Federal Communications Commission 

Washington, DC 20554 OMB Control No. 3060-0110

Estimated Time per Response – 1.25 to 12 hours

All previous editions obsolete. Form 2100, Schedule 303-S Instructions 

INSTRUCTIONS - FORM 2100, SCHEDULE 303-S – RENEWAL OF BROADCAST 

STATION LICENSE

The following Instructions track the Renewal of Television Broadcast Station License Applications in 

LMS:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Introduction. Form 2100, Schedule 303-S (Schedule 303-S) is used to apply for renewal of license of a

commercial or noncommercial educational AM, FM, TV, Class A TV, FM translator, TV translator, Low Power 

TV or Low Power FM broadcast station. It is also used in seeking the joint renewal of licenses for an FM or TV 

translator station and its co-owned primary AM, FM, TV or LPTV station.

 

FCC Rules. Schedule 303-S and these instructions make many references to the FCC’s rules. Applicants

should have on hand and be familiar with current broadcast rules in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR):

(1) Part 0 “Commission Organization”

(2) Part 1 “Practice and Procedure”

(3) Part 17 “Construction, Marking, and Lighting of Antenna Structures”

(4) Part 73 “Radio Broadcast Services”

(5) Part 74 “Experimental Radio, Auxiliary, Special Broadcast, and Other Program

Distributional Services”

FCC Rules may be purchased from the Government Publishing Office. Current prices and purchasing information 

may be obtained from the GPO Bookstore Website at https://bookstore.gpo.gov/. An up-to-date electronic version 

of Title 47 of the CFR may be accessed at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/textidx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title47/47tab_02.tpl.

Electronic Filing of Applications. Electronic filing of Schedule 303-S is mandatory. See

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/login.html. Similarly, any amendment to a pending Schedule 303-S 

must be filed electronically. The amendment should contain the following information to identify the associated 

application:

(1) Applicant’s name

(2) Facility ID#

(3) Call letters or specify “NEW” station

(4) Channel number 

(5) Station location

(6) File number of application being amended (if known)

(7) Date of filing of application being amended (if file number is not known)

Applicants should follow the procedures set forth in Parts 0, 1, 73, and 74 of the Commission’s Rules.

A copy of the completed application and all related documents shall be made available for inspection by the public 

in the station's public inspection file, pursuant to the requirements of 47 CFR § 73.3526(b).
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Applicants should provide all information requested by this application. No section may be omitted. If any 

portions of the application are not applicable, the applicant should so state. Defective or incomplete applications 

will be dismissed. Inadvertently accepted applications are also subject to dismissal.

In accordance with 47 CFR § 1.65, applicants have a continuing obligation to advise the Commission, through

amendments, of any substantial and material changes in the information furnished in this application. This 

requirement continues until the FCC action on this application is no longer subject to reconsideration by the 

Commission or review by any court.

This application requires applicants to certify compliance with many statutory and regulatory requirements. 

Detailed instructions and worksheets provide additional information regarding Commission rules and policies. 

These materials are designed to track the standards and criteria that the Commission applies to determine 

compliance and to increase the reliability of applicant certifications. They are not intended to be a substitute for 

familiarity with the Communications Act and the Commission's regulations, policies, and precedent. While 

applicants are required to review all application instructions, they are not required to complete or retain any 

documentation created or collected to complete this application. 

This application is presented primarily in a “Yes/No” certification format. Certain responses will require an 

explanatory attachment. Where an attachment is required, a yellow notice box will open with an appropriate 

notification, such as “Please upload the required information which includes an attachment explaining the 

circumstances.” The notification will include a hyperlink (in this example, the word “upload”). Clicking on the 

hyperlink will take you to the Attachments page. From the Attachments page, you can designate an attachment 

type from the pull-down menu, select the appropriate file to upload (in .pdf, .doc, .txt, or .xls format), and upload 

the file to attach it to your application. 

Each certification constitutes a material representation. Applicants may only mark the “Yes” certification when 

they are certain that the response is correct. A “No” response is required if the applicant is requesting a waiver of 

a pertinent rule and/or policy, or where the applicant is uncertain that the application fully satisfies the pertinent 

rule and/or policy. Thus, a “No” response to any of the certification items will not cause the immediate dismissal 

of the application provided that an appropriate explanatory attachment is submitted.

License Term. Except as specifically noted to the contrary in Schedule 303-S or these instructions, each 

certification covers the entire license term, even if there was a transfer of control. However, if the station 

license was assigned during the subject license term pursuant to a “long-form” application on FCC Form 314 or 

315 (or any successor application forms that the Commission releases), the renewal applicant’s certifications 

should cover only the period during which the renewal applicant held the station’s license.

The applicant must electronically sign the application. The signature will consist of the electronic equivalent 

of the typed name of the individual submitting the application as the applicant or applicant’s authorized 

representative. Depending on the nature of the applicant, the application should be signed as follows: if a sole 

proprietorship, personally; if a partnership, by a general partner; if a corporation, by an officer; for an 

unincorporated association, by a member who is an officer; if a governmental entity, by such duly elected or 

appointed official as is competent under the laws of the particular jurisdiction. Counsel may sign the application 

for his or her client, but only in cases of the applicant’s disability or absence from the United States. In such cases, 

counsel must separately set forth why the application is not signed by the client. In addition, as to any matter stated 

on the basis of belief instead of personal knowledge, counsel shall separately set forth the reasons for believing 

that such statements are true. See 47 CFR § 73.3513. The electronic signature will consist of the electronic 

equivalent of the typed name of the individual. See Report and Order in MM Docket No. 98-43, 13 FCC Rcd 

23056, 23064 (1998), para. 17.
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Parties to the Application. Except as specifically indicated below, as used in this application, the term “party to 

the application” includes any individual or entity whose ownership or positional interest in the applicant is 

attributable. An attributable interest is an ownership interest in or relation to an applicant or licensee which will 

confer on its holder that degree of influence or control over the applicant or licensee sufficient to implicate the 

Commission's multiple ownership rules. Applicants should review the Commission's multiple ownership 

attribution policies and standards, which are set forth in the Notes to 47 CFR § 73.3555. 

Equity/Debt Plus Attribution Standard. Certain interests held by substantial investors in, or creditors of, the 

applicant may also be attributable and the investor reportable as a party to the application, if the interest falls 

within the Commission's equity/debt plus (EDP) attribution standard. Under the EDP standard, the interest held is 

attributable if, aggregating both equity and debt, it exceeds 33 percent of the total asset value (all equity plus all 

debt) of the applicant – a broadcast station licensee, cable television system, daily newspaper or other media outlet 

subject to the Commission’s broadcast multiple ownership or cross-ownership rules – and the interest holder also

holds (1) an attributable interest in a media outlet in the same market, or (2) supplies over 15 percent of the total 

weekly broadcast programming hours of the station in which the interest is held. For example, the equity interest

of an insulated limited partner in a limited partnership applicant would normally not be considered attributable, but

under the EDP standard, that interest would be attributable if the limited partner’s interest exceeded 33 percent of 

the applicant’s total asset value, and the limited partner also held a 5 percent voting interest in a radio or television 

station licensee in the same market.

The interest holder may, however, exceed the 33 percent threshold without triggering attribution where such 

investment would enable an eligible entity to acquire a broadcast station provided that: (1) the combined equity 

and debt of the interest holder in the eligible entity is less than 50 percent, or (2) the total debt of the interest holder

in the eligible entity does not exceed 80 percent of the asset value of the station being acquired by the eligible 

entity and the interest holder does not hold any equity interest, option, or promise to acquire an equity interest in 

the eligible entity or any related entity. See Promoting Diversification of Ownership in the Broadcasting Services, 

23 FCC Rcd 5922, 5936, para. 31 (2008); 2014 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the Commission’s 

Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of

1996, Second Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd 9864, 9976-84, paras. 271-86 (2016) (2014 Quadrennial Review 

Order).

Eligible Entity. The Commission defines an “eligible entity” as any entity that qualifies as a small business 

under the Small Business Administration’s size standards for its industry grouping, as set forth in 13 CFR §§ 

121-201, at the time the transaction is approved by the FCC, and holds: (1) 30 percent or more of the stock or 

partnership interests and more than 50 percent of the voting power of the corporation or partnership that will 

own the media outlet; or (2) 15 percent or more of the stock or partnership interests and more than 50 percent of 

the voting power of the corporation or partnership that will own the media outlet, provided that no other person 

or entity owns or controls more than 25 percent of the outstanding stock or partnership interests; or (3) more 

than 50 percent of the voting power of the corporation that will own the media outlet if such corporation is a 

publicly traded company.

Additionally, “parties to the application” include the following with respect to each of the listed applicant entities:

INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT: The natural person seeking to hold in his or her own right the authorization 

specified in this application.

PARTNERSHIP APPLICANT: Each partner, including all limited partners. However, a limited partner 

in a limited partnership is not considered a party to the application if the limited partner is not materially involved, 

directly or indirectly, in the management or operation of the media-related activities of the partnership. Sufficient 
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insulation of a limited partner for purposes of this certification would be assured if the limited partnership 

arrangement:

(1) specifies that any exempt limited partner (if not a natural person, its directors, officers, partners, 

etc.) cannot act as an employee of the limited partnership if his or her functions, directly or indirectly, relate to the 

media enterprises of the company;

(2) bars any exempt limited partner from serving, in any material capacity, as an independent 

contractor or agent with respect to the partnership's media enterprises;

(3) restricts any exempted limited partner from communicating with the licensee or the general

partner on matters pertaining to the day-to-day operations of its business;

(4) empowers the general partner to veto any admissions of additional general partners admitted by 

vote of the exempt limited partners;

(5) prohibits any exempt limited partner from voting on the removal of a general partner or limits this 

right to situations where the general partner is subject to bankruptcy proceedings, as described in sections 402 (4)-

(5) of the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, is adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent 

jurisdiction, or is removed for cause, as determined by an independent party;

(6) bars any exempt limited partner from performing any services to the limited partnership 

materially relating to its media activities, with the exception of making loans to, or acting as a surety for, the 

business; and

(7) states, in express terms, that any exempt limited partner is prohibited from becoming actively 

involved in the management or operation of the media businesses of the partnership.

Notwithstanding conformance of the partnership agreement to these criteria, however, the requisite certification 

cannot be made if the limited partner’s interest is attributable under the Commission’s EDP attribution standard

described above; or if the applicant has actual knowledge of a material involvement of a limited partner in the 

management or operation of the media-related businesses of the partnership. In the event that the applicant cannot 

certify as to the noninvolvement of a limited partner, the limited partner will be considered as a party to this 

application.

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY APPLICANT: The Commission treats an LLC as a limited 

partnership, each of whose members is considered to be a party to the application. However, where an LLC 

member is insulated in the manner specified above with respect to a limited partnership and where the relevant 

state statute authorizing the LLC permits an LLC member to insulate itself in accordance with the Commission’s 

criteria, that LLC member is not considered a party to the application. In such a case, the applicant should certify 

“Yes” in response to the non-attributable interest question. 

CORPORATE APPLICANT: Each officer, director, and owner of stock accounting for 5 percent or more 

of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the applicant is considered a party to the applicant. Where the 5 

percent stock owner is itself a corporation, each of its stockholders, directors, and “executive” officers (president, 

vice-president, secretary, treasurer, or their equivalents) is considered a party to this application unless the 

applicant submits as an exhibit a statement establishing that an individual director or officer will not exercise 

authority or influence in areas that will affect the applicant or the station. In this statement, the applicant should 

identify the individual by name and title, describe the individual’s duties and responsibilities, and explain the 

manner in which such individual is insulated from the corporate applicant and should not be attributed an interest 
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in the corporate applicant or considered a party to this application. In addition, a person or entity holding an 

ownership interest in the corporate stockholder of the applicant is considered a party to this application only if that 

interest, when multiplied by the corporate stockholder’s interest in the applicant, would account for 5 percent or 

more of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the applicant. For example, where Corporation X owns stock 

accounting for 25 percent of the applicant’s votes, only Corporation X shareholders holding 20 percent or more of 

the issued and outstanding voting stock of Corporation X have a 5 percent or more indirect interest in the applicant 

(.25 x .20 = .05) and, therefore, are considered parties to this application. In applying the multiplier in this context, 

any entity holding more than 50 percent of its subsidiary will be considered a 100 percent owner. Where the 5 

percent stock owner is a partnership, each general partner and any limited partner that is non-insulated, regardless 

of the partnership interest, is considered a party to the application.

Stock subject to stockholder cooperative voting agreements accounting for 50 percent or more of the votes 

in a corporate applicant will be treated as if held by a single entity and any stockholder holding 5 percent or more 

of the stock in that block is considered a party to this application.

An investment company, insurance company or trust department of a bank is not considered a party to this 

application, and an applicant may properly certify that such entity’s interest is non-attributable, if its aggregated 

holding accounts for less than 20 percent of the outstanding votes in the applicant and if: 

(1) such entity exercises no influence or control over the corporation, directly or indirectly; and

(2) such entity has no representatives among the officers and directors of the corporation.

ANY OTHER APPLICANT: Each executive officer, member of the governing board and owner or 

holder of 5 percent or more of the votes in the applicant is considered a party to the applicant.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Application Description: In the space provided, give a brief (255 characters or fewer) description of the 

application. This is to assist you in identifying this discrete application and will be displayed only in your LMS 

Application workspace. It will not be made a part of your application or be displayed to others.

Attachments: Indicate by clicking “Yes” or “No” whether the application includes attachments other than

required attachments. Required attachments are those that must be filed in response to application questions and

may only be required if certain answers are given.

FEES, WAIVERS, AND EXEMPTIONS

Fees: The Commission is statutorily required to collect charges for certain regulatory services to the public. 

Generally, applicants seeking to renew the license for a commercial AM, FM, TV, Class A TV, FM translator, TV 

translator or Low Power TV station are required to submit a fee with the filing of Schedule 303-S. Government 

entities, however, are exempt from this fee requirement. Exempt entities include possessions, states, cities, 

counties, towns, villages, municipal organizations, and political organizations, or subparts thereof, governed by 

elected or appointed officials exercising sovereign direction over communities or governmental programs. Also 

exempted from this fee are licensees of full-service noncommercial educational radio and TV broadcast stations, 

and Low Power FM stations, provided that the proposed facility will be operated noncommercially. (This 

includes licensees of noncommercial educational FM and full service TV broadcast stations seeking renewal of 

the licenses for their translator or low power TV stations, provided those stations operate on a noncommercial 

educational basis.) Low Power TV or TV Translator stations that rebroadcast the programming of a primary 

noncommercial educational station, but are not co-owned by the licensee of such a station, are required to file 
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fees. Renewal applications that earlier obtained either a fee refund because of an NTIA facilities grant for the 

stations or a fee waiver because of demonstrated compliance with the eligibility and service requirements of 47 

CFR § 73.503 or § 73.621, and that continue to operate those stations on a noncommercial basis, are similarly 

exempted from this fee. See 47 CFR § 1.1116. 

When filing a fee-exempt application, an applicant must select “Yes” to the question asking if the applicant is 

exempt from FCC application fees. If selecting “Yes,” explain in the text box the reason for the fee exemption. 

Select “Yes” or “No” to the question asking whether the applicant is exempt from payment of FCC annual 

regulatory fees, as appropriate.

The Application Fee Filing Guide for Media Bureau, obtainable at https://www.fcc.gov/document/media-bureauapplication-fee-filing-guide-1, contains a list of the required fees and Fee Type Codes needed to complete this 

application. The Commission’s fee collection program utilizes a U.S. Treasury lockbox bank for maximum 

efficiency of collection and processing. 

Payment of any required fee must be made by check, bank draft, money order, credit card, or wire transfer. If 

payment is made by check, bank draft, money order, or wire transfer, the remittance must be denominated in U.S. 

dollars, drawn upon a U.S. financial institution, and made payable to the Federal Communications Commission. 

No postdated, altered, or third-party checks will be accepted. DO NOT SEND CASH. Additionally, checks 

dated six months or older will not be accepted.

FCC Form 159, dated February 2003, must be submitted with any application subject to a fee received at the 

Commission. All previous editions of this form are obsolete. Failure to use this version of the form or to submit 

all requested information may delay the processing of the application.

For further information regarding the applicability of a fee, the fee code, the amount of the fee, or the payment of 

the fee, applicants should consult the “Application Fee Filing Guide for Media Bureau,” which may be accessed at 

https://www.fcc.gov/document/media-bureau-application-fee-filing-guide-1 .

Waivers: If any waiver of the Commission’s rules is requested at any part of the application, select “Yes” to this 

question. If selecting “Yes,” complete the box that opens by stating the number of rule sections for which you 

request waiver. You must then submit an attachment setting forth the waiver(s) sought and the legal justification 

for waiver, by clicking the “upload” hyperlink in the notification box that opens, and selecting and uploading the 

explanatory attachment.

APPLICANT INFORMATION

Applicant Name and Type: Select the Applicant Type (e.g., Individual, Unincorporated Association, Trust, 

Government Entity, etc.) from the drop-down menu. In the box below the drop-down menu, enter the exact 

legal name of the applicant or applicant entity. The name of the applicant must be stated exactly in this item. If 

the applicant is a corporation, the applicant should list the exact corporate name; if a partnership, the name under 

which the partnership does business; if an unincorporated association, the name of an executive officer, his/her 

office, and the name of the association; and, if an individual applicant, the person’s full legal name.

Applicant Contact Information: Enter the applicant’s postal address, telephone number, and email address in 

the spaces provided. Select the applicant’s Country and State from the drop-down menus.

CONTACT REPRESENTATIVES
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If the applicant is represented by a third party (such as, for example, legal counsel), that person’s name, firm or 

company, and telephone/email address may be specified as the Contact Representative. Otherwise, a party to the 

application or another person associated with the applicant may be designated as Contact Representative. This is 

the person with whom the Commission will communicate regarding the application. At least one Contact 

Representative must be designated. To add a Contact Representative, click the “Add Contact” button at the top 

right of the screen.

Contact Type: Select the button that best describes the contact type, whether Legal Representative (e.g., 

attorney), Technical Representative (e.g., engineer), or Other.

Contact Name: Enter the name of the Contact Representative. If the Contact Representative is the same as the 

applicant, you can pre-fill the Contact Name and Contact Information fields with the applicant information 

previously provided, by clicking the “Pre-fill From Applicant Details” button.

Contact Information: Enter the Contact Representative’s postal address, telephone number, and email address in 

the spaces provided. If the representative works for a firm or company, enter that name in the Company Name 

space. Select the Contact Representative’s Country and State from the drop-down menus.

If you have more than one Contact Representative, click the “Save & Add Another” button at the bottom of the 

screen and complete for the next Contact Representative. When you are finished, click “Save & Continue.” You 

will be displayed a summary screen listing your Contact Representative(s). From this screen you may delete a 

Contact Representative or edit the information provided. If you have no further Contact Representative 

information to add or edit, click “Save & Continue.”

RENEWAL CERTIFICATIONS

Character Issues/Adverse Findings: The Character Issues question requires the applicant to certify that neither 

it nor any party to the application has had any interest in or connection with an application that was or is the 

subject of unresolved character issues. An applicant must disclose in response to the Adverse Findings question 

whether the applicant or any party to the application has been the subject of a final adverse finding with respect to 

certain relevant non-broadcast matters. The Commission’s character policies and litigation reporting requirements 

for broadcast applicants focus on misconduct that violates the Communications Act or a Commission rule or 

policy, and on certain specified non-FCC misconduct. In responding to these questions, applicants should review 

the Commission’s character qualifications policies, which are fully set forth in Character Qualifications, 102 FCC 

2d 1179 (1985), reconsideration denied, 1 FCC Rcd 421 (1986), as modified, 5 FCC Rcd 3252 (1990) and 7 FCC 

Rcd 6564 (1992).

Note: As used in these questions, the term “party to the application” includes any individual or entity whose 

ownership or positional interest in the applicant is attributable. An attributable interest is an ownership interest in 

or relation to an applicant or licensee which will confer on its holder that degree of influence or control over the 

applicant or licensee sufficient to implicate the Commission’s multiple ownership rules. See Report and Order in 

MM Docket No. 83-46, 97 FCC 2d 997 (1984), reconsideration granted in part, 58 RR 2d 604 (1985), further 

modified on reconsideration, 61 RR 2d 739 (1986).

Character Issues: Where the response to either of the Character Issues questions is “No,” the applicant must

submit an attachment that includes an identification of the party having had the interest, the call letters and location 

of the station or file number of the application or docket, and a description of the nature of the interest or 

connection, including relevant dates. The applicant should also fully explain why the unresolved character issue is 

not an impediment to a grant of this application.
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Adverse Findings: In responding to the Adverse Findings question, the applicant should consider any relevant 

adverse finding. Where that adverse finding was fully disclosed to the Commission in an application filed on 

behalf of this station or in another broadcast station application and the Commission, by specific ruling or by 

subsequent grant of the application, found the adverse finding not to be disqualifying, it need not be reported again 

and the applicant may respond “Yes” to this item. However, an adverse finding that has not been reported to the 

Commission and considered in connection with a prior application would require a “No” response.

Where the response to the Adverse Findings question is “No,” the applicant must provide in an attachment a full 

disclosure of the persons and matters involved, including an identification of the court or administrative body and 

the proceeding (by dates and file numbers), and the disposition of the litigation. Where the requisite information 

has been earlier disclosed in connection with another pending application, or as required by 47 CFR § 1.65(c), the 

applicant need only provide an identification of that previous submission by reference to the file number in the 

case of an application, the call letters of the station regarding which the application or section 1.65 information 

was filed, and the date of filing. The applicant should also fully explain why the adverse finding is not an 

impediment to a grant of this application.

FCC Violations During the Preceding License Term. Section 309(k) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended, 47 U.S.C. § 309(k), states that the Commission shall grant a license renewal application if it finds, 

with respect to that station, during the preceding license term, that: (1) the station has served the public interest, 

convenience, and necessity; (2) there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications 

Act or the Commission’s Rules; and (3) there have been no other violations of the Act or the Commission’s 

Rules, which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. This question asks the applicant to certify 

that, with respect to the station for which a renewal application is being submitted, there were no violations of 

the Communications Act or of the Commission’s Rules. If the renewal applicant has violated the Act or the 

Rules, it must respond “No” and submit an explanatory exhibit detailing the number and nature of the violations 

and any adjudication by the Commission (Notice of Violation, Forfeiture Order, etc.).

For purposes of this license renewal application only, an applicant is required to disclose only violations of the

Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or the Rules of the Commission that occurred at the subject station 

during the license term, as preliminarily or finally determined by the Commission, staff, or a court of competent 

jurisdiction. This includes Notices of Violation, Notices of Apparent Liability, Forfeiture Orders, and other 

specific findings of Act or Rule violations. It does not include “violations” identified by the station itself or in 

conjunction with the station’s participation in an Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. In responding to 

this item, licensees should not submit any information concerning self-discovered or other “violations” that 

have not been identified by the Commission, staff, or court. Licensees are advised that the Commission may

also consider other violations by the station that come to its attention, including as a result of other disclosures 

in this application, in determining whether to grant this license renewal application.

Ownership. All applicants must certify compliance with 47 CFR § 73.3555 with the exception of the following 

classes of stations: Class A television, low power television, TV translators, low power FM (see 47 CFR § 

73.860), and noncommercial educational FM and TV stations. For such classes of stations, the applicant should 

select the “not applicable” option. All other classes of stations must provide a yes/no answer.

On November 20, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated and remanded in its 

entirety the Commission’s 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration. Prometheus Radio 

Project v. FCC, 939 F.3d 567 (3d Cir. 2019), petition for rehearing en banc denied (3d Cir. Nov. 20, 2019) 

(Prometheus); 2014 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules 

and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 et al., Order on 

Reconsideration and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 32 FCC Rcd 9802 (2017) (2010/2014 Quadrennial 

Review Order on Reconsideration). By vacating the 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration, 
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the Prometheus decision reinstates the 2016 media ownership rules as they existed prior to the 2010/2014 

Quadrennial Review Order on Reconsideration. See 2010/2014 Quadrennial Review Order, Second Report and 

Order, 31 FCC Rcd 9864 (2016); see also 2014 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the Commission’s 

Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act 

of 1996 et al., Order, DA 19-1303 (Dec. 20, 2019) (2019 Order). The following rules are currently in effect:

Local radio ownership rule. Commission regulations provide that one entity may own no more than eight 

commercial radio stations in a market with 45 or more stations, with no more than five commercial stations 

operating in the same AM or FM service; or seven commercial stations in markets with 30-44 stations, with no 

more than four commercial stations operating in the same AM or FM service; or six commercial stations in 

markets with 15-29 stations, with no more than four commercial stations operating in the same AM or FM 

service; or five commercial stations in markets with 14 or fewer stations, with no more than three commercial 

stations operating in the same AM or FM service. 

Local television multiple ownership rule. Commission regulations provide that one entity may own two 

television stations in the same Designated Market Area (DMA) if: (1) the digital noise limited service contours 

of the stations do not overlap; or (2) at the time the application to acquire or construct the station is filed, at least 

one of the stations is not ranked among the top four stations in the DMA, and at least eight independently 

owned and operating, full-power commercial and noncommercial TV stations would remain in the post-merger 

DMA. 

Radio/television cross-ownership rule. Commission regulations provide that the rule applies when: (1) the 

predicted or measured 1 mV/m contour of an existing or proposed FM station (computed in accordance with § 

73.313) encompasses the entire community of license of an existing or proposed commonly owned TV 

broadcast station(s), or the principal community contour(s) of the TV broadcast station(s) (computed in

accordance with § 73.625) encompasses the entire community of license of the FM station; or (2) the predicted 

or measured 2 mV/m groundwave contour of an existing or proposed AM station (computed in accordance with 

§ 73.183 or § 73.186), encompasses the entire community of license of an existing or proposed commonly 

owned TV broadcast station(s), or the principal community contour(s) of the TV broadcast station(s) (computed 

in accordance with § 73.625) encompass(es) the entire community of license of the AM station.

If the rule is triggered, an entity may directly or indirectly own, operate, or control up to two commercial TV 

stations (if also permitted by the local television multiple ownership rule) and one commercial radio station. To 

the extent permitted by the local television and local radio multiple ownership rules, an entity may exceed these 

limits as follows:

(i) If at least 20 independently owned media voices would remain in the market post-merger, an 

entity may directly or indirectly own, operate, or control up to: (A) two commercial TV and six 

commercial radio stations; or (B) one commercial TV and seven commercial radio stations. 

(ii) If at least 10 independently owned media voices would remain in the market post-merger, an 

entity may directly or indirectly own, operate, or control up to two commercial TV and four 

commercial radio stations.

For purposes of this rule, independently owned media voices consist of television and radio stations, cable 

systems, and daily newspapers, as articulated in section 73.3555(c).

Newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule. No party (including all parties under common control) may directly 

or indirectly own, operate, or control a daily newspaper and a full-power commercial broadcast station (AM, 

FM, or TV) if: (i) the predicted or measured 2 mV/m groundwave contour of the AM station (computed in 

accordance with § 73.183 or § 73.186) encompasses the entire community in which the newspaper is published 
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and, in areas designated as Nielsen Audio Metro markets, the AM station and the community of publication of 

the newspaper are located in the same Nielsen Audio Metro market; (ii) the predicted or measured 1 mV/m 

contour of the FM station (computed in accordance with § 73.313) encompasses the entire community in which 

the newspaper is published and, in areas designated as Nielsen Audio Metro markets, the FM station and the 

community of publication of the newspaper are located in the same Nielsen Audio Metro market; or (iii) the 

principal community contour of the TV station (computed in accordance with § 73.625) encompasses the entire 

community in which the newspaper is published, and the community of license of the TV station and the 

community of publication of the newspaper are located in the same DMA.

Note: The prohibition regarding a party’s direct or indirect ownership, operation, or control of a daily 

newspaper and a full-power broadcast station does not apply where either the newspaper or television station is 

found to be failed or failing consistent with the Commission’s rules. 

National television multiple ownership rule. No license for a commercial television broadcast station shall be 

granted, transferred, or assigned to any party (including all parties under common control) if the grant, transfer, 

or assignment of such license would result in such party or any of its stockholders, partners, members, officers, 

or directors having a cognizable interest in television stations that have an aggregate national audience reach 

exceeding thirty-nine (39) percent. If the thirty-nine (39) percent national audience reach limitation for 

television stations is exceeded through grant, transfer, or assignment of an additional license for a commercial 

television broadcast station, the person or entity exceeding the limitation shall have not more than two years 

after exceeding such limitation to come into compliance with such limitation. This divesture requirement shall 

not apply to persons or entities that exceed the 39 percent national audience reach limitation through population 

growth. See 47 CFR § 73.3555 for a further explanation of “national audience share.”

Time Brokerage Agreement. A “time brokerage agreement” (also known as a “local marketing agreement”) is 

the sale by a licensee of discrete blocks of time to a “broker” that supplies the programming to fill that time and 

sells the commercial spot announcements in it. Where two stations (either both radio or both television, 

respectively) are both located in the same market (as defined in local radio and television ownership rule), and a 

party (including all parties under common control) with a cognizable interest in one such station brokers more 

than 15 percent of the broadcast time per week of the other such station, that party shall be treated as if it has an 

interest in the brokered station subject to the aforementioned limitations. These limitations shall apply 

regardless of the source of the brokered programming supplied by the party to the brokered station. Every time 

brokerage agreement of the type described above shall be undertaken only pursuant to a signed written 

agreement that shall contain a certification by the licensee or permittee of the brokered station verifying that it 

maintains ultimate control over the station's facilities.

Joint Sales Agreement. A “joint sales agreement” is an agreement with a licensee of a “brokered station” that 

authorizes a “broker” to sell advertising time for the “brokered station.” Where two radio stations, or two 

television stations, are both located in the same market, as defined for purposes of the local radio ownership rule 

or local television rule, respectively, and a party (including all parties under common control) with a cognizable 

interest in one such station sells more than 15 percent of the advertising time per week of the other such station, 

that party shall be treated as if it has an attributable interest in the brokered station for purposes of the 

Commission’s ownership rules. Additionally, every joint sales agreement shall be undertaken only pursuant to 

a signed written agreement that shall contain a certification by the licensee or permittee of the brokered station 

verifying that it maintains ultimate control over the station’s facilities, including, specifically, control over 

station finances, personnel, and programming, and by the brokering station that the agreement complies with the 

limitations set forth in the local radio or local television ownership rule, as applicable.
11

Note: If the Commission has granted the applicant a waiver of, or exception to, the aforementioned ownership 

rules, then the applicant should certify “Yes” and include an attachment evidencing the Commission’s granting 

of the waiver.

Alien Ownership and Control. All applications must comply with section 310 of the Communications Act, as 

amended. Specifically, section 310 proscribes issuance of a construction permit or station license to an alien, a 

representative of an alien, a foreign government or representative thereof, or a corporation organized under the 

laws of a foreign government. This proscription also applies with respect to any entity of which more than 20

percent of the capital stock is owned or voted by aliens, their representatives, a foreign government or its

representative, or an entity organized under the laws of a foreign country. The Commission may also deny a 

construction permit or station license to a licensee directly or indirectly controlled by another entity of which more 

than 25 percent of the capital stock is owned or voted by aliens, their representatives, a foreign government or its 

representative, or another entity organized under the laws of a foreign country. Any such applicant seeking 

Commission consent to exceed this 25 percent benchmark in section 310(b)(4) of the Act must do so by filing a 

petition for declaratory ruling pursuant to 47 CFR §§ 1.5000-04. For more detailed information on identifying and 

calculating foreign interests, see Review of Foreign Ownership Policies for Broadcast, Common Carrier and 

Aeronautical Radio Licensees Under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended, 31 

FCC Rcd 11272, paras. 44-77 (2016).

Non-Discriminatory Advertising Sales Agreements. Applicants for renewal of commercial stations are

required to complete the certification that their advertising agreements do not discriminate on the basis of race 

or ethnicity and that all such agreements contain nondiscrimination clauses. See Promoting Diversification of 

Ownership in the Broadcasting Services, 23 FCC Rcd 5922, 5941-42, para. 50 (2008); see also Third Erratum, 

75 FR 27199 (May 14, 2010). Prohibited discriminatory practices include “no urban/no Spanish” dictates. 

Broadcasters must have a reasonable basis for making this certification. If the response to this certification is 

“No,” the applicant must attach an exhibit explaining the persons and matters involved and why the matter is 

not an impediment to a grant of this application. Applicants for renewal of noncommercial stations should 

answer “not applicable.”
12

FULL POWER TV/CLASS A TV CERTIFICATIONS:

Biennial Ownership Report. This question asks the renewal applicant to certify that it has filed with the

Commission the biennial ownership reports required by 47 CFR § 73.3615. Each licensee of a commercial Full 

Power TV or Class A TV broadcast station shall file an Ownership Report on FCC Form 323 (commercial) 

every two years. The Ownership Report must be filed by December 1 in all odd-numbered years. See 47 CFR 

§ 73.3615(a). Each licensee of a noncommercial educational full power TV broadcast station shall file an 

Ownership Report on FCC Form 323-E (noncommercial) every two years. The Ownership Report must be filed 

by December 1 in all odd-numbered years. See 47 CFR § 73.3615(d).

EEO Program. Each licensee of a Full Power TV or Class A TV broadcast station is required to afford equal

employment opportunity to all qualified persons and to refrain from discrimination in employment and related 

benefits on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. See 47 CFR § 73.2080. All Full Power TV 

and Class A TV broadcast stations must file Form 2100, Schedule 396 – Broadcast EEO Program Report, with 

their license renewal applications. Pursuant to these rule requirements, a license renewal applicant who employs 

five or more full time employees in its station employment unit must maintain an EEO recruitment program in 

addition to ensuring that equal employment opportunity is afforded to all full-time applicants and employees 

without discrimination. An “employment unit” is a station, or a group of commonly owned stations, in the same 

market that share at least one employee. If an applicant employs fewer than five full-time employees in its 

station employment unit as of the date of filing Schedule 396, it does not need to maintain an EEO recruitment 

program but still must refrain from discrimination in its hiring and employment practices. An applicant 

employing fewer than five full-time employees in its station employment unit need only respond “Yes” to the 

station employment unit question under “Full-time Employees,” complete the Certification of Schedule 396, 

and must then file Schedule 396 with the renewal application.

The licensee must first certify that the Broadcast EEO Program Report (Form 2100, Schedule 396) has been

filed with the Commission, pursuant to 47 CFR § 73.2080(f)(1). Schedule 396 must be filed before Schedule

303-S; when Schedule 396 is filed, you will receive a File Number for that Schedule from LMS. When

certifying “Yes” to this item, enter the Schedule 396 File Number in the text box that appears below the item.

Additionally, for employment units employing five or more full-time employees, each licensee must place in the 

station’s public inspection file annually, and post on the station’s website, a Broadcast EEO Public File Report

containing: (1) a list of all full-time vacancies filled during the preceding year, identified by job title; (2) for 

each such vacancy, the recruitment source(s) utilized to fill the vacancy, (including, if applicable, organizations 

entitled to notification pursuant to Section 73.2080(c)(1)(ii), which should be separately identified), identified 

by name, address, contact person, and telephone number; (3) the recruitment source that referred the hiree for 

each full-time vacancy during the preceding year; (4) data reflecting the total number of persons interviewed for 

full-time vacancies during the preceding year and the total number of interviewees referred by each recruitment 

source utilized in connection with such vacancies; and (5) a list and brief description of initiatives undertaken 

pursuant to section 73.2080(c)(2) during the preceding year. Certify that the Broadcast EEO Public File Report 

has been posted on the station’s website by selecting “Yes” to this question.

Online Public Inspection File. Commercial and noncommercial educational Full Power TV and Class A TV

licensees must upload certain documents pertaining to each station in an online public inspection file hosted by 

the FCC at https://publicfiles.fcc.gov. The documents to be maintained generally include applications for a 

construction permit and for license renewal, assignment or transfer of control; ownership and employment 

reports; quarterly lists of the community issues most significantly addressed by the station’s programming 

during the preceding three months; and the station’s political file as specified in 47 CFR § 73.1943. A complete 

listing of the required documents and their mandatory retention periods is set forth in 47 CFR §§ 73.3526 and

73.3527. Applicants that have not so maintained their file should provide an exhibit identifying the items that 
13

are missing/late filed, and list the steps taken to reconstruct missing information, as well as the procedures 

adopted to prevent such problems in the future. 

Children’s Programming Commercial Limitations. Commercial TV and Class A commercial television 

licensees must limit the amount of “commercial matter” in “children’s programming,” which is defined for this 

purpose as programming originally produced and broadcast primarily for an audience of children 12 years of 

age and under. See 47 CFR § 73.670, Notes 1 and 2. The children’s programming commercial limitations 

restrict licensees from airing more than 12 minutes of commercial matter per hour on weekdays during 

children’s programs, and no more than 10.5 minutes of commercials on weekends during children’s programs. 

The limits also apply pro rata to children’s programs which are 5 minutes or more and which are not part of a 

longer block of children’s programming. There are no restrictions on how commercials within the limits are 

configured within an hour’s block of children’s programming, i.e., it is not necessary to prorate the commercial 

limits for separate children’s programs within the hour. See 47 CFR § 73.670(a). The commercial limit rules 

also place restrictions on the placement of website addresses during and adjacent to children’s programming. 

See 47 CFR § 73.670(b). 

If “Yes” is answered, in addition to representing compliance with section 73.670, the applicant is also certifying 

that it has not violated the Commission’s policies on “host-selling” and “program-length commercials.” See

e.g., Policies and Rules concerning Children’s Television Programming, Report and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 2111, 

2117-18, paras. 40-47, modified, in part, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 5093, 5098-99, paras. 

28-34 (establishing the Commission’s policies on program-length children’s commercials); Action for 

Children's Television, Policy Statement, 50 FCC2d 1, 8, 16–17 (1974) (establishing the Commission’s policies

on host-selling). If “No” is answered the applicant must submit as an Exhibit a list of each program or segment 

of programming designed for children 12 years and under broadcast during the license period that contained 

commercial matter in excess of the Commission’s commercial limits and policies. For each programming 

segment so listed, indicate the length of the segment, the amount and/or type of commercial matter contained 

therein, and an explanation of why the commercial limit rules were violated.

Children’s Television Programming Reports. Each commercial TV and Class A TV licensee is required to 

describe in its renewal application its efforts to serve the educational and information needs of children. Each 

commercial TV and Class A TV licensee is required to prepare and electronically file a Children’s Television 

Programming Report on FCC Form 2100, Schedule H (formerly, FCC Form 398) (Children’s Report), setting 

forth the efforts made by the licensee to serve the educational and informational needs of the children. The 

Children’s Report is required to be filed with the Commission and a copy placed in the station’s online public 

inspection file. Children’s Reports were required to be filed on a quarterly basis by the tenth day of the 

preceding calendar quarter (i.e., by April 10 for the first quarterly report; by July 10 for the second quarterly 

report; by October 10 for the third quarterly report; and by January 10 for the fourth quarterly report). 

However, on July 12, 2019, the Commission amended its rules to require that Children’s Reports be filed on an 

annual basis within thirty days following the end of the year, reporting on all children’s programming aired 

during the prior calendar year (January 1 – December 31). See Children’s Television Programming Rules; 

Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, Report and Order, 34 FCC 

Rcd 5822 (2019). The final quarterly Children’s Report was due on October 10, 2019, and reported children’s 

programming aired between July 1, 2019, and September 15, 2019. Pursuant to an extension of time provided 

to all broadcasters, the first annual Children’s Report was due on March 30, 2020, and covered children’s 

programming aired from September 16, 2019, through December 31, 2019. See Media Bureau Announces 

Effective Date and Provides Guidance on Transition Procedures for KidVid Reporting and Compliance with 

Revised Safe Harbor Processing Guidelines, MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, Public Notice, 34 FCC Rcd 

7878 (MB 2019); Media Burau Announces Effective Date of Remaining KidVid Rules, Availability and 

Extension of Time to File the Revised Children’s Television Programming Report in LMS, and Guidance 
14

Concerning the filing of Final Quarterly Commercial Limits Certifications, MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-

105, DA 19-1319 (Dec. 20, 2019).

By answering “Yes” to this question the applicant certifies that all reports were filed as required by the 

Commission’s rules and contain the substantive information required by the Commission’s rules and the 

Children’s Report, as required during the covered period for the Children’s Report (e.g., a Children’s Report 

filed for second quarter of 2017 was filed by April 10, 2017, and contained all required substantive information 

requested by the form and rules in effect between January 1, 2017, and March 30, 2017). If “No” is answered 

the applicant must submit as an Exhibit an explanation identifying the specific reports that were not filed on 

time or are missing from the station’s online public inspection file. 

We note broadcasters are no longer able to amend a previously filed quarterly Children’s Report or file a 

missing quarterly Children’s Report. In order to provide information that would have otherwise been provided 

on a quarterly Children’s Report a licensee must provide the necessary information in the form of an 

explanatory document. Such document must be uploaded to a station’s online public inspection file and placed 

in the “Children’s Reports” section, under the folder entitled “Additional Documents.” Applicants should 

include an exhibit in response to this question noting if any such explanatory document has been uploaded to

the station’s online public inspection file. Applicants may still certify “Yes” to this question and provide an 

exhibit. See Media Bureau Announces That After December 17, 2019, Television Broadcasters Will No Longer 

Be Able to Amend Existing or File New Quarterly Children’s Television Programming Reports, MB Docket 

Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, Public Notice, DA 19-1186 (MB, Nov. 15, 2019).

Core Programming Processing Guidelines. The Children’s Television Act of 1990 (CTA) requires the 

Commission to consider, in reviewing television license renewals, the extent to which the licensee “has served 

the educational and informational needs of children through the licensee’s overall programming, including 

programming specifically designed to serve such needs.” See Children’s Television Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 

101-437, 104 Stat. 996-1000, codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 303a, 303b, 394. The Commission has adopted rules 

implementing the CTA by (1) requiring that programming specifically designed to serve the educational and 

informational needs of children, also known as “Core Programming,” satisfies specific criteria, and (2) 

establishing safe harbor processing guidelines under which the airing of minimum amounts of Core 

Programming will be deemed to demonstrate compliance with the CTA. On July 12, 2019, the Commission 

released a Report and Order modernizing the children’s television programming rules to give broadcasters

greater flexibility in serving the educational and informational needs of children. See Children’s Television 

Programming Rules; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, MB Docket Nos. 18-202 and 17-105, 

Report and Order, 34 FCC Rcd 5822 (2019). As outlined in detail below, the Commission’s revised rules went 

into effect at different times because portions of these rules required OMB approval. 

If an applicant answers “Yes” to this question, it is certifying that it has complied with the Core Programming 

criteria and Core Programming processing guidelines in effect at the time the Core Program was aired. 

Core Programming Criteria and Processing Guidelines Prior to September 16, 2019:

Prior to September 16, 2019, a broadcaster’s compliance with its obligations under the Children’s Television 

Act will be evaluated as follows. See Children’s Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters, 

MM Docket No. 00-167, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 22943 

(2004); Children’s Television Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters, MM Docket No. 00-167, Second 

Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order, 21 FCC Rcd 11065 (2006).

A “Core Program” is educational and informational programming that meets the following criteria:
15

(1) it is serving the educational and informational needs of children ages 16 and under as a significant 

purpose;

(2) it is aired between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;

(3) it is a regularly scheduled weekly program;

(4) it is at least 30 minutes in length;

(5) it is identified as specially designed to educate and inform children by the display on the television 

screen throughout the program of the symbol E/I; 

(6) the educational and informational objective of the program and the target child audience are 

specified in writing in the licensee’s quarterly Children’s Television Programming Report; and

(7) instructions for listing the program as educational and informational, including an indication of the

age group for which the program is intended, are provided to publishers of program guides. 

A licensee that has aired three hours per week (as averaged over a six-month period) of Core Programming will 

be deemed by Commission staff to have satisfied its obligation under the CTA to serve the educational and 

informational needs of children through its programming. Stations that multicast also have an obligation to air 

Core Programming on their multicast streams. Such stations must air an additional 1⁄2 hour per week of Core 

Programming for every increment of 1 to 28 hours of video programming provided on a free multicast stream. 

Stations that multicast may air all of their additional Core Programming on either one free digital video channel 

or distribute it across multiple free digital video channels, at their discretion, as long as the stream on which the 

Core Programming is aired has comparable carriage on MVPDs as the stream triggering the additional Core 

Programming obligation. At least 50% of the Core Programming counted toward meeting the additional 

processing guideline cannot consist of program episodes that aired during the previous week on either the 

station’s primary program stream or one of its free multicast streams.

Core Programming will be counted as preempted only if it was not aired in a fixed substitute time slot of the 

station’s choice (known as a “second home”) with an on-air notification of the schedule change occurring at the 

time of preemption during the previously scheduled time slot. The on-air notification must announce the 

alternate date and time when the preempted show will air. Programming preempted for breaking news will not 

be considered preempted regardless of whether it is rescheduled. 

A licensee will also be eligible for Commission staff approval of its children’s programming showing where the 

licensee sets forth in an exhibit that it has aired an assortment of different types of educational and 

informational programming that, while somewhat less than three hours per week of Core Programming, 

demonstrates a level of commitment to educating and informing children that it is at least equivalent to airing 

three hours per week of Core Programming. 

A licensee that fails to make one of the aforementioned showings will have its renewal application(s) referred to 

the full Commission, where it will have the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the CTA by relying, in 

part, on: (1) any special non-broadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational 

value of such programming to children; and (2) any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support 

programming broadcast by another station in the licensee’s marketplace which is specifically designed to serve 

the educational and informational needs of children.

Core Programming Criteria and Processing Guidelines Starting on September 16, 2019, through January 20, 

2020:

The following revised rules adopted in the 2019 Children’s Programming R&O took effect on September 16, 

2019: sections 73.671(c)(2) (expanded Core Programming hours), 73.671(c)(3) (revisions to regularly 

scheduled weekly programing requirement), 73.671(c)(4) (revisions to requirement that Core Programming be 
16

at least 30 minutes in length), 73.671(d) (revised safe harbor processing guidelines), and 73.671(e)(3) 

(preemption exemption for non-regularly scheduled live programming produced locally by the station).

A “Core Program” is educational and informational programming that meets the following criteria:

(1) it has serving the educational and informational needs of children ages 16 and under as a significant 

purpose;

(2) it is aired between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;

(3) it is a regularly scheduled weekly program, except that a licensee may air a limited amount of 

programming that is not regularly scheduled on a weekly basis, including educational specials and 

regularly scheduled non-weekly programming, and have that programming count as Core 

Programming, as described below (see 47 CFR § 73.671(d)); 

(4) it is at least 30 minutes in length except that a licensee may air a limited amount of short-form 

programming, including public service announcements and interstitials, and have that programming 

count as Core Programming, as described below (see 47 CFR § 73.671(d));

(5) it is identified as specially designed to educate and inform children by the display on the television 

screen throughout the program of the symbol E/I; 

(6) the educational and informational objective of the program and the target child audience are 

specified in writing in the licensee’s quarterly Children’s Television Programming Report; and

(7) instructions for listing the program as educational and informational, including an indication of the

age group for which the program is intended, are provided to publishers of program guides. 

A licensee will be deemed by Commission staff to have satisfied its obligation under the CTA to serve the 

educational and informational needs of children through its programming if it: (1) airs three hours per week (as

averaged over a six-month period) of Core Programming on its main program stream; or (2) airs 156 hours of 

Core Programming annually, including at least 26 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly 

programming that is at least 30 minutes in length and up to 52 hours annually of Core Programs that are not 

aired on a regularly scheduled weekly basis, including programming that is less than 30 minutes in length. A 

station may air up to 13 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly Core Programming of at least 30 

minutes in length on a multicast stream. 

Core Programming will be counted as preempted only if it was not aired in a fixed substitute time slot of the 

station’s choice (known as a “second home”) with an on-air notification of the schedule change occurring at the 

time of preemption during the previously scheduled time slot. The on-air notification must announce the 

alternate date and time when the preempted show will air. Programming preempted for breaking news or nonregularly scheduled, live locally produced programming will not be considered preempted regardless of whether 

the program is rescheduled. 

A licensee that fails to make one of the aforementioned showings will have its renewal application(s) referred to 

the full Commission, where it will have the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the CTA by relying, in

part, on: (1) any special non-broadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational 

value of such programming to children; and (2) any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support 

programming broadcast by another station in the licensee’s marketplace which is specifically designed to serve 

the educational and informational needs of children.

Core Programming Criteria and Processing Guidelines Starting on January 21, 2020:

The following revised rules adopted in the 2019 Children’s Programming R&O took effect on January 21, 

2020: sections 73.671(c)(5) (revised E/I symbol requirements), 73.671(c)(6) (reporting of target age); 
17

73.671(c)(7) and 73.673 (information required to publisher of program guides), and 73.671(e)(1) and (2) 

(revised preemption standards).

A “Core Program” is educational and informational programming that meets the following criteria:

(1) it has serving the educational and informational needs of children ages 16 and under as a significant 

purpose;

(2) it is aired between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;

(3) it is a regularly scheduled weekly program, except that a licensee may air a limited amount of 

programming that is not regularly scheduled on a weekly basis, including educational specials and 

regularly scheduled non-weekly programming, and have that programming count as Core 

Programming, as described below (see 47 CFR § 73.671(d)); 

(4) it is at least 30 minutes in length except that a licensee may air a limited amount of short-form 

programming, including public service announcements and interstitials, and have that programming 

count as Core Programming, as described below (see 47 CFR § 73.671(d));

(5) for commercial broadcast stations only, the program is identified as specifically designed to educate 

and inform children by the display on the television screen throughout the program of the symbol E/I; 

(6) the target child audience is specified in writing in the licensee’s Children’s Television Programming 

Report; and 

(7) instructions for listing the program as educational and informational are provided to publishers of 

program guides. 

A licensee will be deemed by Commission staff to have satisfied its obligation under the CTA to serve the 

educational and informational needs of children through its programming if it: (1) airs three hours per week (as 

averaged over a six-month period) of Core Programming on its main program stream; or (2) airs 156 hours of 

Core Programming annually, including at least 26 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly 

programming that is at least 30 minutes in length and up to 52 hours annually of Core Programs that are not 

aired on a regularly scheduled weekly basis, including programming that is less than 30 minutes in length. A 

station may air up to 13 hours per quarter of regularly scheduled weekly Core Programming of at least 30 

minutes in length on a multicast stream. 

Core Programming scheduled to be aired on a station’s main or multicast stream will be counted as preempted

only if it was not rescheduled to air within seven days before or after the date the episode was originally 

scheduled to air. The broadcast station must make an on-air notification of the schedule change during the same

time slot as the preempted episode. If a station intends to air the rescheduled episode within the seven days 

before the date the episode was originally scheduled to air, the station must provide the on-air notification 

during the same timeslot as the preceding week’s episode of that program. The on-air notification must 

announce the alternate date and time when the preempted show will air. The program must be rescheduled to 

air on the same stream as which it was originally scheduled. Programming preempted for breaking news or 

non-regularly scheduled, live locally produced programming will not be considered preempted regardless of

whether the program is rescheduled. 

A licensee that fails to make one of the aforementioned showings will have its renewal application(s) referred to 

the full Commission, where it will have the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the CTA by relying, in 

part, on: (1) any special non-broadcast efforts by the licensee which enhance the educational and informational 

value of such programming to children; and (2) any special efforts by the licensee to produce or support 

programming broadcast by another station in the licensee’s marketplace which is specifically designed to serve 

the educational and informational needs of children.
18

E/I Symbol. Educational and informational television programming is defined as any television programming 

that furthers the educational and informational needs of children 16 years of age and under in any respect, 

including the child’s intellectual/cognitive or social/emotional needs. An applicant must certify that, in 

accordance with section 73.671(c)(5), it identifies each Core Program using the E/I symbol throughout the 

airing of each program. If “No” is answered the applicant must provide an Exhibit containing a description of 

when the E/I symbol was not displayed and what steps were taken to ensure future compliance. 

For Full Power NCE Licensees Only: Starting on January 21, 2020, noncommercial educational stations are no 

longer required to display the E/I symbol during Core Programming. If “Yes” is answered, a noncommercial 

educational applicant is certifying that it displayed the E/I symbol throughout each Core program aired through 

January 20, 2020. As of January 21, 2020, NCE stations are no longer required to display the E/I symbol. This 

rule change did not change the obligations of commercial TV stations and Class A TV stations (including Class 

A TV stations that only air noncommercial programming).

Notifying Publishers of Program Guides. This question requires the applicant to certify that it provides 

information identifying each Core Program aired on its station to publishers of program guides as required by 

section 73.673. Starting on September 16, 2019, commercial TV and Class A TV broadcast stations (including 

Class A TV stations that are solely airing noncommercial programing) are no longer required to include in the 

information provided to publishers of program guides an indication of the target age range of the Core Program. 

If “Yes” is answered to this question, the applicant certifies that prior to September 16, 2019, it provided to 

publishers of program guides an indication of target age range for the Core Program.

Publicizing Children’s Reports. Through January 20, 2020, section 73.3526(e)(11)(iii) required commercial 

TV and all Class A TV broadcast stations to publicize the existence and location of the station’s Children’s 

Television Programming Reports (FCC Form 2100, Schedule H). If “Yes” is answered to this question the 

applicant is certifying that it complied with this requirement through January 20, 2020. Starting January 21, 

2020, stations were no longer required to publicize the existence and location of their Children’s Television 

Programming Reports.

Children’s Programming Disclosures and Other Efforts. An applicant may provide any other comments or 

information it wishes the Commission to consider in evaluating whether the licensee has met its obligations 

under the Children’s Television Act and the Commission’s children’s television programming rules (see e.g., 47 

CFR §§ 73.3526, 73.671, 73.673). This may include, but is not limited to, information on the sponsorship of 

Core educational/informational programs on other stations in the same market that increases the amount of Core 

educational and informational programming on the station airing the sponsored program, or on any non-Core 

educational and informational programming that the station plans to air, as well as information on any existing 

or proposed non-broadcast activities that the licensee believes enhance the educational and informational value 

of such programming to children.

Continued Class A Eligibility (Class A TV applicants only). On November 29, 1999, the Community 

Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 was signed into law. That legislation provides that a low power television 

licensee may convert the secondary status of its station to the new Class A status, provided it can satisfy certain 

statutorily established criteria. To have been eligible for Class A status , the licensee’s station must, during the 

90-day period ending November 28, 1999, have: (1) broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day; (2) broadcast an

average of at least three hours per week of programming produced within the market area served by the station 

or by a group of commonly-controlled low power television stations; and (3) been in compliance with the 

Commission’s regulations applicable to the low power television service. The legislation provided that a 

licensee obtaining Class A designation shall continue to be accorded primary status as a television broadcaster, 

as long as its station continues to meet the requirements of (1) and (2) above. 
19

A licensee unable to continue to meet the minimum operating requirements for Class A television 

stations, or which elect to revert to low power television status is required to notify the Commission, in 

writing, and request a change in status. See 47 CFR 73.6001(d); In the Matter of Establishment of a Class 

A Television Service, MM Docket No. 00-10, Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, 16 

FCC Rcd 8244, 8257, para. 35 (2001).

Discontinued Operations. Section 312(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 312(g), states that 

if a broadcast station fails to transmit broadcast signals for any consecutive 12-month period, then the station 

license expires automatically, by operation of law, at the end of that 12-month period. The Commission has the

discretion to reinstate a broadcast license that has expired pursuant to section 312(g) to promote “equity and 

fairness,” but has exercised that statutory discretion only when the failure to timely resume broadcasts was for a 

compelling reason beyond the licensee’s control. A station that does cease broadcasting for nearly 12 months 

may not preserve its license by recommencing operation with unauthorized facilities. See Eagle Broadcasting 

Group, Ltd. v. FCC, 563 F.3d 543 (D.C. Cir. 2009). Accordingly, this question requires the licensee to certify 

that the station was not silent for any consecutive 12-month period during the preceding license term. By 

answering “Yes” to this question, the applicant certifies that (1) it was not silent for any consecutive 12-month 

period during the preceding license term; and (2) if the station was silent for any period of time during the 

preceding license term, it resumed broadcasting with authorized facilities before 12 months from the date on 

which that station went silent. If the applicant cannot make this certification, it should answer the question 

“No” and provide an explanatory exhibit. 

Silent Station. The Commission will not renew the license of a station that is not broadcasting. See Birach 

Broadcasting Corporation, 16 FCC Rcd 5015 (2001); 47 U.S.C. § 153(6). Accordingly, this question requires 

the applicant to certify that its commercial AM or FM broadcast station is currently transmitting signals 

intended to be received by the public. An application may not answer “Yes” to this question if the station is 

transmitting only “test signals.”

Note: (i) A noncommercial Full Power TV broadcast station does not have specified minimum hours of 

operation, but the hours of actual operation in a license period shall be taken into account in the analysis of its 

license renewal application (see 47 CFR § 73.1740(b)); (ii) Any other type of Full Power TV or Class A TV 

broadcast station is expected to provide continuous service except where causes beyond its control warrant 

interruption. Where causes beyond the control of the licensee make it impossible to continue operation, the 

station may discontinue operation for a period of 30 days without further authority from the FCC. However, 

notification of the discontinuance must be sent to the FCC in Washington, D.C. no later than 10 days after the 

discontinued operation. Failure to operate for a period of 30 days or more shall be taken into consideration in 

the renewal of the station’s license. See 47 U.S.C. § 309(k); Radioactive, LLC, 32 FCC Rcd 6392 (2017).

Environmental Effects. This question requires the applicant to state whether grant of renewal of license for the 

specified facility would be an action that may have a significant environmental effect under 47 CFR § 1.1306. 

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires all federal agencies to ensure that the human 

environment is given consideration in all agency decision-making. Since January 1, 1986, applications for new 

broadcast stations, modifications of existing stations, and license renewals must contain either an environmental 

assessment that will serve as the basis for further Commission review and action, or an indication that operation of 

the station will not have a significant environmental impact. See 47 CFR § 1.1307(b). In this regard, applicants 

are required to look at eight environmental factors. These factors are relatively self-explanatory, except for the 

evaluation of whether the station adequately protects the public and workers from potentially harmful 

radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields. In addition, if the applicant proposes a new tower that will exceed

450 feet in height, it must submit an Environmental Assessment as described below. 
20

RF Exposure Requirements. In 1996, the Commission adopted new guidelines and procedures for evaluating 

environmental effects of RF emissions. All applications subject to environmental processing filed on or after 

October 15, 1997, must demonstrate compliance with the new requirements. These new guidelines incorporate 

two tiers of exposure limits:

• General population/uncontrolled exposure limits apply to situations in which the general public may be 

exposed or in which persons who are exposed as a consequence of their employment may not be made 

fully aware of the potential for exposure or cannot exercise control over their exposure. Members of the 

general public are always considered under this category when exposure is not employment related.

• Occupational/controlled exposure limits apply to human exposure to RF fields when persons are exposed 

as a consequence of their employment and in which those persons who are exposed have been made fully 

aware of the potential for exposure and can exercise control over their exposure. These limits also apply 

where exposure is of a transient nature as a result of incidental passage through a location where exposure 

levels may be above the general populations/uncontrolled limits as long as the exposed person has been 

made fully aware of the potential for exposure and can exercise control over his or her exposure by 

leaving the area or some other appropriate means.

The new guidelines are explained in more detail in OET Bulletin 65, entitled Evaluating Compliance with FCC 

Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, Edition 97-01, released August 1997, 

and Supplement A: Additional Information for Radio and Television Broadcast Stations (referred to here as “OET 

Bulletin 65” and “Supplement A,” respectively). Both OET Bulletin 65 and Supplement A can be viewed and/or 

downloaded from the FCC Internet site at https://www.fcc.gov/general/radio-frequency-safety-0. Additional

information may be obtained from the RF Safety Group at rfsafety@fcc.gov or (202) 418-2464 or from the FCC 

Call Center at 1-888-CALL FCC (225-5322).

Should the applicant be unable to conclude that its proposal will have no significant impact on the quality of the 

human environment, or if it proposes a new tower exceeding 450 feet in height, it must submit an Environmental 

Assessment containing the following information:

1. A description of the facilities as well as supporting structures and appurtenances, and a description of the 

site as well as the surrounding area and uses. If high-intensity white lighting is proposed or utilized within 

a residential area, the EA must also address the impact of this lighting upon the residents.

2. A statement as to the zoning classification of the site, and communications with, or proceedings before 

and determinations (if any) by zoning, planning, environmental and other local, state, or federal authorities

on matters relating to environmental effects.

3. A statement as to whether construction of the facilities has been a source of controversy on environmental 

grounds in the local community.

4. A discussion of environmental and other considerations that led to the selection of the particular site and, 

if relevant, the particular facility; the nature and extent of any unavoidable adverse environmental effects; 

and any alternative sites or facilities that have been or reasonably might be considered.

5. If relevant, a statement why the site cannot meet the FCC guidelines for RF exposure with respect to the 

public and workers.

Note: Even if the applicant concludes that human RF electromagnetic exposure is consistent with the 

Commission’s guidelines, each site user must also meet requirements with respect to “on-tower” or other exposure 
21

by workers at the site (including RF exposure on one tower caused by sources on another tower or towers). These 

requirements include, but are not limited to, the reduction or cessation of transmitter power when persons have 

access to the site, tower, or antenna. Such procedures must be coordinated among all tower users. See OET 

Bulletin 65 for details. See also 47 CFR § 1.1306.

Adherence to Minimum Operating Schedule. This question requires the applicant to certify that the station 

has not been silent (or operating for less than its prescribed minimum operating hours) for any period of more 

than 30 days. Commercial broadcast stations are required to operate not less than the minimum operating hours 

set forth in 47 CFR § 73.1740. Noncommercial educational Full Power TV stations are not required to operate 

on a regular schedule and no minimum hours of operation are specified, but the hours of actual operation during 

a license period shall be taken into consideration in the renewal of an NCE licensee. A noncommercial 

educational Full Power TV broadcast station is expected to provide continuous service, except where causes

beyond its control warrant interruption. Class A TV stations are required to operate no less than 18 hours in

each day of the week. See 47 CFR § 73.1740(a)(5).

In the event that causes beyond the control of a licensee make it impossible to adhere to its minimum operating 

schedule or to continue operating, the station may limit or discontinue operation for a period of not more than 

30 days without further authority from the FCC. Notification must be sent to the FCC no later than the tenth

day of limited or discontinued operation. See 47 CFR §§ 73.1740(a)(4).

An applicant whose station was silent or broadcasting for less than the prescribed minimum hours for any

period of more than 30 days in the preceding license term must submit an exhibit specifying the exact dates on 

which the station was silent or operating at less than its prescribed minimum operating schedule.

Note: “Broadcasting” means “the dissemination of radio communications intended to be received by the

public.” 47 U.S.C. § 153(6). Accordingly, the transmission of “test signals” does not count toward a station’s 

minimum operating hours. See A-O Broadcasting Corp., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 603, 

609 (2008) (finding that test signals, even if audible to the public, are not broadcast signals).

Adherence to Operational Parameters. This question requires the applicant to certify that during the 

preceding licensee term, the station has operated pursuant to authorized operating parameters, including

pursuant to the terms of its license, special temporary authority, or as otherwise permitted to operate under the 

Commission’s rules. DTV broadcasters must also transmit at least one over-the-air video program signal at no 

direct charge to viewers. See 47 CFR §§ 73.624(b). 

To the extent the applicant’s station is a channel sharing station (sharer or sharee) pursuant with sections 

73.3700(h), 73.3800, and 73.6028 of the Rules (Channel Sharing Rules), the station is also certifying that it is 

operating in compliance with the Channel Sharing Rules, including the Station’s Channel Sharing Agreement

(CSA). See 47 CFR §§ 73.3700(h), 73.3800, and 73.6028. The licensee of an NCE station operating on a 

reserved channel that is a party to a CSA either as a sharee or sharer must continue to comply with the 

requirements of 47 CFR § 73.621.

To the extent the station has converted its facility to ATSC 3.0 pursuant to sections 73.3801 or 73.6029 of the 

Rules (ATSC 3.0 Rules), the applicant certifies it is operating in compliance with the terms of the ATSC 3.0 

Rules, including providing a simulcast signal of its primary ATSC 3.0 video programming steam in an ATSC 

1.0 format and the terms of its Simulcasting Agreement. 47 CFR §§ 73.3801 and 73.6029.

Unless otherwise permitted by the Commission’s rules, a licensee must receive express Commission authority

to operate at variance from its licensed parameters. See e.g., 47 CFR §§ 73.1615, 73.1635, 73.1680. An 

application that certifies “No” to this question must provide an explanatory exhibit. 
22

OTHER BROADCAST STATIONS

Other Broadcast Stations. The renewal application permits the joint renewal of license for an FM translator 

station or TV translator station and its co-owned AM, FM, TV or LPTV station. This question asks if the

renewal application includes one or more FM translator station(s), or TV translator station(s), or LPTV

station(s), in addition to the station(s) listed at the top of this section. Select “Yes” or “No” as appropriate. 

If you select “Yes” to this question, a list will open labeled “Available Stations.” This list will include all FM 

translator stations linked to the FRN used for this application. Click on “Call Sign,” “Facility ID,” 

“Frequency,” “Service,” “City,” or “State” at the top of the list to sort the list by those attributes (clicking a 

second time will toggle between sorting in ascending or descending order).

Select the FM translator station(s) that you wish to renew in this application by clicking on those station(s) in 

the list. To select all stations, click the “All” box at the top of the list. The station(s) selected will appear in the 

list to the right of the “Available Stations” list, labeled “Selected Stations,” which may be sorted by call sign. 

To remove any station(s) erroneously added to the “Selected Stations” list, click on the station(s) you wish to 

remove and then click the “Remove” button at the top of the list.

When the “Selected Stations” list includes all FM translator stations that you wish to renew in this application, 

click the “Save & Continue” button at the bottom of the screen to continue to the FM Translator Certifications 

section.

TV TRANSLATOR AND LOW POWER TV LICENSEES CERTIFICATIONS

Silent Station. The Commission will not renew the license of a station that is not broadcasting. See Birach 

Broadcasting Corporation, 16 FCC Rcd 5015 (2001); 47 U.S.C. § 153(6). Accordingly, this certification

requires the applicant to certify that its TV translator or LPTV station is currently transmitting signals intended 

to be received by the public. An application may not answer “Yes” to this question if the station is transmitting 

only “test signals.”

Note: A TV translator or LPTV station is not required to adhere to any regular schedule of operation, however

the licensee of a TV Translator is expected to provide service to the extent that such is within its control and to 

avoid unwarranted interruptions in the service provided. See 47 CFR §§ 74.763. Where causes beyond the 

control of the licensee make it impossible to continue operation, the station may discontinue operation for a 

period of 30 days without further authority from the FCC. However, notification of the discontinuance must be 

sent to the FCC in Washington, D.C. no later than 10 days after the discontinued operation. See 47 CFR §

73.1635. Failure to operate for a period of 30 days or more shall be taken into consideration in the renewal of 

the station’s license. See 47 U.S.C. § 309(k); Radioactive, LLC, 32 FCC Rcd 6392 (2017).

Rebroadcast Status. Section 325(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, prohibits the 

rebroadcast of the programs of a broadcast station without the express authority of the originating station. 

Where the renewal applicant is not the licensee of the originating station, written authority must be obtained 

prior to any rebroadcasting. Also, where the licensee has changed the station being rebroadcast, written 

notification must be made to the Commission in accordance with 47 CFR § 74.784. TV translator or LPTV

station licensees that rebroadcast a primary station should respond “Yes” and identify the station(s) being 

rebroadcast. Identify the station being rebroadcast by entering its Facility ID Number in the “Facility ID” field.

This will populate the table below with the station information. Additional stations can be added by clicking the 

“Add Station” button. Television Facility ID Numbers can be obtained at the FCC's Licensing and Management 
23

System (LMS) Search Page at https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilitySearch.html or

by calling (202) 418-2700.

Rebroadcast Consent. This question requires an TV translator or LPTV station licensee to certify that it has 

obtained written authority from the licensee of the primary station (identified above) for retransmitting the 

primary station’s programming. See 47 CFR § 74.784(b). When the primary station is co-owned, the applicant 

also should answer “Yes” to this question.

EEO Program. Each licensee of a Full Power TV or Class A TV broadcast station is required to afford equal 

employment opportunity to all qualified persons and to refrain from discrimination in employment and related 

benefits on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex. See 47 CFR § 73.2080. All Full Power TV and 

Class A TV broadcast stations must file Form 2100, Schedule 396 – Broadcast EEO Program Report, with their 

license renewal applications. Pursuant to these rule requirements, a license renewal applicant who employs five 

or more full time employees in its station employment unit must maintain an EEO recruitment program in 

addition to ensuring that equal employment opportunity is afforded to all full-time applicants and employees 

without discrimination. An “employment unit” is a station, or a group of commonly owned stations in the same 

market that share at least one employee. If an applicant employs fewer than five full-time employees in its 

station employment unit as of the date of filing Schedule 396, it does not need to maintain an EEO recruitment 

program but still must refrain from discrimination in its hiring and employment practices. An applicant 

employing fewer than five full-time employees in its station employment unit need only respond “Yes” to the 

station employment unit question under “Full-time Employees,” complete the Certification of Schedule 396, 

and must then file Schedule 396 with the renewal application.

The licensee must first certify that the Broadcast EEO Program Report (Form 2100, Schedule 396) has been

filed with the Commission, pursuant to 47 CFR § 73.2080(f)(1). Schedule 396 must be filed before Schedule

303-S; when Schedule 396 is filed, you will receive a File Number for that Schedule from LMS. When

certifying “Yes” to this question, enter the Schedule 396 File Number in the text box that appears below the 

item.

Additionally, for employment units employing five or more full-time employees, each licensee must place in the 

station’s public inspection file annually, and post on the station’s website, a Broadcast EEO Public File Report

containing: (1) a list of all full-time vacancies filled during the preceding year, identified by job title; (2) for 

each such vacancy, the recruitment source(s) utilized to fill the vacancy, (including, if applicable, organizations 

entitled to notification pursuant to Section 73.2080(c)(1)(ii), which should be separately identified), identified 

by name, address, contact person, and telephone number; (3) the recruitment source that referred the hiree for 

each full-time vacancy during the preceding year; (4) data reflecting the total number of persons interviewed for 

full-time vacancies during the preceding year and the total number of interviewees referred by each recruitment

source utilized in connection with such vacancies; and (5) a list and brief description of initiatives undertaken 

pursuant to Section 73.2080(c)(2) during the preceding year. Certify that the Broadcast EEO Public File Report 

has been posted on the station’s website by selecting “Yes” to this certification.

Environmental Effects. This question requires that the applicant certify that the TV translator or LPTV station

complies with the Commission’s maximum permissible radiofrequency electromagnetic exposure limits for 

controlled and uncontrolled environments. In the event there has been no material change in a TV translator or

LPTV station’s RF environment since the station last received a grant of a license application or a license 

renewal application, the licensee may certify its compliance with RF exposure limits based on the information 

submitted with such application. In the event that there has been a material change in the TV translator or

LPTV station’s RF environment since such application was granted, the licensee should follow the instructions 

below. 
24

Note: Licensees are reminded that the Commission retains the authority to revoke any station or translator

station license for a licensee’s failure to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, the 

National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, or other environmental statute, regulation, or 

directive at the time it sought authorization for the original construction or modification of its broadcast 

facilities. 47 U.S.C. § 312(a)(2) (authorizing the revocation of a station license “because of conditions coming 

to the attention of the Commission which would warrant it in refusing to grant a license or permit on an original 

application . . . .”). See also FCC Form 2100, Schedule 301 Instructions, “Environmental Effects” section.

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires all federal agencies to ensure that the human 

environment is given consideration in all agency decision-making. Since January 1, 1986, applications for new 

broadcast stations, modifications of existing stations, and license renewals must contain either an environmental 

assessment that will serve as the basis for further Commission review and action, or an indication that operation of

the station will not have a significant environmental impact. See 47 CFR § 1.1307(b). In this regard, applicants 

are required to look at eight environmental factors. These factors are relatively self-explanatory, except for the 

evaluation of whether the station adequately protects the public and workers from potentially harmful 

radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields. In addition, if the applicant proposes a new tower that will exceed

450 feet in height, it must submit an Environmental Assessment as described below. 

RF Exposure Requirements. In 1996, the Commission adopted new guidelines and procedures for evaluating 

environmental effects of RF emissions. All applications subject to environmental processing filed on or after 

October 15, 1997, must demonstrate compliance with the new requirements. These new guidelines incorporate 

two tiers of exposure limits:

• General population/uncontrolled exposure limits apply to situations in which the general public may be 

exposed or in which persons who are exposed as a consequence of their employment may not be made 

fully aware of the potential for exposure or cannot exercise control over their exposure. Members of the 

general public are always considered under this category when exposure is not employment-related.

• Occupational/controlled exposure limits apply to human exposure to RF fields when persons are exposed

as a consequence of their employment and in which those persons who are exposed have been made fully 

aware of the potential for exposure and can exercise control over their exposure. These limits also apply 

where exposure is of a transient nature as a result of incidental passage through a location where exposure 

levels may be above the general populations/uncontrolled limits as long as the exposed person has been 

made fully aware of the potential for exposure and can exercise control over his or her exposure by

leaving the area or some other appropriate means.

The new guidelines are explained in more detail in OET Bulletin 65, entitled Evaluating Compliance with FCC 

Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields, Edition 97-01, released August 1997, 

and Supplement A: Additional Information for Radio and Television Broadcast Stations (referred to here as “OET 

Bulletin 65” and “Supplement A,” respectively). Both OET Bulletin 65 and Supplement A can be viewed and/or 

downloaded from the FCC Internet site at https://www.fcc.gov/general/radio-frequency-safety-0. Additional

information may be obtained from the RF Safety Group at rfsafety@fcc.gov or (202) 418-2464 or from the FCC 

Call Center at 1-888-CALL FCC (225-5322).

Should the applicant be unable to conclude that its proposal will have no significant impact on the quality of the 

human environment, or if it proposes a new tower exceeding 450 feet in height, it must submit an Environmental 

Assessment containing the following information:
25

1. A description of the facilities as well as supporting structures and appurtenances, and a description of the

site as well as the surrounding area and uses. If high-intensity white lighting is proposed or utilized within 

a residential area, the EA must also address the impact of this lighting upon the residents.

2. A statement as to the zoning classification of the site, and communications with, or proceedings before 

and determinations (if any) by zoning, planning, environmental and other local, state, or federal authorities 

on matters relating to environmental effects.

3. A statement as to whether construction of the facilities has been a source of controversy on environmental

grounds in the local community.

4. A discussion of environmental and other considerations that led to the selection of the particular site and,

if relevant, the particular facility; the nature and extent of any unavoidable adverse environmental effects;

and any alternative sites or facilities that have been or reasonably might be considered.

5. If relevant, a statement why the site cannot meet the FCC guidelines for RF exposure with respect to the 

public and workers.

Note: Even if the applicant concludes that human RF electromagnetic exposure is consistent with the 

Commission’s guidelines, each site user must also meet requirements with respect to “on-tower” or other exposure 

by workers at the site (including RF exposure on one tower caused by sources on another tower or towers). These 

requirements include, but are not limited to, the reduction or cessation of transmitter power when persons have

access to the site, tower, or antenna. Such procedures must be coordinated among all tower users. See OET 

Bulletin 65 for details. See also 47 CFR § 1.1306.

Biennial Ownership Report. This question asks the renewal applicant to certify that it has filed with the 

Commission the biennial ownership reports required by 47 CFR § 73.3615. Each licensee of a commercial AM,

FM, or TV broadcast station shall file an Ownership Report on FCC Form 323 (commercial) every two years. 

The Ownership Report must be filed by December 1 in all odd-numbered years. See 47 CFR § 73.3615(a). 

Each licensee of a noncommercial educational AM, FM, or TV broadcast station shall file an Ownership Report 

on FCC Form 323-E (noncommercial) every two years. The Ownership Report must be filed by December 1 in 

all odd-numbered years. See 47 CFR § 73.3615(d).

Discontinued Operations. Section 312(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C. § 312(g), states that 

if a broadcast station fails to transmit broadcast signals for any consecutive 12-month period, then the station 

license expires automatically, by operation of law, at the end of that 12-month period. The Commission has the 

discretion to reinstate a broadcast license that has expired pursuant to section 312(g) to promote “equity and 

fairness,” but has exercised that statutory discretion only when the failure to timely resume broadcasts was for a 

compelling reason beyond the licensee’s control. A station that does cease broadcasting for nearly 12 months 

may not preserve its license by recommencing operation with unauthorized facilities. See Eagle Broadcasting 

Group, Ltd. v. FCC, 563 F.3d 543 (D.C. Cir. 2009). Accordingly, this question requires the licensee to certify 

that the station was not silent for any consecutive 12-month period during the preceding license term. By 

answering “Yes” to this question, the applicant certifies that (1) it was not silent for any consecutive 12-month 

period during the preceding license term; and (2) if the station was silent for any period of time during the 

preceding license term, it resumed broadcasting with authorized facilities before 12 months from the date on 

which that station went silent. If the applicant cannot make this certification, it should answer the question “No” 

and provide an explanatory exhibit. 

Adherence to Minimum Operating Schedule. This question requires the applicant to certify that the station 

has not been silent (or operating for less than its prescribed minimum operating hours) for any period of more 
26

than 30 days. Commercial broadcast stations are required to operate not less than the minimum operating hours 

set forth in 47 CFR § 73.1740. Noncommercial educational Full Power TV stations are not required to operate

on a regular schedule and no minimum hours of operation are specified, but the hours of actual operation during 

a license period shall be taken into consideration in the renewal of an NCE licensee. A noncommercial 

educational Full Power TV broadcast station is expected to provide continuous service, except where causes 

beyond its control warrant interruption. Class A TV stations are required to operate no less than 18 hours in 

each day of the week. See 47 CFR § 73.1740(a)(5).

In the event that causes beyond the control of a licensee make it impossible to adhere to its minimum operating

schedule or to continue operating, the station may limit or discontinue operation for a period of not more than 

30 days without further authority from the FCC. Notification must be sent to the FCC no later than the 10th day 

of limited or discontinued operation. See 47 CFR §§ 73.1740(a)(4).

An applicant whose station was silent or broadcasting for less than the prescribed minimum hours for any

period of more than 30 days in the preceding license term must submit an exhibit specifying the exact dates on 

which the station was silent or operating at less than its prescribed minimum operating schedule.

Note: “Broadcasting” means “the dissemination of radio communications intended to be received by the

public.” 47 U.S.C. § 153(6). Accordingly, the transmission of “test signals” does not count toward a station’s 

minimum operating hours. See A-O Broadcasting Corp., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 603, 

609 (2008) (finding that test signals, even if audible to the public, are not broadcast signals).

Adherence to Operational Parameters. This question requires the applicant to certify that during the 

preceding licensee term, the station has operated pursuant to authorized operating parameters, including

pursuant to the terms of its license, special temporary authority, or as otherwise permitted to operate under the 

Commission’s rules. DTV broadcasters must also transmit at least one over-the-air video program signal at no 

direct charge to viewers. See 47 CFR §§ 73.624(b). 

To the extent the applicant’s station is a channel sharing station (sharer or sharee) pursuant with sections 

73.3700(h), 73.3800, and 73.6028 of the Rules (Channel Sharing Rules), the station is also certifying that it is 

operating in compliance with the Channel Sharing Rules, including the Station’s Channel Sharing Agreement

(CSA). See 47 CFR §§ 73.3700(h), 73.3800, and 73.6028. The licensee of an NCE station operating on a 

reserved channel that is a party to a CSA either as a sharee or sharer must continue to comply with the 

requirements of 47 CFR § 73.621.

To the extent the station has converted its facility to ATSC 3.0 pursuant to sections 73.3801 or 73.6029 of the 

Rules (ATSC 3.0 Rules), the applicant certifies it is operating in compliance with the terms of the ATSC 3.0 

Rules, including providing a simulcast signal of its primary ATSC 3.0 video programming stream in an ATSC 

1.0 format and the terms of its Simulcasting Agreement. 47 CFR §§ 73.3801, 73.6029.

Unless otherwise permitted by the Commission’s rules, a licensee must receive express Commission authority

to operate at variance from its licensed parameters. See e.g., 47 CFR §§ 73.1615, 73.1635, 73.1680. An 

application that certifies “No” to this question must provide an explanatory exhibit. 

CERTIFICATION

General Certification Statements: Each applicant waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or of 

the electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the previous use of

such frequency(ies) or spectrum, whether by authorization or otherwise.
27

Each applicant is responsible for the information that the application instructions convey. As a key element in the 

Commission’s streamlined licensing process, a certification is required that these materials have been reviewed 

and that each question response is based on the applicant’s review.

This question also requires the applicant to certify that neither it nor any party to the application is subject to denial 

of federal benefits pursuant to section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. § 862. 

Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 provides federal and state court judges the discretion to deny 

federal benefits to individuals convicted of offenses consisting of the distribution or possession of controlled 

substances. Federal benefits within the scope of the statute include FCC authorizations. The applicant, by 

electronically signing the application, certifies that neither it nor any party to this application has been convicted of 

such an offense or, if it has, it is not ineligible to receive the authorization sought by this application because of 

section 5301.

Note: With respect to this certification, the term “party to the application” includes, if the applicant is an 

individual, that individual; if the applicant is a corporation or unincorporated association, all officers, directors, or 

persons holding five percent or more of the outstanding stock or shares (voting and/or non-voting) of the applicant;

all members if a membership association; and if the applicant is a partnership, all general partners and all limited

partners, including both insulated and non-insulated limited partners, holding a five percent or more interest in the 

partnership. See 47 CFR § 1.2002(b)-(c).

Authorized Party to Sign: The applicant must electronically sign the application. Depending on the nature of 

the applicant, the application should be signed as follows: if a sole proprietorship, personally; if a partnership, by a 

general partner; if a corporation, by an officer; for an unincorporated association, by a member who is an officer; if

a governmental entity, by such duly elected or appointed official as is competent under the laws of the particular 

jurisdiction. Counsel may sign the application for his or her client, but only in cases of the applicant’s disability or 

absence from the United States. In such cases, counsel must separately set forth why the application is not signed 

by the client. In addition, as to any matter stated on the basis of belief instead of personal knowledge, counsel shall 

separately set forth the reasons for believing that such statements are true. See 47 CFR § 73.3513. The electronic

signature will consist of the electronic equivalent of the typed name of the individual. See Report and Order in 

MM Docket No. 98-43, 13 FCC Rcd 23056, 23064 (1998), para. 17.

The applicant must also check the box to certify that it has submitted with the application all required and relevant 

attachments.

Click the “Submit Application” button to submit the application. The application is not considered to be 

submitted unless and until you click the “Submit Application” button.

FCC NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

If you do not provide the information requested on this form, the application may be returned without action 

having been taken upon it or its processing may be delayed while a request is made to provide the missing 

information. Your response is required to obtain the requested authorization.

We have estimated that each response to this collection of information will take from 1.25 to 12 hours. Our 

estimate includes the time to read the instructions, look through existing records, gather and maintain the 

required data, and actually complete and review the form or response. If you have any comments on this burden 

estimate, or on how we can improve the collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please e-mail them to 

pra@fcc.gov or send them to the Federal Communications Commission, AMD-PERM, Paperwork Reduction 

Project (3060-0110), Washington, DC 20554. Please DO NOT SEND COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO 
28

THIS ADDRESS. Remember - you are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the 

Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a 

currently valid OMB control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice. This collection has been 

assigned an OMB control number of 3060-0110.

THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995, P.L. 

104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507.