Headlines
Nine Radio Stations Off-Air After Winter Storm Cuts Across The Country.
The monster winter storm that cut across the country over the weekend has left at least nine radio stations off the air.
FAST replaces cable for majority of cord-cutters, Roku data shows
Roku has released new data showing that 64% of its U.S. households now stream free ad-supported streaming television channels.
FCC
FCC Media Bureau Tells Broadcasters that Candidate Appearances on Talk Programs Could Subject Them to Equal Time Demands – More Review of Such Programs Expected From the FCC
The FCC’s Media Bureau, in a Public Notice released this week, provided guidance that changed the common interpretation of one of the fundamental principles of political broadcasting law for the last thirty years – that a candidate appearance on a regularly scheduled talk program subject to broadcaster control was not subject to equal opportunities claims if that program regularly interviewed newsmakers and political figures, where the program’s discussions were under the control of the program producer and not the candidate, and where the decisions as to guests were made on the basis of newsworthiness, and not for political considerations.
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 19, 2026 to January 23, 2026
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations.
Television
Pay TV Groups Rebut NAB's ATSC 3.0 Transition Plans
Transition to 3.0 broadcasts should “remain market based” and the FCC “should reject broadcasters’ requests for government intervention” the NCTA argued
APTS, PBS Tell FCC Not to Set a Firm Date for ATSC 1.0 Sunset
In a joint filing with the Federal Communications Commission, America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and PBS highlighted the importance of NextGen TV/ATSC 3.0 for the future of public broadcasting but asked the regulator not to set a firm date for cutting off ATSC 1.0 broadcasts.
Radio
El Paso Stations’ Licenses At Risk As FCC Probes Ownership And Control.
The Federal Communications Commissions is raising the possibility of revoking the licenses of three Texas stations after it says its investigation into the ownership tied to their potential sale has “raised more questions than it has resolved.”
Organizing Priorities for Local Radio Sales Success in 2026
In 2026, successful local radio sales reps win not by doing more, but by organizing what matters most.
Media
Congress Approves Funding for Public Broadcasting Emergency, Educational Programs
The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed its final fiscal year (FY) 2026 minibus package of funding, which includes money for public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System as well as its “Ready to Learn” grant program.