Media Bureau Waives Requirement for Broadcasters to File Biennial Ownership Reports 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.