Broadcasters Want DC Circuit to Stay Foreign-Sponsored IDs

Broadcasters asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to stay FCC foreign-sponsored content disclosure requirements, after the Media Bureau shot down a similar request (see 2112090074), said a motion from NAB, the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and Multimedia, Telecom and Internet Council, posted Wednesday in docket 21-1171. “Broadcasters may determine that the heavy compliance burdens imposed by the Order outweigh the benefits of airing certain sponsored content,” the brief said. “Broadcasters curtailing their use of leases due to the Order have suffered irreparable harm." The broadcasters argue that the rules violate the First Amendment and the Communications Act, and that the FCC had less burdensome options. Staying the rule would only delay implementation by a few months if the FCC wins, because Paperwork Reduction Act requirements mean it's unlikely to take effect before late February, and oral argument would likely be in April or May, the groups said.