June Radio License Renewal and Announcements Reminder: IL, WI, MI, & OH

June 1, 2020: First Pre-Filing Announcements Due in Illinois and Wisconsin

Radio stations licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin must air the first of four pre-filing announcements on their main analog programming streams and any digital streams on Monday, June 1, 2020 – two months prior to the August 3, 2020 license renewal deadlines for such stations. Follow-up announcements should be aired on June 16, 2020; July 1, 2020; and July 16, 2020. Stations should maintain a record of the timing of these announcements, along with a copy of the transcript used to air them. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) requires this information as part of its post-announcement certification process. For further details about pre-filing announcements, including required time slots, please consult Section II of the Wiley Radio Station Renewal Primer. For a sample pre-filing announcement template, please consult Attachment B. No pre-filing announcements are required for FM translator stations.

June 1, 2020: Station License Renewal Deadlines in Michigan and Ohio

Radio stations licensed in Michigan and Ohio must file license renewal applications and begin airing post-filing announcements on their main analog streams and any digital streams on Monday, June 1, 2020. Follow-up announcements should be aired on June 16, 2020; July 1, 2020; July 16, 2020; August 1, 2020; and August 16, 2020. For further details about post-filing announcements, including required time slots, please consult Section II of the primer. For a sample post-filing announcement template, please consult Attachment C. Prior to filing Form 303-S applications for renewal, stations must submit a Schedule 396 Broadcast EEO Program Report. Information regarding filing Form 303-S applications can be found in Section III of the primer and Attachment G, and information pertaining to filing the Schedule 396 Report can be found in Section IV and Attachment I.

Additionally, within seven days of broadcasting the final post-filing announcement, stations must upload statements certifying compliance with the FCC’s pre-filing and post-filing notice requirements in their respective online public inspection files. A sample certification form is available in the primer under Attachment D. Finally, the FCC requires that stations publish post-filing notices at least once immediately following the filing of the license renewal applications for FM Translators. The notices should be made in daily, weekly, or biweekly newspapers published or having circulation in the communities or areas served. A sample notice is in Attachment E. We recommend uploading a certification of this publication to the station’s online public inspection file. A sample can be found in Attachment F.

If you have any questions regarding the license renewal application or the renewal process, or concerns about your previous FCC filings or record-keeping obligations, please contact the Wiley attorney who regularly handles your station matters, or an attorney listed on this alert.