Court: Let FCC Handle Challenges to New Disclosure Rules

Last week, the DC Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission should address challenges to its new broadcaster disclosure rules before courts step in. Broadcasters had asked the court to step in after the FCC voted to require enhanced station disclosure of their programming -- part of an effort by the agency to boost localism requirements in the wake of criticism of an increasingly consolidated broadcast media market. The court also directed the FCC to file a status report within 60 days on its progress with hearing those challenges and ruled that it will not hear any challenges until 30 days after the FCC reconsiders its vote.