Upcoming FCC Broadcast and Telecom Deadlines for October – December
Broadcast Deadlines:
October 1, 2020
Must-Carry/Retransmission Consent Election Deadline - By October 1, all full power and Class A commercial TV stations must upload their must-carry/retransmission consent elections for the 2021-2023 election cycle to their online public inspection files. Stations are now required to send copies of their elections to MVPDs and to the FCC (ElectionNotices@fcc.gov) only if they are changing the election they made for the previous term (e.g., from must-carry to retransmission consent or vice versa). Stations now need only upload a copy of their election to their public file. Separate elections for each MVPD are also no longer required. One blanket election for all MVPDs is sufficient, provided the station is making the same election for all such MVPDs. If a station elects retransmission consent on some systems and must-carry on others, it must upload separate notices or specify in its notice which election applies to which MVPDs and systems.
Radio License Renewal Applications Due - Applications for renewal of license for radio stations located in Iowa and Missouri 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 Iowa and Missouri must begin broadcasts of their post-filing announcements concerning their license renewal applications on October 1. These announcements must continue on October 16, November 1, November 16, December 1, and December 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 December 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 transition to the new requirements.
Television License Renewal Applications Due - Applications for renewal of license for television stations located in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands 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 Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands must begin broadcasts of their post-filing announcements concerning their license renewal applications on October 1. These announcements must continue on October 16, November 1, November 16, December 1, and December 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 December 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 Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, the Mariana Islands, Missouri, Oregon, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington must place EEO Public File Reports in their OPIFs. For all stations with websites, the report must be posted there as well. Per announced Federal Communication Commission (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.
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 LMS. These applications must be accompanied by Schedule 396, the 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 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 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 Decmber 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.
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.