FCC Still Shuttered During Government Shutdown

As of this writing, with no end in sight, the FCC’s main functions are shut down along with the government. Virtually every broadcaster (unless exempt) will have actions to take as soon as the government reopens and the FCC databases become available.

The FCC extended all deadlines during the shutdown to the first business day after normal operations resume. Stations will need to access OPIF and upload their 3^rd quarter issues/programs list to their station public file on that first business day, and those stations that were included in but had not yet responded to the random EEO audit will need to upload their EEO audit response.

Several deadlines for Class A and LPTV major and minor modification applications, were set and have elapsed during the shutdown.  Given that these applications are database-sensitive and rely on up-to-date engineering from the FCC’s databases, we believe the FCC will re-set all of those deadlines rather than require the filing of such applications on the first business day after normal operations resume.

The stability of the FCC’s LMS and OPIF systems will certainly be tested by a likely flood of filing attempts on the first business day back. Issues there could prompt a further extension of filing deadlines.  Stations should make every effort possible to complete uploads or make filings and document any difficulties.