Dates To Remember

Posted on January 4th, 2019 by

January 2, 2019

All Broadcast Stations: As of the publication of this newsletter, this is the announced deadline (midnight) for the FCC to run out of funds during the partial government shutdown. Consider filing now any required reports or certifications due January 10, 2019.

January 10, 2019

TV, Class A, AM & FM Stations (commercial & noncommercial): complete 4th Quarter 2018 issues/program reports and place in public file.

TV & Class A stations (commercial only) and any LPTV station with must-carry rights: complete and electronically file via LMS the FCC Form 398 Children’s TV Programming Report for 4th Quarter 2018, and also compile and post to the public file records relating to the station’s compliance with children’s programming commercial limits for 4th Quarter 2018.

TV & Class A stations changing channels as part of the repack or based on voluntary receipt of auction funds should file a transition progress report in LMS (unless the station has already transitioned).

 Class A TV Stations Only: complete and post to your online public file a certification of ongoing Class A eligibility.

LPTV Stations with pending mutually exclusive applications from the 2018 displacement filing window must file technical or legal resolution amendments by 11:59 pm EDT to avoid going to a highest-bidder-wins auction for a displacement permit.

February 1, 2019

AM, FM, TV and Class A Stations in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma: if five full-time employee threshold is met, complete EEO public file report and post same in public file as well as on station website.

 TV & Class A Stations in New Jersey and New York: if five full-time employee threshold is met, complete EEO public file report and post same in public file as well as on station website and prepare and electronically file mid-term EEO Form 397 and place copy of filed report in your public inspection file. Reminder – the Form 397 requires that the station’s last two EEO public file reports be submitted to the FCC.

January 14, 2019

Deadline for Phase Two TV Stations that are required to change channels as part of the post-auction repack to send written notices to MVPD providers. If an extension of the Phase Two April 12, 2019 transition deadline is needed, this is also the deadline to seek such an extension.

January 22, 2019

Comment deadline in AM Revitalization NPRM on Class A AM interference protection

April 12, 2019

Transition Deadline for Post-Auction Phase Two TV and Class A stations to cease operations on pre-auction channels and commence operations on post-auction channels