If you are new to the process of FCC reporting compliance, please scroll past the calendar for introductory information.
January:
10th: Quarterly FCC Report to Public File on FCC website online for 4th quarter of previous year: Issues Program Report, Donors and Underwriters, Political File.
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
February:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
March:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
April:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
10th – Quarterly FCC Report to On-line Public File covering first quarter of the current year: Issues-Program Report, Specific-program Underwriters, Political File, Correspondence with FCC regarding any inspections, etc. (see link below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
May:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
June:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
July:
10th — Quarterly FCC Report to On-Line Public File for the second quarter of current year: Issues-Programs Report, Single-program Underwriters, Political File, Correspondence with FCC regarding any inspections, etc. (see link below)
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
August:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
September:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below)
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
October:
10th Quarterly FCC Report to On-Line Public File Third Quarter of previous year: Issues Program Report, single-program underwriters, Political File, Correspondence with FCC regarding any inspections, etc. (see link below)
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
November:
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
December:
No later than December 1: Only in odd numbered years. (2023, 2025 etc.) Bi-annual Ownership Report for all stations (see below).
10th – check whether EAS test came from your state source. If not, contact the source (see information below
4 weekly EAS Tests, each in three separate day parts (each time frame must be used at least once per month). Copy of EAS test printed out & put in logbook in visible room in the station.
30th: Upload identities of any specific-program underwriters to Public Files
January 10th of Next Year: Quarterly FCC Report to On-Line Public File for fourth Quarter of previous year: Issues Program Report, Single program Underwriters, Political File, Correspondence with FCC regarding any inspections.
EXPLANATIONS, OTHER REPORTS, and HELPFUL LINKS
Ownership reports
A biennial ownership report is due in each odd-numbered calendar year (2023, 2025, etc.), in a filing window from October 1 until November 30 of that year. All stations report this data as of October 1, so that it the FCC can publish and analyze overall totals.
A Non-Biennial Ownership report is required to be filed within 30 days of the consummation of an assignment or transfer, for the purpose of updating the station’s profile to include the new facility. These are pull-down menus under ownership in the LMS (Licensing and Management System – see below). The most current Ownership Report should be in the stations’ files.
License Renewal Applications Applications to renew your license must be filed every eight years. The deadlines are spaced across the States and Territories, so that FCC staff can keep a manageable workflow from month to month. Radio including AM, FM, LPFM, and FM Translators have a schedule of States that is separate from Television including TV, LPTV, Class A, and TV Translators. In all cases for TV and radio, the application filing deadline is the first day of the fourth month ahead of the date that the license will expire if not renewed. (A pending but not granted renewal application extends the license until the FCC acts on the application.)
Some advance time and effort are needed before the renewal application deadline. The applicant must already have on file: the most recent required EEO report and the most recent required Ownership Report.
A late renewal application automatically exposes the station to a fine, and delays FCC staff granting the renewal. The FCC does not notify the licensee that its license is coming up for renewal.
When applying for your renewal, you are required to give public notice of the filing of the application, using on-air announcements. When these are completed, you are required to upload a certification to the on-line public information file that they have been completed.
Equal Employment Opportunity report An Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) report must be filed prior to submitting a license renewal application.
EEO reports are due mid-term (four years before the license renewal application is due), and prior to the filing of the renewal application. For stations with five or more full time employees, the report must reflect and detail a pro-active EEO program. For stations with fewer than five full-time employees, the filing is short and sweet. A common misconception is that stations with fewer than five need not file any report at all. This is false.
Special Temporary Authority: If your station has had to reduce power or go silent for a period greater than ten days, you must file a Special Temporary Authority (STA) with the FCC, as soon as possible at https://www.fcc.gov/applying-special-temporary-authority
Political Files
NCE’s are prohibited by law from accepting political underwriting. If you are approached by a candidate, you must decline, but you still must document that this happened, placing the report under the Political File heading in the on-line public file.
Underwritten Programs
Only those underwriters who support specific programs need to be reported. General donation, grants, and station support do not need to be reported. However, some stations submit regular reports of all their underwriters anyway, for purposes of transparency. This category does not include underwriting for syndicated programs that do not fund your station.
Non-Biennial Ownership Reports / Transfers of Control:
If your station’s board of directors has changed by more than 50% since your last since their last biennial or non- biennial report, an ownership report is required be filed with the FCC, within 30 days after this “transfer of control.” You must file Form 323-E https://www.fcc.gov/media/ownership-report-commercial-broadcast-station-form-323 https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/323e.pdf
Explanation: When more than a majority of the board of directors change, the station is obligated to file an application that requests FCC approval of a “transfer of control.” This is not a function of the calendar, so the station must take the initiative to file an application that requests FCC approval.
You can determine whether an application is required by comparing the composition of the current board of directors with the last board of directors on record, approved by the FCC – i.e. the station’s last license renewal application or last transfer of control application approved by the FCC.
The application must be placed in the station’s Public File. After the application is granted, it can be replaced in the Public File with the FCC’s authorization that approves the transfer
Definition of Ownership:
(b) Ownership Interests. Ownership interest in or relationship to a Licensee that confers on its holder a certain degree of influence or control over the Licensee as defined in the Commission’s rules.
https://esupport.fcc.gov/help/form_603.htm?job=help_topic&id=form_603&page=help_about
A pro forma assignment or transfer is one in which the form of ownership changes but actual control of the license remains with the same entity. Pro forma assignments and transfers may be approved under streamlined Forbearance procedures in the case of most telecommunications carriers (excluding licensees with installment payment or designated entity issues). These pro forma requests do not require prior FCC approval provided that the parties notify the FCC of the change within 30 days. Note that private licenses are not subject to forbearance. FCC approval is required for private pro forma transfers and assignments.
Adverse Adjudication Report
This is to report illegality or criminality. Each year prior to the deadline (see below), the station should survey its staff and board members to find out if any of the following has happened to them in the past year:
(A) An adverse finding was made, or final action was taken against the licensee or its board members or officers (or any other entity in which such individuals hold an attributable interest) by any court or administrative body in a civil or criminal proceeding, brought under the provisions of any law relating to: 1) Any felony; or 2) Broadcast related antitrust or unfair competition; or 3) Criminal fraud or fraud before a governmental unit; or 4) Discrimination.
(B) An adjudicated matter that would cause the denial of Federal benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
The adverse adjudication report does not need to be filed if there have been no relevant adverse findings. If you are in the (fortunately rare) position of needing to file this report, get legal help in its preparation.
The adverse adjudication report is due on the anniversary date of the deadline for filing the renewal application, Section 1.65(c) 0f FCC Rules. It details activities that occurred at any time in the preceding year.
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IF THIS IS NEW FOR YOU:
Scope of this Calendar
This briefing applies to noncommercial, educational stations. Most of these requirements DO NOT APPLY to Low Power FM Stations.
ON-LINE ACCESS
1. “The FRN”: To do anything at FCC these days, a broadcaster must have a Federal Registration Number, a ten-digit number with a user-created password. Once you have the FRN and password, keep them in several safe and known places. (Much time is wasted every day by broadcasters and their advisers, trying to recover lost passwords!) The number is applied for at the following link: https://apps.fcc.gov/coresWeb/regEntityType.do
B. “The On-Line Public Information File” or “PIF”: Each NCE station must create and maintain and on-line public file. You are required to upload public file information to tis public-facing FCC website. You should also be uploading monthly underwriting Reports if you have for-profit or non-profit underwriters whose support is tailored to a specific program, and copies of correspondence with FCC regarding any inspections.
- For creating a PIF and for finding an existing one: https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/. At that link you can click on “View the complete list of items that must be placed in the file.”
- Maintain your file at https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/admin/
- Upload Issues and Programs to Public Inspection Files: https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/fm-profile/your station’s call letters
Primary Source
Items to be included in the public file of noncommercial, educational stations are listed in an FCC
Rule, 47 C.F.R. Section 73.3527(e)
FCC Web site: fcc.gov
FCC Media Bureau, section responsible for radio: fcc.gov/media 202-418-2700
You should maintain an active registration with several FCC databases:
LMS Licensing and Management System. Location where virtually all application filings are made.
User needs a Federal Registration Number (FRN) and password.
ETRS EAS (Emergency Alert System) annual national test requires pre-registration and certification of test received and rebroadcast. National tests are announced by the FCC with notifications available when you open an account.
Monthly and Weekly Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) Tests:
You are required to make monthly Test (RMT) and Required Weekly Test (RWT) [Section 11.61}. Each month, Local or State Primary EAS sources will transmit test messages of the EAS digital Header Codes (three long EAS data bursts), the two-tone 8-second Attention Signal, a Test Script (audio message), and EOM codes. Stations must retransmit monthly tests within 15 minutes of receipt. In odd months, the tests must be conducted between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset. In even months, tests must be conducted between local sunset and 8:30 a.m. All stations must conduct tests of the EAS Header and EOM codes at least once a week on random days and times between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset. A weekly test is not required the week that a monthly test is conducted.