Dates to Remember 

September, 2021

 All commercial broadcast stations:  Unless exempt because the licensee is non-profit or governmental, or because the total of all regulatory fees for a licensee are below the $1,000 de minimis threshold, annual regulatory fees are due in September.  The Media Bureau will soon announce the specific time window and deadline for fees to be paid, but typically it is during the second half of the month. Check the FCC’s website or fee filer for updates.

September 13, 2021

Auction 109 Winners:  deadline to file long form application for winning bid facilities.

September 20, 2021

Broadcast Stations Selected for EEO Audit:  deadline for all stations selected in the August 6, 2021 EEO Audit to upload their response and supporting documentation to their public files.

September 27, 2021

All Broadcast Stations Required to Have EAS Equipment:  If not yet completed, this is the deadline to file ETRS Form 3 for the 2021 National EAS Test conducted August 11.

October 1, 2021

Radio Stations located in Alaska, American Somoa, Guam, Hawaii, Marianas Islands, Oregon and Washington – deadline to file license renewal application and EEO program report; on-air/online announcements and public file certifications are required under the new local public notice rule.

Television Stations located in Iowa and Missouri – deadline to file license renewal application and EEO program report; on-air/online announcements and public file certifications are required under the new local public notice rule.

Radio and TV Stations located in Alaska, American Somoa, Guam, Hawaii, Marianas Islands, Oregon, Washington, Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands:  if five (5) full time employee threshold is met, prepare EEO public file report covering the period from October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021, upload it to the station online public inspection file and post it on the station website.

All Commercial and Noncommercial Broadcast Stations, except for LPFM, TV Translator, or Radio Translator Stations:  First date to file biennial ownership report in LMS.  Information must be current as of October 1, 2021.  The deadline for submitting the report is December 1, 2021.  For commercial station licensee entities, the new filing fee of $85 per station will apply.

October 5 – November 9, 2021

Filing Freeze:  the FCC will not accept FM reserved band minor change applications or FM non-reserved band adjacent channels (channels 221 –223) and intermediate frequency (IF) (channels 254-274) minor change applications after 11:59 p.m. EDT, October 4, 2021 through the close of the NCE filing window ending at 7:00 pm EST on November 9, 2021.

October 8, 2021

Repacked TV Stations in Phases 1-5.  This is the deadline to submit all remaining invoices and supporting documentation using the Reimbursement Form 399, and initiate interim close-out procedures.  This deadline includes stations that were authorized to repack earlier than Phase 1.

November 2-9, 2021

Filing Window for New NCE-FM Stations.  The window will open at 12:01 am EDT on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, and close at 6:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.