Radio and television broadcast stations are required to apply for license renewals to the Federal Communications Communication (FCC) every eight years. Failure to do so could lead to thorny regulatory problems which include the possibility of the loss of your license. Now that broadcast stations are well into the license renewal cycle the Knowledge Group has assembled a panel of experts to discuss the most significant issues surrounding license renewal for broadcast stations and what they have learned thus far. Along with practical guidance and best practices, a live Q&A session is also included in this event.

Course Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: None
Method Of Presentation: Group-Based-Internet
Developer: The Knowledge Group, LLC
Recommended CLE/CPE Hours: 1.75 - 2.0
Advance Preparation: Print and review course materials
Course Code: 124350
Recording Fee: $299 (Please click here for details)

 

Agenda  (click here to view more) SEGMENT 1: Carly T. Didden, Attorney, Patton Boggs LLP • The FCC uses the license renewal process to check licensee compliance with the FCC's rules. Forfeitures are frequently issued to licensees that are not able to make the certifications on the license renewal application. Licensees should review the license renewal application now and the FCC's station self inspection checklists to make sure the licensee and its stations are in compliance with the FCC's rules. Forfeitures are reduced or may only be a warning if the licensee is able to state in its license renewal application that it took steps to remedy any non-compliance with the FCC's rules prior to filing its license renewal application. • The FCC recently launched an online Local Public File database hosted by the FCC. At this time, only television stations are required to maintain online Local Public Files. However, the requirements vary depending on if the television station is a large or small market station. • Licensees need to check their compliance with the FCC's ownership rules to make sure there have not been any unauthorized changes in control. This is particularly an issue for non-commercial stations since they are controlled by their Boards and the sum of gradual membership changes may trigger the need to file a transfer of control. SEGMENT 2: Elizabeth Spainhour, Partner, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP • The license renewal form requires the licensee to certify whether there have been any FCC violations during the license term. What is a "violation" that would compel a negative certification? What kinds of issues do not constitute "violations"? • The environmental certification on the renewal form has changed since the last renewal cycle. The new renewal form allows stations that have had no material changes in their radio frequency (RF) environment since the station last received a grant of a license application or license renewal application to certify environmental compliance, without the requirement of an exhibit or worksheet. How can stations assess whether there has been a "material change" in the RF environment and whether an exhibit or worksheet must be submitted? • A Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report must be filed in conjunction with a station's license renewal application. Who must file this report? What must be done to properly complete the form? • How does the new online public file rule impact the local public file certification? • Many stations have other authorizations associated with their main broadcast facilities, such as translators, studio transmitter links, etc. What types of licenses are included in the main station license renewal application? What types of authorizations require separate license renewal applications (i.e., low power television stations)? • What happens if a station does not timely file a renewal application? SEGMENT 3: Lee G. Petro, Of Counsel, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP • Since the last renewal cycle, the Commission has instituted a non-discrimination requirement in advertising contracts, and requires licensees to certify compliance with this policy. What steps does a licensee have to take to confirm compliance with this certification, and, if necessary, what remedial steps should be taken? • The deadline for submitting a renewal license is upcoming, but the licensee has received an offer to sell the station to another party. Can the licensee file an assignment of license application while the renewal of license application is pending? What steps should the licensee take to ensure timely processing of the applications. • In reviewing the public file, it was discovered that the station had not prepared the Issue/Program lists for the past 5 years. Other than acknowledging this failure in the renewal of license application, what other steps should the station take? Should the station expect a forfeiture? • A licensee of a Class A Television station must certify compliance with the general renewal guidelines, but also must confirm compliance with the additional obligations imposed on Class A stations. What are these additional obligations, and what steps must be taken? What is the impact if the station can no longer make that certification?

Who Should Attend?

- Senior Management of Broadcast Stations/Companies
- Attorneys
- Compliance Officers
- Corporate Counsel
- Commercial and contract managers
- Licensing executives
- And Other Interested Professionals

Why Attend?

This is a must attend event for anyone interested in learning careful and detailed preparation for license renewal application in broadcast industry.

- New guidance explained by the most qualified key leaders & experts.
- Hear directly from key regulators & thought leaders.
- Interact directly with panel during Q&A.

Be in the know. Click the "Register" button below to enroll in this course today. Advanced registration is recommended as significant discounts apply to early registrants.

(Click here for information on group registrations and discounts)

Disclaimer:
Please note, the event date is firm although it may be subject to change. Please click here for details.
The Knowledge Group, LLC is producing this event for information purposes only. We do not intend to provide or offer business advice. The contents of this event are based upon the opinions of our speakers. The Knowledge Congress does not warrant their accuracy and completeness. The statements made by them are based on their independent opinions and does not necessarily reflect that of The Knowledge Congress' views. In no event shall The Knowledge Congress be liable to any person or business entity for any special, direct, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential damages as a result of any information gathered from this webcast.

 

 

 

 

Legal Series: License Renewal in Broadcast Industry: What to Do Now
LIVE Webcast
Event Sponsors / Speaker Firms:

Patton Boggs is a leader in public policy, litigation and business law, and is well known for its deep bipartisan roots in the U.S. political arena. Patton Boggs is widely recognized as having the leading public policy and lobbying practice in the United States. With offices in Washington DC, New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Denver and Anchorage, and internationally in Doha, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, more than 550 lawyers and professionals provide comprehensive, practical and cost-effective legal counsel to clients around the globe. For more information about the firm or its attorneys, visit www.pattonboggs.com.

Founded in 1897, Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP is a business law firm providing strategic counsel and innovative solutions to clients coast-to-coast and around the world. The firm is comprised of 90 attorneys located in offices in Raleigh and Greensboro, NC, and represents clients in complex litigation; media, entertainment and communications; corporate and securities; technology and intellectual property; environmental; labor and employment; banking; construction, surety, land use and development; health care; state and federal governmental relations; tax; wealth management; and criminal defense matters.

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, with 650 lawyers in 11 offices nationwide, provides clients with unparalleled service in matters ranging from billion-dollar deals to complex class actions, across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s priorities are knowing its clients' business and providing the value needed so it can be an integral part of its clients’ successes. Clients choose Drinker Biddle for its sophisticated yet efficient approach to handling the most important business transactions, litigation and government affairs efforts. For more information on how the firm has been innovating for more than 160 years, please visit www.drinkerbiddle.com.

The Knowledge Group, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org

We are an approved multi-event sponsor in the state of California. Our provider ID is: 14451. In Texas, Illinois, and Virginia, we submit programs for individual approval in advance. In all other states, once attendance is verified, participants are emailed an official certificate of attendance which they submit to their respective State Bar Associations. Our programs are created with continuing education in mind and are therefore designed to meet the requirements of State Bar Associations. The State Bars will have the final determination on whether to provide credit or not. If you have any questions, please email our CLE coordinator at: info@knowledgecongress.org Attention New York Attorneys: This program is approved for CLE credit under New York’s Approved Jurisdiction policy. The Knowledge Group, LLC is an approved sponsor in the state of California, a New York Approved Jurisdiction. This program fulfills the non-traditional format requirement of exceeding 60 minutes in length. Please note only experienced attorneys (more than 2 years) are eligible to receive CLE credit via non-traditional format learning platforms. The Knowledge Group will verify attendance during the webcast via secret words (3 per credit hour) and by auditing attendees log in and log out records. All verification instructions will be provided during the webcast. Once attendance verification requirements have been completed, the attendee will be issued a certificate of attendance be The Knowledge Group for the course with the recommended number of credit hours. The Certificate of Attendance is normally sent via email in 24 hours or less. To Claim Your CLE Credits: The attorney should simply include credits earned via Knowledge Group webcasts when computing the total number of CLE credits completed, and keep the Knowledge Group Certificate of Attendance for a period of at least four (4) years in case of audit. An attorney may count towards her/his New York CLE requirement credit earned through the Approved Jurisdiction policy without notifying the CLE Board. To learn more about New York’s Approved Jurisdiction policy. Please visit: http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/cle/approvedjurisdictions.shtml Attention Pennsylvania Attorneys: Knowledge Congress is not yet an Accredited Distance Learning Provider in PA, neither the instructors nor any PA attendees will receive credit for the course.

Enrolled Agents Sponsor ID Number: 7602U We have entered into an agreement with the Office of Professional Responsibility, Internal Revenue Service, to meet the requirements of 31 Code of Federal Regulations, section 10.6(g), covering maintenance of attendance records, retention of program outlines, qualifications of instructors, and length of class hours. This agreement does not constitute an endorsement by the Office of Professional Responsibility as to the quality of the program or its contribution to the professional competence of the enrolled individual.

The Knowledge Congress is a series of live webcasts produced by The Knowledge Group, LLC, which examine trends, regulatory, and technology changes across a variety of industries. "We bring together the world's leading authorities and industry participants through informative two-hour webinars to study the impact of changing regulations."

Copyright 2011-2012 The Knowledge Group LLC.  All Rights Reserved.  Privacy Policy.

 Upcoming events. Subscribe now.
 General Inquiries: info@knowledgecongress.org
 Registration Questions: register@knowledgecongress.org