The Federal Communications Commission is ready to reactivate the online databases radio and TV stations need to make the critical filings that were missed during the 43-day government shutdown.
The License Management System (LMS), the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and Online Public Inspection File (OPIF) will open on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The commission has also released new filing deadlines with further updates on how broadcasters should proceed with filings now that it has resumed operations.
LMS, the database used by its Media Bureau to process broadcast applications, will be back in service on Tuesday. In order to provide for the orderly filing of material in LMS and to ease burdens on filers, the commission announced that any material submitted to LMS between 12:00 a.m. EST on Nov. 18, and 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 25, will be deemed to be filed on Nov. 25 in an effort to process filings equally.
Quarterly issues reports that were due in the OPIF by Oct. 10, now have a deadline of Dec. 1, according to a notice the FCC released Monday. The Media Bureau is recommending that broadcasters file earlier than the deadline to avoid possible delays.
The FCC said that EEO filings previously due by Oct. 1 have a new filing deadline of Nov. 24. In addition, broadcast EEO audit responses due to be filed by Oct. 14 will also be due by Nov. 24.
Political file data
As expected, the commission has adopted a staggered filing window approach for some required filings, including political programming records.
Any requests stations fielded to purchase political broadcast time received between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12 will have filing dates according to state:
- Nov. 19–26 for stations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
- Dec. 1–8 for licensees in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia
- Dec. 9–16 for all stations located in California
- Dec. 17–24 for licensees in all other states
CPs and STAs
Stations with construction permits that expired during the government shutdown must file a license to cover application by Nov. 28, or if construction was not completed by the CP’s deadline, must request tolling pursuant to FCC rules.
Any facility that had filed for a silent-station Special Temporary Authority that saw their 12 months of non-operation fall during the government shutdown must recommence authorized broadcast operations by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 18, in order to avoid expiration of its license.
Meanwhile, the FCC is extending any STA that would have expired between Oct. 1 and Dec. 4 through a new deadline of Dec. 5, 2025.
In addition, the commission’s informal 180-day shot clocks for review of transactions − suspended on Sept. 30, due to the suspension of operations − restarted as of Nov. 13.
The FCC reiterated that commission staff intends to work in “good faith” with parties to resolve and address issues that arise with an influx of new filings and requests, and to provide additional flexibility on filing deadlines for certain specific systems, matters, and programs.
The FCC says the extensions contained in its public notices released Monday do not apply to NORS and DIRS filings and filings related to spectrum auction activities.
