Telecommunications Memos
Click on the links below to see full list
| Broadcast General | E-Rate Program |
| Broadcast General - Prior to 2006 | EAS (Formerly EBS) |
| Radio | Internet and Online Services |
| Television | International/Telephone/Satellite |
| Cable | |
Broadcast General
- Unauthorized Recording of Telephone Conversations (2/19/09)
- Update: FCC Opens Regulatory Flexibility Act Proceeding (1/7/09)
- FCC Issues Fines for EEO Lapses (12/31/08)
- FCC Opens Regulatory Flexibility Act Proceeding (12/19/08)
- DTV Ancillary Services Report and Payment Due December 1 (11/17/08)
- Closed Captioning - Further Developments (11/12/08)
- Client Advisory On Net 911 Order (10/24/08)
- Media Bureau Finds Independent Programmers Make Prima Facie Case of Program Carriage Discrimination Against Cable Operators (10/17/08)
- FCC Opens Filing Window For Payment Of 2008 Regulatory Fees (8/29/08)
- Mistaken Responses to USAC Inquiries (8/19/08)
- 2008 Annual Regulatory Fees - Update (8/12/08)
- Indecency Update - The 2004 Super Bowl Fine (7/23/08)
- FCC Grants Limited Set-Top Box Waivers (7/3/08)
- New FCC Inquiry - Embedded Advertising and Sponsorship Identification Rules (6/27/08)
- Proposed 2008 Annual Regulatory Fees (5/08/08)
- Revised Version of "The Public and Broadcasting" Public File Manual (4/25/08)
- FCC Prepares to Reinstate Annual Employment Reports (4/16/08)
- FCC Initiatives to Promote Diversification of Broadcast Ownership (3/11/08)
- Comment Deadlines Set for Three Important USF Proceedings (3/6/08)
- FCC Issues Fines for 2003 "Married by America" Broadcast (2/26/08)
- FCC Affirms and Elaborates Indecency Fine Against NYPD Blue Telecast (2/21/08)
- FCC Issues Report on Broadcast Localism (01/29/08)
- FCC Issues Indecency Fine (01/29/08)
- FCC Adopts New Rules for Television Station Public Files and Public Interest Disclosures (01/29/08)
- TV Quarterly Programming List Requirements - Update (01/25/08)
- Chairman Martin Proposes Revision To Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership Rule (11/16/07)
- 2007 Regulatory Fees (08/06/07)
- Appellate Court Overturns FCC Policy That "Fleeting Expletives" are Indecent (6/7/07)
- FCC Consent Decrees: Payola Guidance (4/16/07)
- FCC Issues Separate Decisions Granting One Hundred and Eighty Two Appeals from Funding Denials (4/12/07)
- Going Private - Revisted and More Relevant Than Ever (11/30/06)
- FCC Proposal to Require Communications Towers to Protect Migratory Birds (11/13/06)
- Clarification of Indecency Decisions (11/08/06)
- FCC Affirms "News Interview" Exemption from Equal Opportunities (10/30/06)
- FCC Modifies and Confirms Children's Television Obligations for Digital TV (10/05/06)
- 2006 Political Broadcast Manual (2006)
- FCC Application Fees to Increase (9/07/06)
- McCaskill for US Senate Lowest Unit Rate Issue (8/31/06)
- FCC Programming Actions (8/04/06)
- 2006 Regulatory Fees Due September 19 (8/03/06)
- Broadcasting Satellite Service at Frequency Bands (7/11/06)
- Higher Broadcast Indecency Fines (6/8/06)
- FCC Upholds Super Bowl Indecency Ruling (6/2/06)
- Prohibited Product Advertising (4/23/06)
- Product Placement (4/23/06)
- New Rules to Restrict "Junk" Faxes (4/11/06)
- FCC Form 1240 Fourth Quarter 2005 Inflation Adjustment Factor is 3.31% (4/3/06)
- FCC Form 1240 Fourth Quarter 2005 Inflation Adjustment Factor is 3.31% (4/03/06)
- Proposed 2006 Annual Regulatory Fees (3/30/06)
- Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Children's Television Obligations (3/28/06)
- FY 2006 Regulatory Fees (3/28/06)
- FCC Indecency Decisions: Still Some Troubling Loose Ends (3/16/06)
- Reminder – Closed Captioning During Emergencies (2/24/06)
- Actual Schedule of Broadcasts (form) (2006)
- Federal Candidates, Refuse to Acknowledge Receipt of Policy/Rate Disclosures (form) (2006)
- Agreement for Non-candidate, Issues Advertisements (form) (2006)
- Candidate Agreement for Political Advertisements (form) (2006)
- What Every Builder and Developer Needs to Know About Telecommunications (2002)
Broadcast General - Prior to 2006
- Automatic Cancellation of Auxiliary Licenses (12/22/05)
- Local Public Files: Their Contents, Inspection, Reproduction and Retention (11/10/05)
- Sen. Ensign Introduces Communications Legislation That Re-writes Telecom Act of '96 (7/28/05)
- Considerations and Consequences of a "Going Private" Transaction Part II (7/12/05)
- Considerations and Consequences of a "Going Private" Transaction Part I (6/1/05)
- Annual Assessment of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming (2/07/05)
- Tower Light Extinguishment Obligations (11/30/04)
- FCC Releases Interim Unbundling Rules (8/20/04)
- Client Alert: Emergency Alert System (8/18/04)
- Client Alert - TV Violence (8/3/04)
- Mandatory Recording of Broadcasts Proposed by FCC (7/8/04)
- New Broadcast Localism Inquiry (7/2/04)
- Webcasting Notice and Recordkeeping Requirements Now In Effect (4/26/04)
- New FCC Debt Collection Rules - Delinquent Fees to Delay Application Processing (4/14/04)
- Indecency Update - Three Important Rulings (10/7/03)
- Unprecedented Fine for Violation of Non-Commercial Restrictions (2004)
- New Frequency Coordination Rules for Broadcast Auxiliaries (10/2/03)
- New Equal Employment Opportunity Rules (March 10, 2003)
- EEO Regulations for Broadcasters (PDF) (March 3, 2003)
- 2003 Womble Carlyle Political Manual - PDF format
- Auction of Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Services License (June 5, 2002)
- Proposed Revisions to Complaint Procedures (April 10, 2002)
- Modifications to Emergency Alert System Rules (Feb.28, 2002)
- Use of FRNs Mandatory as of December 3, 2001 (September 6, 2 001)
- FCC Adopts Policy Statement On Broadcast Indecency (April 10, 2001)
- Changes in Ownership Attribution Rules (February 1, 2001)
- Repeal of Political Editorial and Personal Attack Rules (Oct. 23, 2000)
- FCC Adopts Standards for Choosing Among Competing Non-Commercial Broadcast Applicants (June 7, 1999)
- Further Revision of Local Public Inspection File Rules (June 7, 1999)
- Revised Main Studio and Public File Rules (June 7, 1999)
- FCC Releases Study Alleging Discriminatory Advertising Practices (January 22, 1999)
- Construction Permit Terms and Extensions (Dec. 4, 1998)
- New Rules Preempting Local Restrictions on Antennas for Home Use (11/23/96)
- Drug and Alcohol Testing (11/22/96)
- Broadcasting Telephone Calls (11/21/96)
- Revised RF Radiation Guidelines (11/19/96)
Radio
- Changes to Low Power FM Rules and Policies (12/14/07)
- HD Radio Rules Take Effect September 14, 2007 (8/22/07)
- FCC Rulemaking to Permit AM Stations to Operate FM Translators (August 17, 2007)
- Update - Recalculation of Presunrise and Postsunset Authorizations (03/07/07)
- Copyright Royalty Board Sets New Rates for Digital Streaming
- New Consumer Leasing Disclosure Requirements in Effect for Radio
- January 19, 2007 is Effective Date For FCC’s City of License Change By Application Rules
- Proposed New Low Power AM Service (10/25/05)
- Proposed Streamlining of FM Rulemaking and AM Community Change Procedures (6/15/05)
- Low Power FM Rule Clarifications and Proposals (3/25/05)
- Attribution of Radio Joint Sales Agreements and New Filing Requirement (2/04/05)
- FCC Inquiry: Digital Radio Rules and Policies (4/23/04)
- Webcasting Royalty Rates For 2003-2004 First Payment due April 14 - PDF format (3/30/04)
- FCC Simplifies Proofs of Performance and Related Technical Requirements for Directional AM Stations
- FCC Permits Unattended Station Operation; Transmitter Control and Monitoring Requirements
Television
- DTV Deadline Extension Procedures (2/5/09)
- FCC's Digital TV Conversion Order (01/07/08)
- FCC Issues NPRM Concerning the Carriage of Digital Broadcast Television Signals Following the Digital Transition (5/14/07)
- FCC Report: The Impact on Children of Violent Television Programming (4/27/07)
- TV Quarterly Programming List Requirements - Update
- Proposed Digital TV Consumer Education Initiatives
- FCC Issues NPRM Concerning the Carriage of Digital Broadcast Television Signals Following the Digital Transition (5/14/07)
- LPTV, TV Translator and Class A Television FILING WINDOW for Digital Companion Channel May 1, 2006; FREEZE on Certain Applications (1/27/06)
- Reminder: The Rules for Television Station Identification (1/24/06)
- FCC Releases Public Notice on Form 396-C Filing Requirement and Initiates Closed Captioning Rulemaking (7/22/05)
Cable
- Commission Issues Forfeiture for Failure to Provide 30 Day Notice of Service Change (8/26/08)
- 2008 Cable Operator Regulatory Fee Update (8/21/08)
- FCC Further Extends Exclusivity Rules (3/26/08)
- Leased Access Order Imposes Significant Regulatory Burdens on Cable Providers - February 6, 2008
- FCC Releases Order Banning Exclusive Contracts Between Video Service Providers and Building Owners (11/13/07)
- Inflation Adjustment Figures for Cable Operators using Forms 1210 and 1240
- FCC Acts to Prohibit Franchising Authorities from Unreasonably Denying Competitive Cable Franchises
- FCC Acts on Requests for Waiver of Rules on Integrated Set-top Boxes
- Media Bureau Revises Inflation Adjustment Rates for Cable Operators Using FCC Form 1240 (7/3/08)
- FCC Form 1240 Third Quarter Inflation Adjustment Factor
- FCC Releases Report on Cable Industry Prices
- Waivers Sought on Set-Top Box Integration Ban (11/07/06)
- FCC Releases Set-top Box Waiver Decisions (7/27/07)
- FCC Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Program Access Complaints and Commercial Leased Access (6/28/07)
- Exclusive Service Contracts for Provision of Video Services in Multiple Dwelling Units and Other Real Estate Developments (3/29/07)
- Commission Grants Complaint Alleging Failure to Negotiate in Good Faith (3/16/07)
- FCC Forms 1210 and 1240 Inflation Adjustment Factor (10/06/06)
- FY 2006 Regulatory Fees (8/9/06)
- FCC Grants KWHD’s Must Carry Complaint Against Comcast for Failure to Test Properly (8/8/06)
- New South Carolina Franchising Law (6/7/06)
- FCC Initiates Rulemaking Regarding the Franchise Process and New Video Entrants (11/11/05)
- FCC Form 1240 Third Quarter 2005 Inflation Adjustment Factor is 3.31% (1/10/06)
- 06/27/05 Supreme Court Issues Decision Upholding FCC's Classification of Cable Modem Service As "Information Service" in Brand X Decision
- Cable Reciprocal Bargaining Obligation - PDF Format (6/20/05)
- 5/19/04 Cable Horizontal and Vertical Ownership Limits
E-Rate Program
- FCC Grants 261 Appeals of USAC E-Rate Funding Denials (11/06/08)
- FCC Grants 261 Appeals of USAC E-Rate Funding Denials (Extended Version, 11/06/08)
- Eligible Services for FY 2009 (8/05/08)
- FCC Grants Limited Waiver of Contract Submission Requirement for E-Rate Program (2/21/08)
- Debarment of Two Consultants from E-Rate Program (1/11/08)
- USAC Appeals – Proof of Representation (12/20/07)
- FCC Issues Comprehensive Review of the Universal Service Fund Management, Administration and Oversight (9/4/07)
- Commission Issues Notice of Suspension and Initiation of Debarment Proceedings (6/28/07)
- Commission Grants Appeal Finding Compliance With Then-existing Competitive Bidding Requirements (6/28/07)
- Commission Grants Appeal on Ground That the Service Provider Was Unable to Timely Complete Implementation for Reasons Beyond Its Control (6/28/07)
- Commission Issues E-rate Decision Regarding Use of an Incorrect Spin (5/22/07)
- Commission Issues E-rate Decision Addressing Its Most Cost Effective Service Offering Requirment (5/22/07)
- Commission Grants E-rate Appeals and Adopts New Directive Regarding Its Thirty Percent Rule (5/22/07)
- Commission Issues E-rate Decision Regarding Its Twenty-eight Day Competitive Bidding Requirement (5/22/07)
- Commission Grants Appeals and Adopts New Directive Regarding Its Demonstration of Necessary Resources Requirement (5/22/07)
- FCC Permits Simplified Correction of Clerical Error in E-Rate Funding Request (4/18/08)
- FCC Issues Separate Decisions Granting One Hundred and Eighty Two Appeals from Funding Denials (4/12/07)
- FCC Issues Additional Universal Service Fund Decisions (3/16/07)
- Summary of Recent Universal Service Fund Decisions (3/14/07)
- FCC Debars Two Service Providers From the E-rate Program (01/25/07)
- FCC Issues Two E-Rate Decisions (11/14/06)
- August E-Rate Orders (8/24/06)
- FCC Grants Utica City Public Schools District’s E-Rate Appeal (8/04/06)
- FCC Grants Hickory Public Schools District’s E-Rate Appeal (8/4/06)
- 2006 USAC Schools and Libraries E-Rate Training (8/04/06)
- Correctable Errors on E-Rate 470 and 471 Forms (8/01/06)
EAS (Formerly EBS)
Internet and Online Services
- FCC Issues Order In Response to In re Core Mandamus on ISP-bound Traffic (11/12/08)
- FCC Issues Sample Template for Annual CPNI Certification
- Commission Expands Local Number Portability Obligations to Interconnected VoIP Providers and Issues NPRM (11/12/07)
- FCC Releases Report and Order on IP-Enabled Services (7/05/07)
- Commission Releases Items Inquiring Into Broadband Deployment
- Eighth Circuit Upholds FCC's Vonage Decision (3/21/07)
- The Time Warner Wholesale Interconnection Decision (3/3/07)
- Missoula Plan (7/24/06)
- FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Services For Internet Access and Local Telephone Competition
- FCC Enforcement Bureau Provides Additional Guidance to Interconnected VoIP Providers (11/03/05)
- FCC Releases Wireline Broadband Reclassification Order Eliminating Sharing Obligations on ILEC Wireline Broadband Internet Access Services (9/26/05)
- FCC Extends Form 477 Requirement to Providers of Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (6/18/08)
- FCC Enforcement Bureau Extends VoIP 911 Compliance Deadlines (8/26/05)
- FCC Issues Guidance to Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol Service Providers (7/29/05)
- FCC VoIP E911 Published In Federal Register Today (6/29/05)
- FCC Releases E911 Order Applicable To Interconnected VoIP Services (6/05/05)
- FCC Rejects SBC IP Forbearance Petition As Procedurally and Substantively Flawed (5/6/05)
- FCC Fines Madison River Telecom for Blocking VoIP Traffic (3/7/05)
- FCC Preempts State Regulation of Internet Calling Services (11/9/04)
- Auction of Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Services Licenses
- Look Both Ways Before Putting Your Station on the Information Highway
- Appellate Court Validates Shrinkwrap Software Licenses
- The Name is Not Always the Same
- Putting Your Television Station on the Information Highway
- Putting Your Radio Station on the Internet
- Putting Music Online
- FCC Reaffirms ISP Access Charge Exemption; Establishes Subsidy Fund for Inter Access
- NARUC Task Force on Intercarrier Compensation Process Fact Sheet
International/Telephone/Satellite
- REMINDER: Customer Proprietary Network Information Certification Due on or Before March 1, 2008; Applies to Carriers and VoIP Providers (01/17/08)
- FCC Sets Comment Cycle On AT&T’s Request To Subject VoIP To Interstate Access Charges (7/25/08)
- Southern District of New York Reaches Landmark Ruling for Telecommunications Industry (7/25/08)
- Embarq Forbearance Petition Seeks To Eliminate "ESP Exemption" From Access Charges (1/14/08)
- FCC Modifies Slamming Rules: Adopts Additional Third Party Verification Requirements (01/10/08)
- 37 Parties File Comments in the Federal Communications Commission's "Access Stimulation" Proceeding On December 17; Replies Due Dec. 31 (12/20/07)
- AT&T Seeks Access Charges on VoIP Traffic And Global Intercarrier Compensation Reform (7/21/08)
- Unauthorized Broadcasting of Telephone Conversations (7/9/08)
- New Federal Cu stomer Proprietary Network Information ("CPNI") Rules To Become Effective December 8, 2007 (12/07/07)
- Commission Seeks to Extend Do-Not-Call Registry Beyond 5-Year Limit (12/06/07)
- Commission Expands Local Number Portability Obligations to Interconnected VoIP Providers and Issues NPRM (11/12/07)
- FCC Issues Decision in InterCall USAC Appeal (7/1/08)
- Commission Examines Formalized Forbearance Procedures (12/03/07)
- Commission Takes Action in Conference Calling Formal Complaint Case (10/03/07)
- FCC Releases Report and Order on IP-Enabled Services (7/5/07)
- Supreme Court Issues Decision in Global Crossing v. Metrophones (04/07)
- NTIA Creates New $1.5 Billion Consumer Equipment Market (3/14/07)
- PBXs No Longer Funded as Priority One (3/21/07)
- FCC Releases Data on High-Speed Services For Internet Access and Local Telephone Competition (08/01/06)
- FCC Preempts State Decisions Forcing Bells to Provide DSL Broadband to Consumers of “Unbundled” Voice Services (3/28/05)
- FCC Finds AT&T Calling Card Subject to Universal Service and Intrastate Access Charges (2/24/05)
- The FCC's 2005 Agenda -- Intercarrier Compensation Tops All (1/3/05) SBC Announces Intention to Tariff VoIP "Access" Termination Service (11/18/04)
- Regulatory Fees Due August 19, 2004 - PDF Format (7/21/04)
- Quarterly Filing of FCC Form 499-Q Due November 1, 2003
- Broadband Buildout and Network Unbundling
- Quarterly Filing of FCC Form 499-Q Due May 1, 2002
- Annual Circuit Status Report Due March 31, 2002
- Commission Modifies and Clarifies its Price Disclosure Rules
- Third Report & Order on Simple Inside Wiring
- Streamlined Entry into the U.S. for non-U.S. Licensed Fixed Satellites
- Commission Approves Transfer of North American Numbering Plan Administrative Functions
- Rate Integration for CMRS Services
- No Carriage; No Foul; Bell South's Calling Card Service Upheld by Commission
- Set Aside of "888" Numbers Ends
- NPRM to Consider Direct Access to Intelsat
- FCC Earth Station Application Changes
- Commission Initiates Inquiry on Rules Prohibiting Telecommunications Carriers from Bundling Telecommunications Services with CPE...
- Commission Grants International Simple Resale Authority for the Provision of Switched Data and Fax Services between the US and Hong Kong
- 1998 Regulatory Fees and New Application Fees
- FCC's New Foreign Access and Satellite Licensing Rules
- FCC Releases New Satellite Licensing Rules