Reminder: By December 24, The Online Public File Must Be Complete for Commercial Stations in Top 50 Markets
By December 24, 2016, commercial radio stations in Nielsen markets 1-50 must have uploaded their existing online public file material to the online public file (except for the political file) hosted by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission). Once the online file is complete, each station must complete a certification affirming that the online file is complete.
Beginning June 24, 2016, commercial radio stations in the top 50 markets were required to place all new material in the online public file hosted by the Commission, found here. As we explained in our earlier alerts, found here and here, the Commission gave stations six months (until December 24) to upload existing public file material to the online file. Stations were only required to upload political file material from June 24 going forward.
Once the station’s online public file is complete (and by December 24), you must take one final step to complete the transition to the online public file. Each station must certify to the Commission that their online public file is complete. To complete this certification, login to the station’s public file, click on the Settings tab, on the next page, click on “certification,” check the box and click “submit.” Do not submit this certification until all of the station’s existing public file information has been uploaded and you have confirmed that the online public file is complete.
Please feel free to contact the Wiley Rein attorney with whom you regularly work or one of the attorneys listed on this alert with any questions about the online public file.
