TV, Class A TV, and LPTV stations may check the Commission's address-of-record by using the Mailing Address Query. All broadcast stations may verify the mailing address through the "Station Information" link in CDBS Public Access.

Requests for correction of mailing address must be submitted using FCC Form 5072, Change in Official Mailing Address for Broadcast Station. This form can be downloaded from the FCC's Forms page. Completed forms can be sent to the Commission as follows:

During the license renewal process, interested parties may ask to review the station's local public inspection file. Broadcast licensees should take time now to ensure that the public file fulfills the requirements of 47 CFR Section 73.3526 (commercial stations) or 47 CFR Section 73.3527 (noncommercial educational stations). Licensees should establish procedures to respond promptly to all requests to review the station's public inspection file during regular business hours. Information on local public file and public access requirements is available on the Enforcement Bureau's Public Inspection File page, and in The Public and Broadcasting.

Public inspection file requirements do not apply to TV translator stations. LPTV stations are exempt from the local public file requirement, but must continue to maintain a political file.

The following table lists license renewal application filing dates and license expiration dates for noncommercial educational TV, commercial TV, Class A TV, TV Translator, and LPTV stations. Renewal dates are based on the location (state, territory, etc.) of the station's community of license, not the station's transmitter site location.

License renewal applications (FCC Form 303-S) must be filed four months prior to the station's license expiration date. Details on the process are provided in the following sections.

As a courtesy, approximately 6 months before the expiration date of Television broadcast licenses in a particular state, the Commission will mail a postcard notice to each station. The mailing address in the Consolidated Database System (CDBS) is used for the postcard. The Commission staff will not search other applications or report filings for a more current address, and failure to receive a postcard will not relieve a licensee from complying fully with the renewal procedures. The postcard will give notice of the date by which the license renewal application (Form 303-S) and Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report (Form 396) must be filed.

Operating TV Stations. Announcements must be made over the TV, Class A TV or LPTV station according to the following schedule. TV translators are exempt from announcement requirements. See 47 CFR Section 73.3580.

Sample Pre-Filing and Post Filing Announcements (PDF file) are available for a station's use. Stations primarily broadcasting in a foreign language should broadcast the announcements in that language. In presenting the required announcements, TV stations must use visuals with the licensee’s and the FCC’s addresses when the information is being orally presented by the announcer. Within 7 days of the last day of broadcast of the required publication announcements, the licensee shall place in its station's publice inspection file a statment, certfying its compliance with Rule 73.3580 and setting forth the dates and times that the pre-filing and post filing notices were broadcast and the text thereof. This certfication need not be filed within the Commission.

Silent TV stations must publish the text of the Post-Filing Announcement in a newspaper of general circulation in the community or area served on the same scheduled dates as indicated above for operating stations. A copy of the published announcement should be placed in the station's local public inspection file.

TV Translators must publish the text of the Post-Filing Announcement at least once immediately after the filing of the license renewal application. The notice should be published in a daily, weekly, or biweekly newspaper of general circulation in the community or area served. If there is no newspaper the licensee should post the required notice in a public place and keep a copy of the local public notice for reference.

Each commercial licensee must submit a filing fee and Form 159 with its license renewal application. See the Application Processing Fees page for additional information concerning fees.

All Licensees are required to use the CDBS Electronic Filing system to prepare and file electronically the Form 303-S application for license renewal. Mandatory electronic filing commenced in September, 2003.

The CDBS Electronic Filing system can be accessed through http://www.fcc.gov/mb/elecfile.html. A help file for the electronic filing system is available at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/elecfilehelp.html.

Complete copies of the 303-S renewal application (August 2003 Edition) that are submitted to the Commission shall be kept on file locally by the licensee. These materials shall be maintained at the main studio of the station or at an accessible place in the station's community of license and they shall be available for public inspection at any time during regular business hours.

The new EEO rules require that all license renewal applicants submit FCC Form 396 (Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report) in advance of or with the license renewal application. FCC Form 396 and the form's instructions may be downloaded from the FCC's Forms page. The Broadcast Equal Opportunity Program Report (FCC Form 396) MUST be filed electronically.

NOTE: Licensees must complete FCC Form 396 prior to completing Form 303-S. The CDBS filing system will not accept a license renewal application without this file number.

A petition to deny or an informal objection to a television license renewal application may be filed AFTER the filing of the license renewal application. CDBS will also contain records pertaining to the license renewal application.

The last day for filing petitions to deny is ONE MONTH PRIOR to the license expiration date:

• Example. The expiration date for a station in Alabama is April 1, 2004. The LAST DAY that a petition to deny may be timely filed is March 1, 2004.

• Exception. If the LAST DAY falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or on a date that the Commission is closed for business, the LAST DAY is extended to the first full business day thereafter..

• Exception. The deadline for filing petitions to deny against late-filed license renewal applications is the 90th day after the FCC gives public notice that it has accepted that application for filing. If the 90th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or on a date that the Commission is closed for business, the LAST DAY is extended to the first full business day thereafter.

Procedure for Filing Petitions to Deny. Petitions to deny (a signed original and two copies) must be mailed or delivered to one of the FCC addresses above; electronic or facsimile transmission (including e-mail) is not acceptable. A petition to deny must be timely filed at the Commission. The petition must contain a certification that a copy of the petition was mailed to the station, and must also contain an affidavit of a person with personal knowledge attesting that the facts contained in the petition are true. Failure to include the certification and the affidavit will result in dismissal of the petition to deny.

Procedure for Filing Informal Objections. In the alternative, a person or entity opposing the grant of a television station's license renewal application may file an informal objection against the license renewal application at any time prior to staff action on the license renewal application. The informal objection (a signed original and two copies) must be mailed or delivered to one of the FCC addresses above; electronic or facsimile transmission (including e-mail) is not acceptable. An informal objection need not contain the affidavit required for a petition to deny.

Additional Suggestions for Filers To help the staff expeditiously associate a petition to deny or informal objection with the proper license renewal application, the pleading should identify (1) the station's call sign, (2) the station's facility ID number, and (3) the license renewal application file number. This information should be listed on the first page of the pleading or cover sheet. If a cover sheet is used, it should be attached to each copy of the pleading.