Foreign-Sponsored Content Rules Take Effect Tuesday

Compliance with the FCC’s foreign-sponsored content rules is required beginning Tuesday according to a notice for that day’s Federal Register. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied a stay of the rules requested by broadcast groups (see 2202250061), but oral argument in the broader challenge to the rule change will be April 12. The effective date of the requirements was delayed while waiting for OMB Paperwork Reduction Act approval. The rules require broadcasters to check if entities seeking to lease broadcast time are registered as foreign agents in FCC or Foreign Agents Registration Act databases and then air disclosures if the content is sponsored by a foreign government.