October/November/December 2011 FCC Deadlines

4th Quarter Deadlines

Form 398-Children's Television Programming Reports.  The deadline for television stations (including Class A stations) to file 3rd Quarter Children's Television Programming Reports is October 10.  This filing must be submitted electronically on the FCC Form 398 and a copy placed in the station's local public file.

Commercial Compliance Certification.  All commercial television stations (including Class A stations) must place a certificate documenting compliance with the Commission's rules regarding commercial limits and the display of website addresses during programs for children ages 12 and under in the station's public file by October 10.

Quarterly Issues and Programs List.  All television (including Class A) and radio stations must place a list of community issues addressed by the station in the station's local public file by October 10.  This list must contain a brief description of the issues covered; the program that provided the coverage; and the date, time, duration and title of each program for the months of July, August and September.

Form 388 - DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report.  A television station that has not completed its digital transition remains subject to the FCC's DTV consumer education requirements until the station's final DTV facility is complete (i.e. stations operating pursuant to a phased-transition STA).  Any station that has not completed its transition will need to file a Form 388 by October 10 to report DTV education efforts made during the 3rd quarter.  This filing must be submitted electronically.  A copy must be placed in the public file and, if the station has a website, posted on the station's website and maintained there for one year.

Form 317-Annual DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report for Commercial and Noncommercial Television Stations.  All commercial and noncommercial television stations-including licensed digital low power television stations-must file Form 317 electronically by December 1 to inform the FCC as to whether they have provided any ancillary or supplementary services on their digital spectrum during the 12-month period preceding September 30, 2011.

Ownership Reports

Noncommercial Radio Stations: By October 3, noncommercial radio stations located in Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Mariana Islands, Oregon, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington must file a biennial ownership report on the Form 323-E.

Noncommercial Television Stations: By October 3, noncommercial television stations located in Iowa and Missouri must file a biennial ownership report on the Form 323-E.

Commercial Radio and Television Stations: By November 1 licensees of commercial AM, FM and full-power television broadcast stations, as well as Class A and low power television stations, are required to submit biennial ownership reports on Form 323 that provide information accurate as of October 1, 2011.

Noncommercial Radio Stations: By December 1, noncommercial radio stations located in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont must file a biennial ownership report on Form 323-E.

Noncommercial Television Stations: By December 1, noncommercial television stations located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota must file a biennial ownership report on Form 323-E.

EEO Public File Reports 

All radio and television stations with more than five full-time employees located in Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, MarianaIslands, Missouri, Oregon, PuertoRico, the Virgin Islands and Washington must place their EEO Public File Report in the station's public inspection files by October 1.  Please remember, if your station has a website, then the EEO Report must be posted on the website as well. 

All radio and television stations with more than five full-time employees located in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont must place their EEO Public File Report in the station's public inspection files by December 1.  Please remember, if your station has a website, then the EEO Report must be posted on the website, as well. 

Renewals

Renewal filing deadline: By October 3, radio stations in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands must electronically file a renewal application on FCC Form 303-S.

Postfiling announcements: Radio stations in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands must air postfiling renewal announcements on the third and sixteenth days of October and the first and sixteenth days of November and December.  Within seven days of broadcasting the last postfiling announcement, stations must place a statement certifying compliance with the public announcement requirement in the public inspection file.

Prefiling announcements: Radio stations in Alabama and Georgia must air prefiling renewal announcements on the first and sixteenth days of October and November.

Renewal filing deadline: By December 1, radio stations in Alabama and Georgia must electronically file a renewal application on FCC Form 303-S.

Postfiling announcements: Radio stations in Alabama and Georgia must air postfiling renewal announcements on the first and sixteenth days of December 2011, January and February 2012.  Within seven days of broadcasting the last postfiling announcement, stations must place a statement certifying compliance with the public announcement requirement in the public inspection file.

Prefiling announcements: Radio stations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippimust air prefiling renewal announcements on the first and sixteenth days of December 2011 and January 2012.