Political Window Set to Open, More FCC Deadlines Kicking In

posted on 1.16.2024

- News Awards Entries Due Jan. 30

The political window for the Texas election season opens this week, coming on the heels of TAB’s members-only briefing on the complex FCC regulatory framework that could prove costly to any station that fails to comply fully.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 20, legally qualified candidates for federal races must be allowed to purchase airtime and at the lowest rate for a particular unit of advertising. A whole host of additional provisions come into play that could easily trip up station personnel and result in costly fines, including failing to promptly post requests for purchases of airtime to stations’ online FCC political files.

TAB members have access to a full suite of resources to assist with political advertising, from recordings of the Jan. 16 webinar with TAB’s FCC legal counsel, a legal guide on FCC and state political advertising regulations, special “Political Broadcasting” disclosure forms and other documents needed for compliance, and TAB’s legal hotline for routine questions.

TAB Members-Only Political Toolkit

News Awards, Additional FCC Deadlines Looming

Radio and TV station entries for the Texas Broadcast News Awards are due Jan. 30, with the third annual event slated for April 13 in Austin.

Also due on Jan. 30 are two FCC filings required of TV stations regarding children’s programming:

• Children’s TV Commercial Compliance Certification: The FCC requires all commercial full-power and Class A television stations to upload to their online public inspection file an annual certification of compliance with the commercial limits in children’s TV programming, covering the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023, by January 30, 2024. 
• Children’s TV Programming Report: The FCC requires that each commercial full power and Class A television station file on an annual basis a Children’s Television Programming Report (“Kid Vid” Report) reflecting efforts made by the licensee during the preceding year (Jan 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2023) to serve the educational and informational needs of children. This Report is filed on FCC Form 2100, Schedule H and must be submitted in LMS by January 30, 2024. More information can be found on the FCC’s website: https://www.fcc.gov/media/television/childrens-educational-television-reporting-form-2100-schedule-h 

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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