By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-16-20 With a likely Democratic FCC unlikely to start freeing broadcasters from local ownership restrictions, it is even more important for broadcasters to have the flexibility to flex their online, interactive muscles. If the Federal Communications Commission turns blue, as expected, the front-runners for chair are senior Democrat Jessica [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-11-20 As they transition to ATSC 3.0, the Next Gen TV transmission standard, broadcasters want the FCC to clarify/modify the TV station license framework for simulcasting to extend to multicast streams. The FCC is allowing stations to partner on distribution arrangements so that broadcasters can continue to deliver a [...]
Participated with the Reporters Committee and 22 other media organizations and outlets in a letter to the New York City mayor and law enforcement officials concerning the arrest of Chae Kihn, an independent photographer who was tackled by multiple NYPD officers, arrested, and charged with obstructing traffic in the lawful course of her reporting. [...]
Participated in an amicus brief (with the Reporters Committee and other amici) filed with the Circuit Court of Waukesha County, Wisc., in Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce v. Evers. This case concerns the Wisconsin Department of Public Health’s plan to release the names of businesses where at least two employees had tested positive for COVID-19. [...]
Participated with the Reporters Committee and 25 other media organizations and outlets in a letter to the Graham (N.C.) Police Department and Alamance County District Attorney’s Office urging that charges against reporter Tomas Murawski be dropped. Murawski was covering a demonstration for the Alamance News when he was forcibly arrested by Graham police officers [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-2-20 Top House Energy & Commerce Committee Republicans want the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on what they said is misleading TV advertising by trial lawyers, ads they said could threaten the COVID-19 recovery. In a letter Monday (Nov. 2) to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons, the Republicans said [...]
Participated in an amicus brief (with the Reporters Committee and other amici) filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Uniformed Fire Officers Association v. De Blasio. This case concerns increased access to the disciplinary records of New York City law enforcement officers following repeal of a statutory provision. The [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-29-20 In his last speech as an FCC commissioner, Michael O'Rielly took aim at another Trump Administration proposal – a government-issue 5G network. O'Rielly is having to leave the commission because President Trump withdrew his nomination, a move most believe stemmed from the commissioner's criticism of the president's effort [...]
Participated in an amicus brief (with the Reporters Committee and other amici) filed with the Superior Court Law Division in Ocean County, New Jersey, in Schwab v. Klein. This case arises from a defamation action against several defendants, including Klein, brought by a local businessman and business based on posts on the websites jleaks and [...]
By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 10-28-20 The Democratic leadership of the House Energy & Commerce Committee said the FCC has some explaining to do about Chairman Ajit Pai's decision to act on the Trump Administration's request that it find a way to regulate social media, platforms Republicans argue are using their Section 230 liability [...]