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License Renewal Applications for Radio Broadcast Stations
All radio broadcast station licenses are scheduled to expire between 2011
and 2014. Each AM, FM, noncommercial educational FM, FM
translator, and Low Power FM Station (LPFM) station must file an
application for license renewal (FCC Form
During the license renewal process, listeners of the stations whose licenses
are up for renewal may participate in the process either by filing a petition
to deny or informal objection against a renewal or by filing positive
comments about a broadcaster's service. Procedures for filing
documents with the Commission in the context of a license renewal
are covered below.
Related auxiliary stations and FM booster stations
are renewed with the main station license;
do not file separate renewal applications for auxiliary or FM booster stations.
A permittee of a new radio broadcast station is not required to file a
license renewal application unless a license is granted prior to the
expiration date for radio stations in its particular state or jurisdiction.
Items under this heading will be added or updated as needed. Check here for new or updated information.
A valid mailing address for each station is essential for a smooth renewal process. Broadcast licensees should take the time NOW to verify that the station address is correct in the FCC's files, and make any necessary corrections. Failure to receive postcard notice of the deadline for filing a license renewal application (detailed below) does not excuse a licensee from timely compliance with the Commission's license renewal requirements. AM and FM full service stations, Low Power FM (LPFM) stations, and interested persons may check the Commission's address-of-record by using the Mailing Address Query. FM Translator 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:
A Public Notice released August 22, 2003 [ PDF | Word ] provides additional guidance on filing items with the Commission, including electronic media submissions. Courtesy copies may be sent directly to the Audio Division, License Renewal Processing Team, using these addresses.
During the license renewal process, interested parties may ask to review the radio station's local public inspection file. Broadcast licensees should take time now to ensure that the public file fulfils 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 (revised May 2008). Public inspection file requirements do not apply to FM translator stations. Low Power FM (LPFM) stations are exempt from the local public file requirement, but must continue to maintain a political file.
The following lists indicate license renewal application filing dates, license expiration dates, and petition to deny filing dates, for noncommercial educational FM, commercial AM and FM, FM Translator, and low power FM 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. Dates for radio broadcast station renewals fall between 2011 and 2014, inclusive. (Lists will open in a new browser window.)
License renewal applications (FCC Form
As a courtesy, approximately 5 to 6 months before the expiration date of
radio 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 application 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
Operating AM and FM Stations.
Announcements must be made over the AM, FM, or FM low power
station according to the following schedule.
FM translators are exempt from announcement requirements. See
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.
Silent AM and FM 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. FM 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.
Licensees MUST use the CDBS Electronic Filing
system to prepare and file the Form A copy of the license renewal application must be placed in the station's local public inspection file.
On November 20, 2002, the Commission adopted new equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules and reporting requirements. These rules are in effect as of March 10, 2003. Each licensee must familiarize itself with the new rules and reporting requirements prior to preparation of the license renewal application. Information about the Commission's EEO requirements for broadcast stations is available on the Media Bureau's EEO page. 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.
All licensees must electronically file
the Broadcast Equal Opportunity Program Report (FCC Form 396) and
the license renewal form (Form
A petition to deny or an informal objection to a radio license renewal application may be filed AFTER the filing of the license renewal application. Notices of the filing of license renewal applications will be posted in the public notices listed at http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/cur_Broadcast_Applications.html. CDBS on the FCC's website will also contain records pertaining to the license renewal application. Petitions to deny are considered to be timely filed with the Commission only upon their receipt by the Commission at either of the addresses listed above, NOT when they are mailed or postmarked. The last day for filing petitions to deny is ONE MONTH PRIOR to the license expiration date:
Petition to Deny Requirements. First, to file a petition to deny, a person must be a "party in interest" and have "standing". That means, generally, that the person must have more than a passing interest in the station. He or she must be a regular listener or have some other contact with the station that gives the petitioner a real stake in the outcome of the renewal process. A petition must be supported by an affidavit of a person or persons with personal knowledge of the allegations of fact contained in the petition. Additionally, a petition to deny a license renewal must "timely" filed at least one month prior to the license expiration date, as explained in the previous paragraph. Finally, the petition must contain a certification that a copy of the petition was mailed to the station. Failure to include the certification that a copy was mailed to the station and the affidavit of personal knowledge will result in dismissal of the petition to deny. Procedure for Filing Informal Objections. A person or entity opposing the grant of a 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. An informal objection is less formal than a petition to deny, but some requirements still apply. It may take the form of a letter signed by the objector and mailed or delivered to one of the FCC addresses above. An informal objection need not contain the affidavit required for a petition to deny. It should, however, contain sufficient information to establish any violation alleged. Additionally, an informal objection not received by the time the station's license renewal is granted will not be considered. Filing Positive Comments. Affirmative comments concerning a licensee's service during the prior license term should be filed by the petition to deny deadline through the Office of the Secretary at the addresses listed above. Additional Suggestions for Filers To help the staff expeditiously associate a petition to deny, informal objection, or positive comment 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, which is available on CDBS through the Commission's website, should be listed on the first page of the submission. If a cover sheet is used, it should be attached to each copy of the pleading.
Questions may be directed to radioren@fcc.gov. Please provide sufficient information so that your inquiry can be promply answered.
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