Less Than A Month Left to File FCC Ownership Reports

- EAS Deadlines Also Looming

Broadcasters have less than a month to file their 2023 biennial FCC ownership reports by Dec. 1, and rather than risk stiff penalties for filing late stations should act now and use the filing system opened recently by the FCC’s Media Bureau.

Commercial and noncommercial broadcasters must file their ownership reports on FCC Forms 323 or 323-E, respectively. This fundamental obligation applies to every commercial and noncommercial full power TV, Class A, LPTV and AM and FM station – even if there was no change in ownership since the last report filing.

The attorneys at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, TAB’s FCC legal counsel, note that the FCC hosted a video information session in 2021 on how to file the report.

FILING BIENNIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTS, FORMS 323/323-E: VIDEO – PDF

EAS Deadlines: Nov. 20, Dec. 12

Two additional EAS-related deadlines are looming for stations, one related to the Oct. 4 National EAS Test and another regarding EAS encoder software updates.

Failure to file the ETRS report due Nov. 20 could result in fines, and failure to update encoders will likely result in the station’s failure to receive and transmit EAS messages.

EAS DEADLINE DETAILS