Dates to Remember

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

January 10, 2023 (Extended to February 28, 2023) TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): deadline to complete and upload to online public file the 4th Quarter 2022 issues/program lists and any foreign sponsorship identification reports. Class A TV Stations Only: deadline to complete and post to your online public file the […]

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Final Day for EAS Participants to File ETRS Form One

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

Stations that are EAS participants have had two months to complete and submit EAS Form One in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS).  Today, February 28, 2023, is the deadline for completing those submissions.   We have heard anecdotally of some access or ETRS stability issues for these filings, so if you have not yet […]

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2023 EAS Operating Handbook Available

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

The FCC has issued a new 2023 EAS Operating Handbook.  A copy (with the blanks for your station’s specific information filled in) is to be maintained at normal duty positions or EAS Equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty, and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating […]

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FCC Fines TV Stations for Late-Filed Renewal Applications

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

The FCC recently assessed a $13,500 monetary forfeiture to the owner of nine low power television stations in Utah that filed renewal applications for the stations 71 days later than the required deadline.  Though the base forfeiture for late-filed renewals is $3,000 per station, the FCC lowered the amount per station to $1500 because the […]

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Sohn Nomination Hearing Held; No Vote Yet

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

Gigi Sohn, nominated for a third time by President Biden to be the third Democratically appointed FCC Commissioner, sat for new nomination hearings on February 14 before the Senate Commerce Committee.  The Committee has not yet voted on the nomination, and no vote has been scheduled. Sohn’s prior two nominations were met with opposition from […]

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FCC Releases Diversity Council Meeting Agenda

Posted on February 28th, 2023 by

The FCC’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council will meet virtually on February 23, 2023 following an agenda that includes broadcast related topics Non-Traditional Anchor Institutions and Diverse Media, Communications and Tech Ownership and Development.  The meeting will be live-streamed. Amid a growing drumbeat for FCC action on media ownership diversity, we anticipate some FCC actions […]

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DATES TO REMEMBER

Posted on January 31st, 2023 by

January 10, 2023 (Extended to February 28, 2023) TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): deadline to complete and upload to online public file the 4th Quarter 2022 issues/program lists and any foreign sponsorship identification reports. Class A TV Stations Only: deadline to complete and post to your online public file the […]

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LMS and OPIF Technical Issues Require Extended Deadlines

Posted on January 31st, 2023 by

Toward the end of 2022, we began experiencing issues with the FCC’s online public file system (OPIF), as well as the Licensing Management System (LMS).  Issues varied from slow operation, to repeatedly being involuntarily logged out, to payment issues.  Those same problems extended into early 2023 and prompted the FCC to initially extend January upload […]

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EAS Participants: ETRS Form One Filing Due February 28

Posted on January 31st, 2023 by

The FCC’s December 15, 2022 public notice announcing that EAS participants must file their 2022 EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) Form One no later than February 28, 2023 remains in effect and early in January, a further public notice provided more details on filing requirements and procedures.  While the system is functioning pretty well, the […]

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Audio Division Announces April 1 Effective Date for Use of 2020 U.S. Census Data in Applications

Posted on January 31st, 2023 by

The Media Bureau’s Audio Division has announced the availability of the most recent 2020 U.S. Census Bureau (U.S. Census) decennial census block, population, and cartographic boundary data. Effective April 1, 2023, petitioners/applicants submitting filings to the Audio Division must employ the most recent 2020 U.S. Census data available when determining a particular community’s population in […]

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