TV Ancillary/Supplementary Use Reports and Payments Due December 1, 2022

Annually every December 1^st, for those commercial and noncommercial full power, Class A or low power television stations that are transmitting ancillary/supplementary services, a report must be filed detailing those services and remitting any payments due.  A few years ago, because most stations were not transmitting such services, the FCC stopped requiring all stations to file the form and changed to rule so that only those stations actually transmitting such services had to file the form.

With the further development of digital television and the introduction of the ATSC 3.0 standard and follow-on conversions, the likelihood of stations having transmitted some ancillary/supplementary services has increased.  According to the FCC, ancillary and supplementary services include computer software distribution, data transmissions, teletext, interactive materials, aural messages, paging services, or audio signals, and subscription video.  However, that is not an exhaustive list, and other types of non-broadcast services might be included as well.  What is clear is that transmitting free over-the-air video programming on multicast channels does not constitute ancillary/supplementary services.

If your station must file the report, it is submitted in LMS on FCC Form 2100, Schedule G.  This year’s report covers the period from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022.  In connection with that filing, commercial stations must separately pay 5% of gross revenues from any ancillary or supplementary services provided.  NCE TV stations pay 2.5% of gross revenue.

If you’re not certain whether your station must file a report, or you need assistance with preparing and filing the report, please contact us.