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On January 19, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Report and Order adopting technical changes to the agency’s rules pertaining to the use of a distributed transmission system (DTS), or single frequency network (SFN), by broadcast television stations. Specifically, the Commission’s Report and Order replaces the current, subjective “minimal amount” standard governing DTS signal “spillover” beyond a station’s authorized service area with an objective “bright-line” approach that the agency believes will provide the regulatory certainty needed to promote DTS deployment. The Report and Order also removes the requirement that Class A, low power television (LPTV) and television translator stations must apply for DTS facilities on an experimental basis, and adopts specific technical requirements governing such stations’ use of DTS transmitters. The Commission states that i
FCC Asks Supreme Court to Roll Back Media Ownership Restrictions
The Federal Communications Commission urged the Supreme Court to relax rules limiting ownership of local media outlets, arguing that the restrictions are obsolete and unneeded.
Telephonic oral argument in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project and National Association of Broadcasters v. Prometheus Radio Project, which were consolidated and heard together, lasted 81 minutes, exceeding the scheduled 60 minutes.
The hearing took place on Jan. 19, the Trump administration’s last full day in office.
Republicans lost majority control of the FCC on Jan. 20, when Chairman Ajit Pai stepped down with the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Democrats are expected to have a 3–2 majority when a replacement is appointed.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.
On Nov. 20, 1938, WMCA in New York had enough of Father Charles E. Coughlin’s anti-Semitic bile. After a supposed homily entitled “Persecution: Jewish and Christian,” in which he denounced Jews in language that might have been lifted from Der Stürmer, an announcer broke in to distance the station from Coughlin’s talk. “Unfortunately, Father Coughlin has uttered many misstatements of fact,” he informed listeners. Donald Flamm, the president of WMCA, later pledged “not to permit a repetition” of Coughlin’s inflammatory remarks, words that were “calculated to stir up religious and racial hatred and dissension in this country.”
Meanwhile, Rebecca Slaughter has been named acting chair of the FTC.
President Joe Biden has tapped Federal Communications Commission commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to be acting chair of the government agency. Rosenworcel has been an FCC commissioner since 2012 and is seen as one of the favorites to be nominated as the next permanent chair.
Ajit Pai stepped down as FCC chairman on Wednesday.
“I thank the president for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff, Rosenworcel said in a statement Thursday. It is a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age.”