Commercial Broadcasting
Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, PLC attorneys have represented broadcasters since the firm's inception --- and almost since the Federal Communications Commission's inception. The firm's original broadcast lawyers included the FCC's first General Counsel. Eugene O. Sykes, the FCC's first Chairman, joined us at the expiration of his term.
Today, the firm counsels and represents over 1,500 broadcast stations in nearly every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
Our broadcast law services include:
- Assisting clients seeking FCC licenses and other regulatory approvals;
- Helping licensees comply with day-to-day regulatory requirements;
- Helping television stations and video programmers obtain carriage on cable television and direct broadcast satellite systems via must carry or retransmission consent;
- Advising clients on regulatory and legislative developments affecting their industries;
- Assisting clients in responding to FCC inquiries, investigations, and enforcement actions;
- Assisting clients in responding to FCC EEO Audits;
- Participating in rulemaking proceedings;
- Negotiating and drafting commercial transaction documents, including asset sale and stock purchase agreements;
- Negotiating and drafting loan financing and collateral security agreements;
- Rendering legal opinions in connection with transfers, assignments, and financings;
- Negotiating and drafting business structure documents, including corporate organizations, stockholders' agreements, general and limited partnership agreements, and limited liability company agreements;
- Assisting participants in FCC spectrum auctions;
- Negotiating and drafting programming, network affiliation, and advertising representation agreements; and
- Consulting with members of Congress, officials in the Executive Branch, and FCC commissioners and their staffs.