In an interesting move, we have seen the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announce that it will introduce new requirements to force broadcasters to disclose foreign governmental interests on domestic airwaves. Brandon Blake, the entertainment lawyer at Blake & Wang P.A, breaks down what we know.
April 2021 Ruling
While it’s tempting to see the development as tied to wider political developments, it has in fact been afoot since April last year, simply rolling out now. Going forward, the new rules apply immediately to newer leasing agreements, and will need to be adopted within a half-year period for existing agreements.
It will be a requirement that it is disclosed at the time of broadcast if a foreign government entity paid for the material to air, on both TV and radio. Direct, as well as indirect, airwave leasing is included.
Greater Transparency
The stated aim is to introduce greater transparency to how, and when, foreign government-sponsored material is being broadcast. We’ve seen an overall upward wing in such programming of late, with Chinese and Russian material leading the charge. This is likely to be why the roll-out is being pressed into effect so abruptly. Growing concerns over the spreading of news via social media and digital platforms likely also played a role in the change.
While the wider political ramifications are not ours to contemplate, the move towards greater transparency in consumed programming, and the interests behind it, is likely to be met with general positivity. As the content boom brings us more and more ways to consume media, not always intended for simple enjoyment, it could represent a step in controlling the messages reaching our eyes. How well met it will be by the general public, however, remains to be seen.
Film and Television 