Attack Ads – Watch State Laws on Deep Fakes and Synthetic Media in Political Content

This past weekend, we saw an ad posted on YouTube attacking Democratic Senatorial candidate James Talarico – using words that were apparently from his own tweets, commenting on a number of social ...
broadcastlawblog

NAB Requests the End of the 39% Cap on Nationwide Television Station Ownership – Looking at the Issues

The NAB last week submitted a letter asking the FCC to quickly repeal the 39% cap on national ownership of television stations. This cap precludes the ownership by one company or individual of an ...
broadcastlawblog

5 Questions on the FCC’s EEO Obligations for Broadcasters

The Indiana Broadcasters Association recently asked me five questions to highlight the requirements of the FCC’s EEO rules. As these questions are applicable to all broadcasters, we are posting my ...
broadcastlawblog

FCC Adopts Order to Secure EAS System – Broadcasters’ Program Chain Must Be Behind Firewall Soon

At its regular monthly open meeting last week, the FCC adopted an Order meant to enhance the security of the Emergency Alerting System. Citing past hacks of the system that have resulted in false EAS ...
broadcastlawblog

FCC Plans to Raise the 39% National TV Ownership Cap – What are the Proposals and What are the Issues?

Last week, the FCC released a draft Report and Order which, if adopted at its August regular monthly open meeting, will repeal the 39% cap that currently limits the nationwide reach of local ...
broadcastlawblog

2025 Update on Super Bowl Advertising and Promotions

Mitchell Stabbe, our resident trademark law specialist, today takes his annual look at the legal issues in Super Bowl advertising and promotions (see some of his past articles here, here, and here).
broadcastlawblog

Court of Appeals Hears Oral Argument on FCC’s Extension of LUC to Joint Fundraising Committees and Political Party Ad Buys – While FCC Moves to Resolve Appeals of the Same ...

Two weeks ago, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 4 th Circuit heard an oral argument on the challenge by a number of Democratic candidates to the FCC Media Bureau’s March Public ...
broadcastlawblog

The Limits on Ownership of Over-the-Air Television Stations – Looking at the Two FCC Proceedings that Could Change the Rules

In the last few weeks, I’ve spoken to meetings of several broadcast organizations about important pending issues at the FCC and, unfortunately, had to cancel my planned appearance at the TVOT (TV of ...
broadcastlawblog

$222,500 Penalty for TV Indecency – Reminder to Secure Access to Broadcast Product

The FCC this week announced a Consent Decree with a TEGNA subsidiary to settle an indecency complaint against a Spokane television station. The FCC received a complaint about a “pornographic video” ...