The FCC shouldn’t further weaken local broadcast ownership rules, filed the Writers Guild of America, East. “Permitting further consolidation of local radio and television station ownership reduces the number and diversity of viewpoints on issues of vital local importance,” WGAE said in docket 18-349. “The picture of a traditional analogue broadcast world trying to save itself from being wiped out by a disruptive digital onslaught is a bit simplistic.” Broadcast networks appear to be “reorienting themselves” to the current media market without unlimited consolidation, said WGAE, citing CBS All-Access and other streaming services. The FCC created this problem by declining to regulate digital companies, WGAE said. It would be “bitterly ironic” if that lack of limitations caused the FCC to conclude that broadcasters should be relieved of their regulatory responsibilities to compete, WGAE said.

Gray Television agreed to pay $45 million for United Communications' TV stations, adding two markets. It's getting New York's WWNY-TV Carthage and WNYF-CD Watertown and Minnesota's KEYC-TV Mankato, Minnesota. Gray expects to close the deal after regulatory and other approvals in Q2. The acquirer has no "stations or operations in either market," Gray Chief Legal and Development Officer Kevin Latek emailed us Friday. "We anticipate no regulatory issues."

FCC proposals to relax interference protections for Class A AM stations wouldn’t serve the public interest, said Cumulus Media, posted Thursday in docket 13-249. The proposals would reduce the stations’ contours, it said. That “would substantially impair the ability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to implement the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act,” it said. IPAWS “falls entirely within the regulatory jurisdiction of another federal agency” and so shouldn’t be impeded by the FCC, Cumulus said. The reduced interference protection also would make it harder for Class A AM's to reach rural and tribal areas lacking broadband access, it said.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council met with an aide to FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks Thursday to push for improved enforcement of broadcast equal employment opportunity rules, said an ex parte filing to appear in docket 18-23. MMTC already had calls and meetings with the other commissioners on the same topic (see 1902010037), which is connected to the draft EEO order on the agency’s Feb. 14 agenda. MMTC President Maurita Coley and Senior Adviser David Honig also advocated for the proposed C4 class of FM station, which has been stalled since being put out for comment as a notice of inquiry last year (see 1809110051). The C4 proposal “would facilitate much-needed expansions of coverage for many small and minority broadcasters” but is neither regulatory nor deregulatory, MMTC said.

The enhanced emergency information available through ATSC 3.0 will help viewers be better informed in disasters such as California’s wildfires, said News Press Gazette General Manager Mark Danielson for the FCC's podcast. News-Press & Gazette owns KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, an ATSC 3.0 test bed. “That combination of broadcast and the broadband technology together will allow our users to see all of our different live feeds,” Danielson told host Evan Swarztrauber, aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr. ATSC 3.0 will allow emergency alerts to be targeted to specific areas and give first responders and viewers enhanced information during incidents, Danielson said. “During the Thomas Fire we had five, six live feeds up simultaneously,” Danielson said. “Viewers will have access to that if they have a specific need.” For broadcasters covering disasters, Danielson recommended a strong relationship with the surrounding community, a plan for handling emergency breaking news, and keeping staff familiar with back-up methods of gathering live content such as through microwave technology or satellite trucks.

The FCC is seeking comment on Ion’s request to change the community of license for Alabama's WPXH-TV Gadsden to Hoover (see 1812050043), said a Media Bureau NPRM posted Tuesday. Hoover has a population of 81,619, vs. Gadsden’s 36,856, and the change would give Hoover its first local station, Ion argued. Gadsden will still be served by Trinity Christian Center’s WTJP-TV, the NPRM said.

Federal antitrust regulators approved E.W. Scripps’ $521 million buy of 15 TV stations from Cordillera Communications, said an early termination notice posted Friday on the FTC’s website. That means antitrust authorities completed review of a deal and won’t take any enforcement action, according to the FTC. Though the notice doesn't specify whether the review was by DOJ or the FTC, broadcast mergers are generally the province of DOJ. The deal needs FCC approval but isn’t expected to face difficulties (see 1810290060).

The FCC Media Bureau should create new rules for “time share” low-power FM applications to prevent “gamesmanship,” said REC Networks’ Michelle Bradley in a call Friday with Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner and Media Bureau staff, recounted a filing in docket 19-3 Monday on the draft NPRM on LPFM and NCE auction rules (see 1901110033). Rules for viable time-share agreements would include operation at a minimum 36 hours week, a collocation ban and contiguous operation requirements, REC said. Bradley supported proposals in the draft to require applicants show the FCC proof they have secured a site.

FCC kidvid rules no longer reflect “the dynamics of today’s video programming marketplace and the viewing habits of children and their families,” NAB and representatives from Gray Television, Univision, NBCUniversal, CBS and 21st Century Fox told Commissioner Mike O’Rielly Thursday, recounted a filing posted in docket 18-202 Monday. To meet the current kidvid programming requirements, broadcasters have had to forego local and news programming, they said: Grant “more flexibility” to fulfill kidvid content quotas.

The FCC opened an expanded call center to help broadcast TV viewers rescan their sets as channels relocate in the repacking, said a release Monday. The repacking is in its second phase and many stations have moved; eight phases remain and consumers need to rescan each time an outlet moves to receive all channels. Phase 10, the final phase, ends in July 2020. The new center can be reached by calling 888-CALLFCC and pressing “6” to speak to a help desk representative. The center is staffed daily, 8 a.m.-1 a.m. EST, “to enable consumers throughout the country to obtain assistance during evening and weekend hours.” The call center is funded out of the $50 million allocated by Congress for consumer education efforts during the repacking (see 1812280047). The agency has more information on rescanning and the repacking schedule on its TV rescan website.