Upcoming FCC Broadcast and Telecom Deadlines for November – January
Broadcast Deadlines:
November 16, 2020
Amending the Schedule of FCC Application Fees - Comments are due in response to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC" or the Commission") Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting comments on proposed changes to its application fee schedule, which the FCC considers to be significant and which include fee amounts, most of which would increase though a few would decrease or be eliminated, and other processes covered by its fee requirement.
November 30, 2020
Amending the Schedule of FCC Application Fees - Reply comments are due in response to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting comments on proposed changes to its application fee schedule, which the FCC considers to be significant and which include fee amounts, most of which would increase though a few would decrease or be eliminated, and other processes covered by its fee requirement.
December 1, 2020
Radio License Renewal Applications Due - Applications for renewal of license for radio stations located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota must be filed in the Licensing and Management System (LMS). These applications must be accompanied by Schedule 396, the Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program Report, also filed in LMS, regardless of the number of full-time employees.
Radio Post-Filing Announcements - As of this writing, radio stations licensed in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota must begin broadcasts of their post-filing announcements concerning their license renewal applications on December 1. These announcements must continue on December 16, January 1, January 16, February 1, and February 16. Once complete, a certification of broadcast, with a copy of the announcement's text, must be posted to the Online Public Inspection File (OPIF) within seven days, or by February 23. It is, however, possible that the updated rules governing public notices will go into effect during the period of the announcements, in which case, stay tuned for updates on the transition to the new requirements.
Television License Renewal Applications Due - Applications for renewal of license for television stations located in Alabama and Georgia must be filed in LMS. These applications must be accompanied by Schedule 396, the Broadcast EEO Program Report, also filed in LMS, regardless of the number of full-time employees.
Television Post-Filing Announcements - Under current regulations, television stations licensed in Alabama and Georgia must begin broadcasts of their post-filing announcements concerning their license renewal applications on December 1. These announcements must continue on December 16, January 1, January 16, February 1, and February 16. Once complete, a certification of broadcast, with a copy of the announcement's text, must be posted to the OPIF within seven days, or by February 23. As noted above, however, it is possible that the updated rules governing public notices will go into effect during the period of the announcements, in which case, stay tuned for updates on transition to the new requirements.
EEO Public File Reports - All radio and television station employment units with five or more full-time employees and located in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont must place EEO Public File Reports in their OPIFs. For all stations with websites, the report must be posted there as well. Per announced FCC policy, the reporting period may end ten days before the report is due, and the reporting period for the next year will begin on the following day.
January 30, 2020 -
Children's Television Programming Reports - Each commercial TV and Class A television station must electronically file its annual Children's Television Programming Report, on FCC Form 2100 Schedule H, to report on programming aired by the station and other efforts in 2020 that were specifically designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children.
Commercial Compliance Certifications - Each commercial TV and Class A television station must post to its OPIF a certification (or certifications) of compliance during 2020 with the statutory limits on commercial time during children's programming. The certification(s) should cover both the primary programming stream and all subchannels aired by the station.
Telecom Deadlines:
November 1, 2020 (Due November 2, 2020 because Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday)
Quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet (FCC Form 499-Q) - FCC rules require telecommunications carriers and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers to file quarterly revenue statements reporting historical revenue for the prior quarter and projecting revenue for the next quarter. The projected revenue is used to calculate contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF) for high cost, rural, insular and tribal areas as well as to support telecommunications services for schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. USF assessments are billed monthly.
November 14, 2020 (Due November 16, 2020 because Nov. 14 falls on a Saturday)
Quarterly Percentage of Interstate Usage (PIU) Reporting and Certification - Prepaid calling card providers (PCCPs) must report the percentage of interstate use factors and associated call volumes to carriers that provide them with transport services. Additionally, PCCPs must file traffic information and a certification signed by a company officer stating that the provider is in compliance with the FCC's PIU and USF reporting requirements.
January 15, 2020
Hearing Aid Compatibility Certification (FCC Form 855) - Digital mobile service providers (primarily cell phone providers, including MVNOs and resellers, and certain mobile interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP services) must certify annually whether they comply with the Commission's wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements. The FCC streamlined the filing requirement for digital mobile service providers in 2019. However, digital mobile service providers still use the same electronic filing portal that device manufacturers use to file their annual Form 655 relating to hearing aid compatibility. Device manufacturers are still required to file Form 655.
January 31, 2020 (Due February 1, 2020 because January 31 falls on a Sunday)
Lifeline Recertification (FCC Form 555) - All eligible telecommunications carriers must re-certify all subscribers every 12 months, except for subscribers in states where the National Verifier, state Lifeline administrator, or other state agency is responsible for annual re-certification of subscribers' Lifeline eligibility. In 2018, the FCC changed Form 555 to make the filing due for all carriers on January 31 each year, rather than on a rolling 12-month basis for each carrier. Carriers should file the form using Universal Service Administration Company's E-file system.