FCC Cleans Up Old Broadcast Rules

Under its “Delete, Delete, Delete” plan, the FCC issued a public notice seeking to clean up a number of antiquated broadcast rules. In a Report and Order issued last week, the FCC revised 13 rules relating to broadcast stations. Most of the revisions should be considered as “regulatory clean up. The FCC’s decision addressed the following rules:

• Replace References to CDBS with References to LMS 

• Update Form Names 

• Change Table of Assignments/Allotments References to Conform to Existing Language 

• Eliminate the 2021 NCE FM Window Application Cap

• Eliminate AM Station 20% Power Increase Restrictions & Update AM Classifications. 

• Remove Post-incentive Auction Viewer and MVPD Notification

• Update Processing LPFM Minor Modification Applications 

• Revisions to Section 73.807, Minimum Distance Separation Between Stations 

• Update the Signature Rule Regarding Directors of Corporations 

• Revise Non Commercial Local Public Notice Requirement After Acceptance for Filing

• Prior-filed Application Protections

• Remove 90-Day STA Restriction Necessitated by Technical or Equipment Problems 

• Remove Obsolete Application Processing Language 

• Redesignate Renewal Application Petition to Deny Rule

• Revise the Informal Objection Rule

While considered to be regulatory clean up, some of these rules could affect your station. It is worth reviewing the rules with your communications council. These rule changes will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Thus, we anticipate the rules becoming effective in about a month or so.

You can see the FCC’s decision here.