HARRY C. MARTIN

The commercial television stations in the Wilmington, NC, market have agreed to shut down their analog operations on Sept. 8, more than five months ahead

Just before Thanksgiving, the FCC issued a comprehensive order authorizing unlicensed devices on TV frequencies.

The FCC has issued its first fine to a television station for failure to have a sufficient amount of children's educational or informational (E/I) programming,

Stations that selected option two from the NAB's consumer education plan menu must continue to air at least one of the following per day until the transition

With the Feb. 17, 2009, digital TV transition date approaching, the FCC recently adopted rules designed to ensure that cable subscribers who receive analog-only

In March, the commission announced its DTV Consumer Education Initiative, which requires broadcasters to educate the public regarding the DTV transition.

The four major broadcast networks, joined by some public interest groups, have proposed a compromise on the FCC's new KidVid rules in an effort to avoid

Video news releases (VNRs), unsolicited taped publicity pieces, continue to create issues for TV stations that do not identify the sources when all or part of such pieces appear in their newscasts

In response to a Congressional mandate, the FCC recently inquired whether satellite and cable TV operators should be required to offer their programming

A description of portions of the Transition Order and the important upcoming deadlines

The FCC has begun to address some of the regulatory logistics associated with satellite importation of distant signals into local TV markets. Current

The FCC has established rules for converting low-power television (LPTV), television translator and Class A TV stations to the DTV mode

In January, the FCC released a decision addressing 14 petitions for reconsideration dealing with the new TV duopoly and cross-ownership rules. The new

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the EEO rules that became effective in April 2000. The

The FCC has postponed until Jan. 15, 2001, the effective date of its relaxed definition of "minor" change for LPTV, TV translator and Class A television

On April 1, 2002, the Commission's video description rules for video programming became effective.

TV broadcasters still operating analog facilities on channels 52-69 after 2006 may become subject to heavy spectrum fees. By now all broadcasters are

Senator John McCain has introduced a bill that would bring back “tax certificates” for those who sell communications companies, including broadcast stations, to qualified small businesses.

The new rules again require broadcasters to disseminate notice of full-time job vacancies and to participate in a specified number of recruitment activities.

In June, the Commission held an en banc hearing on the need for new broadcast and cable equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules.

Five subject areas have been identified by the FCC task force as most important to the development of a comprehensive spectrum management policy. They are discussed in this article.