FCC Adopts Radio Online Public File Requirement

We don’t know all the details because the Report & Order had not yet been released as of this writing, but the FCC has voted to adopt a requirement that radio stations migrate public files to the FCC’s online system that has been used by TV stations the past few years.

From the news release, which includes summary bullet statements of the new rules adopted, we can tell that initially, the new online public file requirements will apply to commercial stations in the top 50 Nielsen Audio markets with 5 or more full-time employees. Other stations will have two years before mandatory online public file requirements apply to them. If a station is “temporarily exempt from part or all online public file requirements,” they can still upload material to the online file voluntarily before the delayed effective date of their online file requirement.

There is no summary item indicating that any stations are permanently exempt, but again, without having the full Report & Order, we’re not certain. Exceptions for smaller and noncommercial stations had been urged by many groups. But from reading Commissioner statements, it sounds as though no one is exempt.