WASHINGTON � The FCC�s decision to do away with the main studio rule will come in to effect 30 days after the publication of the decision in the Federal Register, and that publication is tentatively scheduled to be published on Dec. 8, making the rule change effective on Jan. 8, 2018.
�Obviously, things can change and the publication can be delayed, but if all goes as scheduled as it routinely does, those stations looking to eliminate their main studio can do so on or after Jan. 8,� according to David Oxenford, in broadcastlawblog.com.
Oxenford points out some other important facts:
- The abolition of the rule does not eliminate your obligation to serve your local community.
- It also does not change EAS requirements.
- Unless your public file is totally online, you may still need to maintain a public file in the city of license, accessible during normal business hours, until the file is totally online.
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