Michelle Bradley, CBT, KU3N.
July 15, 2021

Normally, three weeks prior to the monthly open meeting of the Federal Communications Commission, the agency releases drafts of the items they will be voting on in the meeting.  These "circulation drafts" are not the exact wording of the final decisions, but they are a good sneak preview of what is to come.

This document was declared as obsolete on August 3, 2023.

July 13, 2021 was the final day for analog low power TV (LPTV) stations. A few LPTV stations in remote Alaskan villages were given authority to continue analog service until a time when those sites can be reached to convert to digital.

This also means that the so-called “Franken FM” (or “FM6”) stations (channel 6 LPTV stations that are using their audio carrier at 87.75 MHz to operate like an FM radio station) are also supposed to shut down.

REC Networks filed Reply Comments in the Simple250 Petition for Rulemaking, RM-11909.

In the comments, REC mirrors many of the supporting comments that were filed by LPFM stations across the country and focused on how LPFM stations are connected to their community as well as dealing with the technical challenges that stations face, especially where it comes to terrain.

REC also responded to filers that made oppositions and concerns about the LP250 proposal.

For several decades now, radio stations have been exempt by statute from having to pay royalties for playing sound recordings over the air.  This was from a time when radio stations actually promoted music over the air.  Over time, this trend in radio had shifted in this country.  Gone are the days of the "boss jock" or the "good guy" who would not only announce the song, but even say what label the song was on.  Music on the radio has become more institutionalized, especially in the face of streaming services that have no DJs and allows you to skip songs that you don't

The Federal Communications Commission has released a circulation draft for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket 21-263, which eliminates or modifies some outmoded or unnecessary broadcast regulations as well as harmonizes some rules to be consistent with other rules and previously updated international agreements. This item will be voted on or before the next FCC Open Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 13.