FCC Enforcement Bureau Issues Order on Salem Media Group
January 30, 2020 at 10:32 am
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The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau Chief Rosemary C. Harold issued the following order, adopted Jan. 28 and released the same day (File No.: EB-IHD-17-00025424) in the matter of Salem Media Group: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a longstanding goal of protecting consumers by ensuring the public knows when certain program material is "live," rather than taped, filmed, or recorded. Specifically, any taped, filmed, or recorded program material in which time is of special significance, or by which an affirmative attempt is made to create the impression that it is occurring simultaneously with the broadcast, must be identified by broadcast licensees as taped, filmed, or recorded. Doing otherwise may mislead the public. The Enforcement Bureau of the FCC has entered into a Consent Decree to resolve its investigation into whether Salem Media Group, Inc. (Salem) violated the FCC's live broadcast rules by broadcasting prerecorded programming as "live" without announcing before the broadcast that the programming was prerecorded. To settle this matter, Salem admits that it broadcast prerecorded programming as "live" without previously announcing that the programming was actually prerecorded, it will pay a $50,000 civil penalty, and will implement a compliance plan to help ensure future compliance with the Commission's rules.
Salem Media Group, Inc. is a domestic multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio broadcasting, digital media, and publishing. Its segments include Broadcast, Digital Media and Publishing. The Broadcast segment is engaged in the business of radio broadcasting, which includes the ownership and operation of radio stations in metropolitan markets. The Digital Media segment provides Christian, conservative, investing content, audio and video streaming, and other resources digitally through the Web. It operates two businesses in its book publishing segment: Regnery Publishing and Salem Author Services. Regnery Publishing is a traditional book publisher. The books are sold in traditional printed form and as eBooks, such as Regnery Political, Regnery History, Regnery Kids, Gateway Editions and Salem Books. Salem Author Services is a self-publishing service for authors through two imprints: Xulon Press and Mill City Press.