FCC Clarifies License Renewal Public Notice Process

The FCC’s switch to the License Management System (LMS) for renewal applications this cycle has apparently stymied the software writers that cause applications to appear on public notice. Instead of renewal application filings appearing on the regular, daily “Broadcast Actions” and “Broadcast Applications” public notices, the FCC plans to issue a separate set of notices for renewal applications titled, simply, “Actions” or “Applications.”

The FCC’s public notice announcing this change points out that the new notices for applications filed in May 2019 will appear the first week of June, and that this will not affect the deadline to file petitions to deny or informal objections. Under FCC rules, such petitions must be filed no later than 30 days before expiration of the current license, and informal objections prior to the grant of the renewal application.