December NCE-TV Filing Window and TV Application Freeze Around the Corner

The Media Bureau has issued a reminder about the upcoming December 4-11 NCE-TV filing window where it will accept applications from non-profit and governmental organizations for 12 noncommercial educational television station construction permits in Alabama, Alaska, California, Idaho, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.  The Media Bureau’s October 10^th public notice, with application instructions and details on the FCC’s points system for deciding among competing applicants, should be carefully reviewed in preparing any applications.

The filing window actually opens and closes at specific times, with opening occurring at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 4 and closing occurring at 6:00 p.m. EST on December 11, 2024.

Filing freezes related to the window will impact other broadcasters.  The FCC will stop accepting rulemaking petitions for full power TV stations to change channels, as well as both minor and major change applications for full power and Class A television stations, beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 3, 2024 (one day prior to the start of the filing window) through the end of the filing window at 6:00 p.m. EST on December 11, 2024.