Telecommunications, Cable And Broadcast

Our Telecommunications Group attorneys represent numerous radio and television station groups and broadcasters in all aspects of their FCC licensing and business affairs, including:

• negotiation of mergers and acquisitions of station groups
• FCC licensing due diligence for the financing and financial structuring of mergers, acquisitions and re-financings
• broadcast station ownership combinations under FCC's new ownership rules
• daily newspaper and broadcast station ownership combinations
• digital television applications and the transition to digital
• AM, FM and television station license renewals
• AM, FM and television facility upgrades and improvements
• drafting of and lobbying for federal and state legislation affecting radio and television broadcast stations
• interference complaints
• television network and program affiliation agreements
• compliance with FCC and DOJ broadcast station ownership anti-trust rules and policies
• structuring of entities partially owned by foreign nationals to comply with the FCC's alien ownership rules and policies
• preparation and filing of broadcast station license assignment and transfer applications for station sales, corporate re-structuring or purchases of stock interests in a broadcast station licensee corporation
• procedures and requirements for broadcast station participation in the federal Emergency Alert System
• non-commercial station rule and policy compliance
• zoning and local regulation of broadcast station towers and antenna structures and the filing of antenna structure registrations
• compliance with FCC multiple ownership, cross-ownership, attribution and concentration of ownership rules and policies
• FM facility changes based upon contour protection and grandfathered short-spacing
• FM upgrades in channel classifications and AM, FM and television community of license changes
• applications for AM nighttime service and power increases
• applications, hearings and auctions for new AM, FM and television stations
• applications for broadcast station translators, boosters, and auxiliary facilities
• LPTV and Class A television station applications
• allocation rule making proceedings for FM and television station allotments
• news gathering, libel, tort and First Amendment issues arising from radio and television broadcasting content
• equal employment opportunity rules and requirements
• television station requests for cable must carry and re-transmission consent
• negotiation of program and talent contracts including talent non-competition and trade secret confidentiality agreements
• compliance with FCC technical rules including transmitter and equipment requirements, minimum operating schedules, station log and chief operator requirements,
• day to day advice on broadcast station compliance with all FCC rules, regulations and policies relating to broadcast stations, including political broadcast rules, contest and lottery rules, indecency rules, public file rules, main studio rules, ownership rules, time brokerage rules, and children's television rules

Successful broadcast groups and broadcasters know that growth and success in our industry is a combination of experience, expertise, risk taking and choosing wise advisors. We are proud to be the attorneys for some of the best broadcast groups and broadcasters in the nation including several young, expanding groups. Our advice enables our clients to comply with a myriad of statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to broadcast station operations, recognize opportunities for expansion, and grow through mergers and acquisitions. The broadcasting industry and its regulatory requirements are ever changing and new opportunities frequently manifest themselves. We assist our broadcast clients in protecting their valuable broadcast station licenses and in prospering in these changing times.