Minding the Quarterly Issues/Programs List Deadline
posted on 3.26.2018With the last wave of radio broadcasters required to migrate their station Public Inspection Files online now complete, the timely filing of certain FCC-required documents will be under increased scrutiny by the FCC. That’s because the time of filing is recorded forever for posterity. FCC staff can check a station’s timeliness online without even leaving the office.
While broadcasters get some leeway in the timely placing of political broadcasting records in the station Public Inspection File – it must be done as soon as practicable – there are specific deadlines for other required FCC documents to be placed in the file.
All Radio and TV stations are required to place the Quarterly Issues/Programs List in the station Public Inspection File by the 10th of January, April, July and October of each calendar year. The next such report is due in the station Public Inspection File by April 10. The reports detail a station’s compliance with the FCC’s public interest obligation.
Attorney Scott Flick with TAB’s FCC legal counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said stations should give serious and thorough consideration when preparing the lists, otherwise “stations risk a determination by the FCC that they did not adequately serve the public interest during the license term.”
The quality of the reports prepared by Texas stations has been noted as one of the more common deficiencies as found by TAB’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. So, what should be in the lists and what types of programming qualify for inclusion?
The Pillsbury law firm has prepared an informative advisory on preparing the quarterly lists. The advisory reviews what the required content of the list is and suggests a sample format to use. It also details some important considerations when preparing the list.
Click here to read Pillsbury’s advisory for the Quarterly Issues/Program List that is due April 10.
Questions? Contact TAB's Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.
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