News
Additional Guidance Ahead of Resumption of Operations and Extension of Filing Deadlines
The FCC extended all filing deadlines that fell between October 1 and November 17, 2025, to at least November 18 due to the prolonged funding lapse and the resulting backlog of expected submissions. It also granted temporary extensions of applicable Special Temporary Authorities and requested that parties limit nonessential filings pending further guidance.
On September 30, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice providing guidance on FCC operations in the event of a partial lapse in funding. The FCC also released a Plan for Orderly Shutdown Due to Lapse of Congressional Appropriations.
Many of the Commission’s regular services were unavailable or unsupported due to the lapse in appropriations. Given the unprecedented length of the shutdown, we anticipate that the public will have an exceptionally large number of filings and submissions that they will want to provide the FCC over a relatively short period of time as we resume normal operations. Therefore, we provide the following guidance:
First, FCC staff will work in good faith with parties to resolve and address issues that arise with an influx of new filings and requests. We anticipate that complications may arise in some cases. FCC staff will bring a flexible, commonsense approach to resolving the range of issues that may arise upon re-opening in these circumstances.
Second, to help ease burdens on filers and staff, the FCC will extend filing deadlines, as needed. In our September 30, 2025 Public Notice, we stated that all filings that would have been due during the suspension of operations would become due on the business day following the resumption of normal operations. By this Public Notice, we now further extend deadlines for all filings that would have been due from October 1, 2025, through November 17, 2025. The deadline for all such filings is now extended at least until Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The FCC and components of the FCC will issue further guidance prior to November 18, 2025, that will provide additional flexibility on filing deadlines for certain specific systems, matters, and programs, including the FCC’s Universal Licensing System and Equipment Authorization System.
We hereby waive the Commission’s rules to the extent necessary to effectuate this extension. This extension of filing deadlines does not apply to filings in the Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) and Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) or to filings related to spectrum auction activities authorized by section 309(j)
Third, any Special Temporary Authorities (STAs) that would have expired from October 1, 2025, through November 17, 2025, are extended at least until November 18, 2025, except to the extent that such STAs relate to activities authorized under section 309(j).
Fourth, until such further guidance is issued, we ask parties to limit filings and submissions except where immediate authority is needed and to refrain from submitting filings seeking additional relief from filing deadlines for the time being.
Media Bureau Resumes Phased Processing of LPTV and Translator Applications
The FCC’s Media Bureau announced it will lift the long-standing freeze on Class A, LPTV, and TV translator applications through a phased schedule starting September 2025. By January 2026, stations may file unrestricted major modifications and new applications, with all filings processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES A PHASED RESUMPTION OF FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR MAJOR CHANGES FOR CLASS A, LPTV, AND TV TRANSLATOR STATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR NEW LPTV AND TV TRANSLATOR STATIONS
By this Public Notice, the Media Bureau (Bureau) announces that, beginning today, the Commission is initiating a phased process to lift the current freeze on major changes for Class A television, low power television (LPTV), and television (TV) translator stations, in its entirety, and permit the filing of applications for new LPTV and TV translator stations. Outlined below are the dates relating to the phased process and procedures that applicants must follow when filing during these opportunities. The Appendix outlines instructions for filing applications in LMS.
Summary of Important Dates
September 3, 2025 11:59 p.m. ET
Temporary application filing freeze for all major change applications for Class A, LPTV, and TV Translator stations.
October 15, 2025 6:00 p.m. ET
Temporary application filing freeze for all minor change applications (including displacement applications) for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations.
October 22, 2025 12:01 a.m. ET
Expanded opportunity for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations to file major change applications, with relocations limited to no more than 121.0 kilometers (km). Freeze on all minor change applications (including displacement applications) for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations is also lifted.
December 3, 2025 6:00 p.m. ET
Temporary application filing freeze for all major change applications for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations.
January 14, 2026 6:00 p.m. ET
Temporary application filing freeze for all minor change applications (including displacement applications) for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations.
January 21, 2026 12:01 a.m. ET
Resumption, without limit or restriction, of filing of Class A, LPTV and TV translator major change applications and acceptance of applications for new LPTV and TV translators stations. Freeze on minor change applications (including displacement applications) for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations is also lifted.
More information can be found in the complete notice below:
Media Bureau Waives Requirement for Broadcasters to File Biennial Ownership Reports for 18 Months
The Commission has waived the Dec 1, odd year update for 18 months.
By this Public Notice, the Media Bureau waives the requirement for broadcast licensees to file their biennial ownership reports on FCC Form 323 or 323-E for a period of 18 months.
Pursuant to the Commission’s rules, licensees of commercial and non-commercial full power television, Class A television, low power television, AM radio, and FM radio stations must file biennial ownership reports with the Commission in odd-numbered years. The next filing window for biennial ownership reports is scheduled to open on October 2nd of this year, with reports due by December 1st. In the Commission’s proceeding “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete,” multiple commenters have urged the Commission to revisit the current biennial ownership filing requirement, which they maintain is a costly and burdensome requirement without a sufficient offsetting public benefit. With the next filing window approaching, we find there is good cause to waive the biennial ownership report filing requirement for a period of 18 months and set a new filing deadline of June 1, 2027 or until further notice, whichever comes first.
This Public Notice does not pause requirements applicable to commercial and noncommercial full power television, AM radio, and FM radio stations to file a non-biennial ownership report in other instances required by section 73.3615 of the Commission’s rules, namely after the granting of an application for an original construction permit, with an application for a station license, and after the consummation of authorized assignments or transfers of permits and licenses.
FCC Regulatory Fees
The Commission has posted the fee schedule but not yet set the date for when they are due. Usually the third week of September. Expect to see that date soon.
Also, the De Minimus is in effect this year. If a licensee owes less than $1,000 they don’t have to pay.
This year’s per license fee is $245 per call sign.
Government entities are exempt as are 501(c)(3) organizations.
De Minimis Regulatory Fees, Section 9(e)(2) Exemption. Under the de minimis rule, and pursuant to our analysis under section 9(e)(2) of the Act, a regulatee is exempt from paying regulatory fees if the sum total of all of its annual regulatory fee liabilities is $1,000 or less for the fiscal year. 198 The de minimis threshold applies only to filers of annual regulatory fees, not regulatory fees paid through multi-year filings, and it is not a permanent exemption. Each regulatee will need to reevaluate the total annual fee liability each fiscal year to determine whether it meets the de minimis exemption. 74. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates. The Commission will accept fee payments made in advance of the window for the payment of regulatory fees. The responsibility for payment of fees by service category is as follows: • Media Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for initial construction permits that were granted on or before October 1, 2024 for AM/FM radio stations, full-power VHF/UHF broadcast television stations, and satellite television stations. Regulatory fees must be paid for all broadcast facility licenses granted on or before October 1, 2024.
Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/FM Translators & FM Boosters (47 CFR part 74) $275
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Opens EAS Test Reporting System
FCC Opens EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) for Form One filing and sets deadline of October 3, 2025 for filing.
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Reporting System (ETRS) is available for receipt of filings and directs EAS Participants to submit their annual ETRS Form One for calendar year 2025 by no later than October 3, 2025. ETRS is an online filing system by which EAS Participants submit their Form One information, which includes identifying and background information such as EAS designation, EAS monitoring assignments, facility location, equipment type, contact information, and other relevant data.
I. FILING INFORMATION
A. ETRS Login and Weblinks
Filers can access ETRS by visiting the ETRS page of the Commission’s website at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system. Filers must use their registered FCC Username (Username) that is associated with the FCC Registration Numbers (FRNs) for which they will file. Filers that have already created a Username for use with another FCC system may access the ETRS with that Username. Filers that do not remember the password that corresponds with their Username may reset it at https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/reset-passwd-identify.htm. Filers that have not previously created a Username may do so by visiting the User Registration System at https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/createAccount.htm. Filers can associate their Username with an FRN by logging in at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do and clicking on the appropriate option. Additional information regarding creating and associating FRNs with a Username can be found on the CORES FAQs page at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/publicHome.do?faq=true&csfrToken=.
B. Excepted Filers
All EAS Participants—including Low Power FM stations (LPFM), Class D non-commercial educational FM stations, program originating FM booster stations, and EAS Participants that are silent pursuant to a grant of Special Temporary Authority—are required to register and file in ETRS. Analog and digital low power television (LPTV) stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations, FM broadcast booster stations and FM translator stations that entirely rebroadcast the programming of other local FM broadcast stations, and analog and digital broadcast stations that operate as satellites or repeaters of a hub station (or common studio or control point if there is no hub station) and rebroadcast 100 percent of the programming of the hub station (or common studio or control point) are not required to register and file in ETRS. However, the hub station (or common studio or control point) is required to register and file in ETRS.
C. Miscellaneous Filing Information
Broadcasters can pre-populate Form One by completing the FRN and Facility ID fields. Cable systems can pre-populate Form One by completing the FRN and Physical System ID (PSID) fields. EAS Participants that pre-populate Form One using a Facility ID number or a PSID number are urged to review their pre-populated data to ensure accuracy.
Each EAS Participant should file a separate copy of Form One for each of its EAS decoders, EAS encoders, or units combining such decoder and encoder functions. For example, if an individual is filing for a broadcaster (or cable headend) that uses two units combining decoder and encoder functions, that individual should file two copies of Form One. EAS Participants using an intermediary device/CAP-to-EAS converter in accordance with Section 11.56(b) should enter both the intermediary device and the EAS encoder/decoder in the EAS equipment section of the same Form One.
The Bureau urges EAS Participants to review Form One as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for possible corrections. EAS Participants are allowed thirty days after submission to submit any updates or corrections to their filings. Filers can update previously filed forms in ETRS by clicking on the “My Filings” menu option and then clicking on the record for that form.
II. FURTHER ASSISTANCE
We encourage EAS Participants that have questions or need help with the filing process to contact Bureau staff for assistance by emailing ETRS@fcc.gov. Filers may contact FCC Licensing Support for assistance with creating a Username or other CORES troubleshooting via the web at https://www.fcc.gov/wtbhelp or by telephone at 1-877-480-3201. The support hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).