Article 3KBJ1 Upcoming FCC Broadcast Deadlines April 2018 – May 2018

Upcoming FCC Broadcast Deadlines April 2018 – May 2018

by
FHH Law
from CommLawBlog on (#3KBJ1)

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Do you know what FCC filing deadlines are in the coming months? We do. Time to mark up your calendars so you're not late on these important deadlines. Call FHH if you have trouble meeting these deadlines or need assistance.

April 2, 2018 -

EEO Public File Reports - All radio and television station employment units with five or more full-time employees located in Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas must place EEO Public File Reports in their public inspection files. All stations must also upload the reports to the online public file. For all stations with websites, the report must be posted there as well. Per announced FCC policy, the reporting period may end 10 days before the report is due, and the reporting period for the next year will begin on the following day.

EEO Mid-Term Reports - All radio stations with eleven or more full-time employees in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and all television stations with five or more full-time employees in Texas must electronically file a mid-term EEO report on FCC Form 397, with the last two EEO public file reports attached.

April 9, 2018 - Next Generation TV - ATSC 3.0 - Reply Comments are due in response to the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, which accompanied its November Report and Order authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Generation television transmission standard (ATSC 3).

April 10, 2018 -

Children's Television Programming Reports - For all commercial television and Class A television stations, the first quarter 2018 Children's Television Programming Reports must be filed electronically with the Commission. These reports then should be automatically included in the online public inspection file, but we would recommend checking, as the FCC bases its initial judgments of filing compliance on the contents and dates shown in the online public file. Please note that use of the Licensing and Management System for the Children's Reports requires the use of the licensee FRN to log in; therefore, you should have the FRN and password handy before you start the process.

Commercial Compliance Certifications - For all commercial television and Class A television stations, a certification of compliance with the limits on commercials during programming for children ages 12 and under, or other evidence to substantiate compliance with those limits, must be uploaded to the online public inspection file.

Website Compliance Information - Television and Class A television station licensees must upload and retain in their online public inspection files records sufficient to substantiate a certification of compliance with the restrictions on display of website addresses during programming directed to children ages 12 and under.

Issues/Programs Lists - For all commercial and noncommercial radio, television, and Class A television stations, a listing of each station's most significant treatment of community issues during the past quarter must be uploaded to the station's online public inspection file. The list should include a brief narrative describing the issues covered and the programs which provided the coverage, with information concerning the time, date, duration, and title of each program.

Class A Television Continuing Eligibility Documentation - The Commission requires that all Class A Television maintain in their online public inspection files documentation sufficient to demonstrate that the station is continuing to meet the eligibility requirements of broadcasting at least 18 hours per day and broadcasting an average of at least three hours per week of locally produced programming. While the Commission has given no guidance as to what this documentation must include or when it must be added to the public file, we believe that a quarterly certification stating that the station continues to broadcast at least 18 hours per day, that it broadcasts on average at least three hours per week of locally produced programming, and lists the titles of such locally produced programs should be sufficient.

April 18, 2018 - National TV Audience Reach Limits - Reply Comments are due in response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rule Making which seeks input on whether to modify, retain, or eliminate the national TV multiple ownership rule (or National TV Audience Reach Cap), a rule that limits the number of TV stations a single entity may own nationwide to an audience reach of 39percent of all television households.

May 21, 2018 - Elimination of the Requirement to File EEO Mid-Term Reports - Comments are due regarding the FCC's requesting comments on a proposal to eliminate the requirement in Section 73.2080 that TV stations with five or more full-time employees and radio stations with 11 or more full-time employees file mid-term reports on FCC Form 397 with the two most recent public file reports attached.

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