Last call for Radio’s online public file FCC deadline

-March 1^st the big day for stations in markets 51+

Full-power Radio stations in markets 51+ have until March 1^st to migrate their public files online, per FCC mandate. TAB member stations have access to a full suite of resources to help complete the process, including a step by step webinar with our DC legal counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, but a station that waits any longer to start will find that only time can help them. That’s something TAB cannot provide.

By all accounts we’ve heard from member stations, the most time consuming part of the process is scanning the documents that have to be uploaded. The actual uploading moves fairly quickly.

Political, LPFM, Translators
One frequently asked question involves political files. Pillsbury’s Scott Flick has confirmed that stations working toward the March 1^st deadline do not have to upload their Political File by then, but at a minimum must commence uploading their Political File documents to the FCC’s online public file on a going-forward basis beginning on March 1^st.

LPFM stations and FM translators do not have a public file obligation, so this deadline doesn’t apply to them. Beyond that, there are virtually no exceptions and little time to get a waiver.

“Unless you are a very small station with real provable issues with Internet access, I would not expect waivers at this point, so late in the game,” says Attorney David Oxenford with TAB Associate Member Wilkinson Barker Knauer.

Questions? Contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.