Biennial Ownership Reports: Plan for December 1 Deadline
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Media Bureau announced that, beginning on October 2, 2023, the Commission will open a window during which licensees of commercial and non-commercial full power television, Class A television, LPTV, AM radio, and FM radio stations must file their required biennial ownership reports. These reports must report the licensee’s ownership information as of October 1, 2023 and be filed by December 1, 2023.
To prepare for the filing window, broadcasters should review their most recent biennial or post-consummation ownership reports and identify:
- Any changes to their ownership since those reports were filed; and
- Any new Section 73.3613 contracts entered into since those reports were filed (a list of which should also be included in the station’s online public file).
We urge licensees to focus on their ownership reports early in this process – we find that those who wait until just before the December 1 deadline are often frustrated by slowness or other technical difficulties with the FCC’s online filing system. Should you need assistance filing your Biennial Form 323 Ownership Reports, please contact the Wiley attorney who regularly handles your station matters or one of the attorneys listed on this client alert.
