January 10
Quarterly Issues/Programs List Required—All full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A
television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date the Quarterly Issues/Programs List
covering the period October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
Certification of Children’s Commercial Time Limitations Required—Commercial full-power and Class
A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date records “sufficient to verify
compliance” with the FCC’s commercial time limitations in children’s programming broadcast during the
period October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. As of the date of this publication, these records are
not required to be filed with the FCC.
FCC Form 398 Children’s Programming Report Due—Commercial full-power and Class A television
stations must by this date electronically file FCC Form 398 demonstrating their responsiveness to “the
educational and informational needs of children” for the period October 1, 2010 through December 31,
2010, and place the form as filed in the station’s public inspection file.
FCC Form 388 DTV Consumer Education Report Due—All full-power television stations that have not
yet completed construction and commenced operation of their final post-transition DTV facilities must by
this date electronically file FCC Form 388 demonstrating their compliance with DTV consumer education
initiative requirements for the period October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. The form as filed must
also be placed in the station’s public inspection file and posted to the station’s website (if it has one) by this
date.
Class A Television Continuing Eligibility Certification—Class A television stations are required to
maintain documentation in their public inspection files sufficient to demonstrate continuing compliance with
the FCC’s Class A eligibility requirements. We recommend that by this date Class A television stations
generate such documentation for the period October 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010 and place it in
their public inspection files.
January 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account Forms
Due—Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and online simulcasters must file Monthly Report of
Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms for the month ending November 30, 2010.
January 31
Copyright Royalty Fee – Annual Minimum Fee Statement of Account Form Due—By this date, most
commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet
must submit the Minimum Fee Statement of Account Form and the annual $500 copyright royalty fee to
SoundExchange. January 31 is also the date by which certain webcasters and simulcasters are eligible to
make elections affecting their royalty rates and reporting requirements for one or more of the upcoming
years. If your radio broadcast station is simulcast or rebroadcast over the Internet, we encourage you to
consult qualified counsel with regard to your obligations.
Advisory Washington, DC
4
February 1
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma must by
this date place in their public inspection files (and post on their station website, if there is one), a report
regarding station compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule during the period February 1, 2010 through
January 31, 2011. A more detailed review of station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an
effective EEO program can be found in our most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 397 EEO Mid-Term Report Due—SEUs comprised of television stations licensed to
communities in New Jersey and New York, regardless of staff size, must by this date electronically file
with the FCC the FCC Form 397 Broadcast Mid-Term Report and place the form as filed in the stations’
public inspection files. Television SEUs with five or more full-time employees are required also to submit
copies of the SEU’s two most recent Annual EEO Public File Reports with their 397 filing. Affected SEUs
that have been the subject of a prior FCC EEO audit are not exempt from this Form 397 filing requirement.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma and noncommercial television stations licensed to
communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and New York (other than sole
proprietorships or partnerships composed entirely of natural persons) must electronically file by this date
their biennial ownership reports on FCC Form 323-E, unless they have consolidated this filing date with
that of other commonly owned stations licensed to communities in other states. FCC Form 323-E does not
require a filing fee. The form as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
February 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form and Quarterly Report of Use
Form Due—Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over
the Internet must by this date submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account
forms to SoundExchange for the month ending December 31, 2010.
March 17
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending January 31, 2011.
April 1
Pre-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia must on this date begin to air their pre-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with
the FCC’s regulations.
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas must by this date place in their
Advisory Washington, DC
5
public inspection files (and post on their station website, if there is one), a report regarding station
compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule during the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011. A more
detailed review of station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program can
be found in our most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 397 EEO Mid-Term Report Due—SEUs comprised of television stations licensed to
communities in Delaware and Pennsylvania, regardless of staff size, must by this date electronically file
with the FCC the FCC Form 397 Broadcast Mid-Term Report and place the form as filed in the stations’
public inspection files. Television SEUs with five or more full-time employees are required also to submit
copies of the SEU’s two most recent Annual EEO Public File Reports with their 397 filing. Affected SEUs
that have been the subject of a prior FCC EEO audit are not exempt from this Form 397 filing requirement.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in Texas and noncommercial television stations licensed to communities in Delaware,
Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee (other than sole proprietorships or partnerships
composed entirely of natural persons) must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports
on FCC Form 323-E, unless they have consolidated this filing date with that of other commonly owned
stations licensed to communities in other states. FCC Form 323-E does not require a filing fee. The form
as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
April 10
Quarterly Issues/Programs List Required—All full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A
television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date the Quarterly Issues/Programs List
covering the period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011.
Certification of Children’s Commercial Time Limitations Required—Commercial full-power and Class
A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date records “sufficient to verify
compliance” with the FCC’s commercial time limitations in children’s programming broadcast during the
period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011. As of the date of this publication, these records are not
required to be filed with the FCC.
FCC Form 398 Children’s Programming Report Due—Commercial full-power and Class A television
stations must by this date electronically file FCC Form 398 demonstrating their responsiveness to “the
educational and informational needs of children” for the period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011,
and place the form as filed in the stations’ public inspection files.
FCC Form 388 DTV Consumer Education Report Due—All full-power television stations that have not
yet completed construction and commenced operation of their final post-transition DTV facilities must
electronically file by this date FCC Form 388 demonstrating their compliance with DTV consumer
education initiative requirements for the period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011. The form as filed
must also be placed in the station’s public inspection file and posted to the station’s website (if it has one)
by this date.
Class A Television Continuing Eligibility Certification—Class A television stations are required to
maintain documentation in their public inspection files sufficient to demonstrate continuing compliance with
the FCC’s Class A eligibility requirements. We recommend that by this date Class A television stations
generate such documentation for the period January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011 and place it in their
public inspection files.
Advisory Washington, DC
6
April 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending February 28, 2011.
May 15
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form and Quarterly Report of Use
Form Due—Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over
the Internet must submit by this date the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account
forms to SoundExchange for the month ending March 31, 2011.
June 1
Filing of Applications for Renewal of Licenses for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations, as well as FM Translator stations, licensed to communities in the District of Columbia,
Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia must electronically file their applications for renewal of license on
FCC Form 303-S, along with their Equal Opportunity Employment Reports on FCC Form 396 and their
FCC filing fee by this date. FCC Forms 303-S and 396 as filed must be placed in stations’ public
inspection files.
Post-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia must begin on this date to air their post-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with
the FCC’s regulations. FM Translator stations licensed to communities in these states must arrange for
the required newspaper public notice of their license renewal application filing.
Pre-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM broadcast
radio stations licensed to communities in North Carolina and South Carolina must on this date begin to
air their pre-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations.
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Utah,
Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming must by this date place in their public inspection files (and post on
their station website, if there is one), a report regarding station compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule
during the period June 1, 2010 through May 30, 2011. A more detailed review of station EEO obligations
and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program can be found in our most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah,
Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming and noncommercial television stations licensed to communities in
Michigan and Ohio (other than sole proprietorships or partnerships composed entirely of natural persons)
must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports on FCC Form 323-E, unless they have
consolidated this filing date with that of other commonly owned stations licensed to communities in other
states. FCC Form 323-E does not require a filing fee. The form as filed must be placed in stations’ public
inspection files.
Advisory Washington, DC
7
June 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit to SoundExchange the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms for
the month ending April 30, 2011.
July
Regulatory Fees Announced—The FCC is expected to release a Public Notice this month indicating the
dates by which annual regulatory fees must be filed with the FCC and the amounts of those fees.
Broadcasters should be alert to this announcement.
July 10
Quarterly Issues/Programs List Required—All full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A
television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date the Quarterly Issues/Programs List
covering the period April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011.
Certification of Children’s Commercial Time Limitations Required—Commercial full-power and Class
A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date records “sufficient to verify
compliance” with the FCC’s commercial time limitations in children’s programming broadcast during the
period April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. As of the date of this publication, these records are not
required to be filed with the FCC.
FCC Form 398 Children’s Programming Report Due—Commercial full-power and Class A television
stations must by this date electronically file FCC Form 398, demonstrating their responsiveness to “the
educational and informational needs of children” for the period April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011, and
place the form as filed in the stations’ public inspection files.
FCC Form 388 DTV Consumer Education Report Due—All full-power television stations that have not
yet completed construction and commenced operation of their final post-transition DTV facilities must
electronically file by this date FCC Form 388 demonstrating their compliance with DTV consumer
education initiative requirements for the period April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. The form as filed
must also be placed in the station’s public inspection file and posted to the station’s website (if it has one)
by this date.
Class A Television Continuing Eligibility Certification—Class A television stations are required to
maintain documentation in their public inspection files sufficient to demonstrate continuing compliance with
the FCC’s Class A eligibility requirements. We recommend that by this date Class A television stations
generate such documentation for the period April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 and place it in their public
inspection files.
July 15
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending May 31, 2011.
Advisory Washington, DC
8
July 31
Copyright Royalty Claims Due—Television stations with locally-produced programming whose signals
were carried as distant signals by at least one cable system in 2010, and television stations with locallyproduced
programming whose signals were carried by at least one satellite carrier for home viewing in
2010, are eligible to file royalty claims for compensation with the Copyright Office in Washington, DC by
this date. Under the federal Copyright Act, cable systems and satellite operators must pay “compulsory
license” royalties to carry TV signals on their systems. The royalties are used to compensate the owners
of copyrighted works broadcast on those signals. After the royalties are collected from cable systems and
satellite operators, and claims are filed, proceedings are held by the Copyright Office to divide the royalties
among the copyright owner groups who claim shares of the royalty fund. The annual royalty fund for cable
exceeds $100 million, and the annual royalty fund for satellite exceeds $60 million. Stations that do not file
claims by the deadline will not be able to collect royalties for carriage of their signals during 2010.
August 1
Filing of Applications for Renewal of Licenses for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations, as well as FM Translator stations, licensed to communities in North Carolina and
South Carolina must electronically file their applications for renewal of license on FCC Form 303-S, along
with their Equal Opportunity Employment Reports on FCC Form 396 and their FCC filing fee by this date.
FCC Forms 303-S and 396 as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
Post-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in North Carolina and South Carolina must begin on this
date to air their post-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations. FM
Translator stations licensed to communities in these states must arrange for the required newspaper public
notice of their license renewal application filing.
Pre-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM broadcast
radio stations licensed to communities in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands must begin on this
date to air their pre-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations.
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
California, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin must by this date place in their
public inspection files (and post on their station website, if there is one), a report regarding station
compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule during the period August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2011. A more
detailed review of station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program can
be found in our most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina and noncommercial television stations
licensed to communities in Illinois and Wisconsin (other than sole proprietorships or partnerships
composed entirely of natural persons) must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports
on FCC Form 323-E, unless they have consolidated this filing date with that of other commonly owned
stations licensed to communities in other states. FCC Form 323-E does not require a filing fee. The form
as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
Advisory Washington, DC
9
August 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form and Quarterly Report of Use
Form Due—Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over
the Internet must by this date submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account
forms to SoundExchange for the month ending June 30, 2011.
September 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending July 31, 2011.
September 30
EEO 1 Report Due—Broadcasters that are subject to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission’s (EEOC) reporting requirements must file their EEO 1 Report (Form 100) by this date. We
encourage you to consult with counsel familiar with this regulatory area and to visit

http://www.eeoc.gov/stats/jobpat/e1instruct.html.

Traditional Deadline for the filing of Suspended FCC Form 395-B—This is the traditional date used by
the FCC as the deadline for the filing of FCC Form 395-B, the Broadcast Annual Employment Report. As
of the date of this publication, this filing requirement remains suspended.
October 1
Cable and Satellite Carriage Elections—Every three years, commercial television stations with mustcarry
rights are required to elect either retransmission consent or mandatory carriage (must-carry) on local
cable and satellite systems for the upcoming three-year period. By this date, such stations must send their
election notices to affected cable and satellite providers. This election will govern stations’ carriage for the
period from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014.
Filing of Applications for Renewal of Licenses for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations, as well as FM Translator stations, licensed to communities in Florida, Puerto Rico,
and the Virgin Islands must electronically file by this date their applications for renewal of license on FCC
Form 303-S, along with their Equal Opportunity Employment Reports on FCC Form 396 and their FCC
filing fee. FCC Forms 303-S and 396 as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
Post-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands must begin
on this date to air their post-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s
regulations. FM Translator stations licensed to communities in these states must arrange for the required
newspaper public notice of their license renewal application filing.
Pre-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in Alabama and Georgia must begin on this date to air their
pre-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations.
Advisory Washington, DC
10
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, the Mariana Islands, Missouri, Oregon,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington must by this date place in their public inspection files
(and post on their station website, if there is one), a report regarding station compliance with the FCC’s
EEO Rule during the period October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. A more detailed review of
station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program can be found in our
most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in Alaska, American Samoa, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, the Mariana Islands, Oregon,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington and noncommercial television stations licensed to
communities in Iowa and Missouri (other than sole proprietorships or partnerships composed entirely of
natural persons) must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports on FCC Form 323-E,
unless they have consolidated this filing date with that of other commonly owned stations licensed to
communities in other states. FCC Form 323-E does not require a filing fee. The form as filed must be
placed in stations’ public inspection files.
October 10
Quarterly Issues/Programs List Required—All full-power radio, full-power television, and Class A
television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date the Quarterly Issues/Programs List
covering the period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011.
Certification of Children’s Commercial Time Limitations Required—Commercial full-power and Class
A television stations must place in their public inspection files by this date records “sufficient to verify
compliance” with the FCC’s commercial time limitations in children’s programming broadcast during the
period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011. As of the date of this publication, these records are not
required to be filed with the FCC.
FCC Form 398 Children’s Programming Report Due—Commercial full-power and Class A television
stations must by this date electronically file FCC Form 398, demonstrating their responsiveness to “the
educational and informational needs of children” for the period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011,
and place the form as filed in the stations’ public inspection files.
FCC Form 388 DTV Consumer Education Report Due—All full-power television stations that have not
yet completed construction and commenced operation of their final post-transition DTV facilities must
electronically file by this date FCC Form 388 demonstrating their compliance with DTV consumer
education initiative requirements for the period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011. The form as
filed must also be placed in the station’s public inspection file and posted to the station’s website (if it has
one) by this date.
Class A Television Continuing Eligibility Certification—Class A television stations are required to
maintain documentation in their public inspection files sufficient to demonstrate continuing compliance with
the FCC’s Class A eligibility requirements. We recommend that by this date Class A television stations
generate such documentation for the period July 1, 2011 through September 30, 2011 and place it in their
public inspection files.
Advisory Washington, DC
11
October 15
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due— Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending August 31, 2011.
November 1
FCC Form 323 Biennial Ownership Report Due—All commercial radio, television, low power television
and Class A television stations must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports on FCC
Form 323 and pay the required FCC filing fee. FCC Form 323 as filed must be placed in stations’ public
inspection files.
November 14
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form and Quarterly Report of Use
Form Due—Commercial and noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over
the Internet must by this date submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account
forms to SoundExchange for the month ending September 30, 2011.
December 1
Filing of Applications for Renewal of Licenses for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations, as well as FM Translator stations, licensed to communities in Alabama and Georgia
must by this date electronically file their applications for renewal of license on FCC Form 303-S, along with
their Equal Opportunity Employment Reports on FCC Form 396 and their FCC filing fee. FCC Forms 303-
S and 396 as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
Post-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in Alabama and Georgia must begin on this date to air their
post-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations. FM Translator
stations must arrange for the required newspaper public notice of their license renewal application filing.
Pre-filing License Renewal Announcements for Radio Stations—Full-power AM and FM radio
broadcast stations licensed to communities in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi must begin on this
date to air their pre-filing license renewal announcements in accordance with the FCC’s regulations.
Annual EEO Public File Report Required—Station employment units (“SEUs”) that have five or more
full-time employees and are comprised of radio and/or television stations licensed to communities in
Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New
Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Vermont must by this date place in their
public inspection files (and post on their station website, if there is one), a report regarding station
compliance with the FCC’s EEO Rule during the period December 1, 2010 through November 30, 2011. A
more detailed review of station EEO obligations and the steps for implementing an effective EEO program
can be found in our most recent EEO Advisory.
FCC Form 323-E Biennial Ownership Report Due—Noncommercial radio stations licensed to
communities in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont and noncommercial television stations licensed to communities in Colorado,
Advisory Washington, DC
Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota (other than sole proprietorships or partnerships
composed entirely of natural persons) must electronically file by this date their biennial ownership reports
on FCC Form 323-E, unless they have consolidated this filing date with that of other commonly owned
stations licensed to communities in other states. FCC Form 323-E does not require a filing fee. The form
as filed must be placed in stations’ public inspection files.
FCC Form 317 DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report Due—Commercial television stations
must by this date electronically file FCC Form 317 Annual DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report
for Commercial Digital Television Stations with the FCC whether or not they have received any income
from ancillary or supplementary services. If a DTV station provided ancillary or supplementary services
during the 12-month time period ending on the preceding September 30, and received compensation for
doing so, the station is required to pay five percent of the gross revenue from such services concurrently
with the filing of Form 317. As of the date of this publication, the FCC is considering extending this filing
requirement to Class A television stations. Class A television licensees should be alert to a possible
announcement requiring the filing of this form.
December 15
Copyright Royalty Fee – Monthly Usage Statement of Account Form Due—Commercial and
noncommercial webcasters and those simulcasting radio programming over the Internet must by this date
submit the Monthly Report of Use and Monthly Usage Statement of Account forms to SoundExchange for
the month ending October 31, 2011.

WTJR Television maintains a FCC Public File for Public Inspection at our Studio location, 222 North Sixth Street, Quincy Illinois 62301. (Phone: 217-228-1616). The WTJR Studio is open during normal business hours Monday through Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-Noon (Central time). This is the online version.

What is the public file?
The most complete answer is available at the FCC website in a document titled “the Public and Broadcasting”, here is the link to the document.The FCC states” Our rules require all TV and radio stations and applicants for new stations to maintain a file available for public inspection containing documents relevant to the station’s operation. The public inspection file generally must be maintained at the station’s main studio (and on the stations website).”

What is the on-line version all about?
The station offers this as a service to help make the information available to the public.

Is there any difference Between the on-line version and the physical file?
Yes. Not all letters addressed to the station are required to be posted. The political file is not required to be posted. The on-line version contains links to the FCC website where many documents exsist in electronic format and are available for viewing.
Also many notes and items that are not required to legally be in the public file may exist in the physical file for clarity.

What format are the documents?
Adobe Acrobat .PDF files. The reader can be downloaded for free but most likely your computer already has the reader.
Some of the files are rather large in file size, a broadband internet connection is recommended.

Is the public file the only requirement a station has?
No. There is a long list of requirements. The best introduction to this is the document “The Public and Broadcasting”

Is the public file material dated?
Yes. Certian documents are required to be kept for a certian time. Also the file is updated quarterly and as often as needed to keep the file current.

I can not read or view the material
Please call the station and we will help you access the material.

Revised:01-07-2011

1 – License
Files updated 09/06/2011

2 – Applications + 09/06/2011
Link to FCC site up to date.

3 – Citizen Agreements
N/A up to date.

4 – Contour Maps
revised: 09/06/2011

5 – FCC Investigation
N/A up to date.

6 – Ownership Reports
09/06/2011 Link to FCC site up to date.

7 – List of Contracts
Revised 09/06/2011

8 – Political File
up to date.

9 – Employment reports
Link to FCC site up to date.

10 – Public and Broadcasting
Link to FCC site up to date. revised May 28 2008

11 – Letters
needs updating under construction

12 – Issues/Programs List
Updated 4/11/2012 folder is up to date.

13 – Children’s Programming
Link to FCC site up to date.
Revised 4/11/2012

14 – Children’s Commercials
Revised 4/11/2012

15 – Brokerage Agreements
N/A up to date.

16 – List of Donors
N/A up to date.

17 – Public notice
Revised 09/06/2011

18 – Must-Carry
Revised 09/06/2011

18a – DTV Consumer Education
Revised 09/06/2011

Notes:
The PDF scans will be evaluated to see if they comply with FCC requirements.

By Jack Goodman, William R. Richardson, Jr.

Earlier this fall, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission or FCC) revised its 2004 order establishing new and expanded obligations for children’s television programming, ostensibly for DTV channels but also applying to some extent to analog channels. This new order adopts a joint compromise crafted by a wide range of industry and public interest groups. These changes, which go into effect on January 2, 2007, are summarized below.

Rules Regarding the Provision of Core Programming

Multicasting Rule. The order retains the revised educational and informational programming processing guideline the Commission adopted in 2004 for DTV multicasting, with a clarification regarding the limit on the repeat of core programs that applies to DTV channels (this limit on repeats does not apply to analog channels).

In 1996, the Commission adopted a processing guideline that allows broadcasters to receive staff-level approval of their license renewal application if they air at least three hours of programming designed to serve the educational and informational needs of children ages 16 and under (core programming) per week. The 2004 order, reaffirmed in this new order, applies this three-hour guideline to multicast DTV streams in a roughly proportional way. The DTV stream that simulcasts analog programming does not have any additional children’s programming obligations, so long as the core programming aired on the analog channel is also carried on that DTV stream.

If your station broadcasts additional free DTV streams, the Commission now will require you to air additional core programming. One-sixth of an entire week of programming is 28 hours. For each stream broadcast for free from 1 to 28 hours per week, stations will be obliged to program an additional half hour of core programming. For example, if you broadcast an additional 60 hours of free programming on a DTV stream, the Commission will require one and a half hours of additional core programming. If you air a multicast stream around the clock, you will be required to air an additional three hours of required core programming. If you have two free full-time multicast streams, six additional hours of core programming will be required.

You are permitted to air all or some of the additional DTV core programming on either your main DTV stream or on any multicast stream, so long as the multicast stream receives MVPD carriage comparable to the stream that prompted the obligation. For example, if you have two full-time multicast streams, one carrying weather programming and the other programming from the CW, you could place all six additional weekly hours of core programming on the CW stream if the CW stream has cable and satellite carriage at least equal to that of the weather stream.[i]

The new order clarifies the 2004 order’s limit on the use of repeat programming for the purpose of satisfying the guidelines for DTV streams. Under the earlier order, at least 50% of core programming could not be repeated during the same week to qualify as core?with two exceptions. The first exception is for streams that merely shift the time of an entire programming lineup so as to give viewers a chance to watch the same programming at a different time. This would apply if you used a DTV stream solely to time-shift another program stream. The second exception provides that core programs that air on both the analog channel and the simulcast digital stream will not be considered repeats.

The new order clarifies that a repeat for these purposes is an episode that has already aired on any digital stream within the previous seven days. Under the clarified rule, you will, therefore, be able to use different episodes of the same program to satisfy your core programming obligations without any time restrictions, and you will also be able to use the same episodes that aired in previous weeks on another stream to do so. The order also amends Form 398?the quarterly Children’s Television Programming Report?to require you to certify that you have complied with this restriction regarding repeats. The new version of the form should be used beginning with the one due April 10, 2007, for the first quarter of next year. Although you will not be required to identify each program episode, you will need to retain records to document the accuracy of this certification?including records of actual program episodes aired?and to make this documentation available to the public upon request. The form requires you to identify a children’s programming liaison, and that person should be able to provide documentation of your compliance with the repeat rule.

Preemption Rule. To qualify as core programming, children’s programming must be “regularly scheduled,” which means that the program must be scheduled to air at least once per week and must air on a regular basis. In the 2004 order, the Commission imposed a 10% cap on the number of preemptions of core children’s programming per calendar quarter, with the exception of preemptions for breaking news. This rule, which applied to both analog and DTV channels, was a particular hardship to Pacific and Mountain time zone stations given the frequency of preemptions for live sports events on Saturdays. The new order repeals this cap and returns to the staff’s prior case-by-case approach for addressing the number of preemptions and rescheduling of core programming.

Pursuant to that approach, the new order requires all networks requesting preemption flexibility to file a request by August 1 of each year stating the number of expected preemptions, when the program will be rescheduled, whether the rescheduled time will be the program’s established substitute time slot (second home) and how the network plans to notify viewers of the schedule change at the time of the preemption. The FCC expects that stations will air information about the substitute time slot at the time a preempted core program normally airs. The Commission said that it did not expect that non-network stations would require substantial preemption relief. If you expect to have substantial preemptions of core programming on non-network stations or streams, you should develop a plan including second homes for your core programming. The Commission plans to monitor preemptions under this policy.

Rules Limiting Commercial Messages

Website Rule. In the 2004 order, the FCC for the first time restricted the display of website addresses during children’s programming, and applied those rules to both analog and digital programming. It determined that an Internet website address could be displayed during programming aimed at children aged 12 and under only if the following four criteria are satisfied: (1) the website offers a substantial amount of bona fide program-related or other noncommercial content; (2) the website is not primarily intended for commercial purposes; (3) the website’s pages are clearly labeled to distinguish the noncommercial from the commercial sections; and (4) the website page to which viewers are directed is not used for commercial purposes. This part of the 2004 order did not go into effect while the FCC considered changes. The new order adopts two clarifications to this website rule:

First, it clarifies that the website rule applies only where Internet addresses are displayed during program material or promotional material not counted as commercial time. Thus, the FCC will not regulate website addresses displayed during commercials and promotions that count toward the commercial limits.

Second, it clarifies that, if an Internet address for a website that does not meet the four-part test is displayed during a program promotion, the promotion must be clearly separated from programming material. Also, inclusion of a website address that does not meet the criteria of the four-part test during an otherwise-exempt program promotion (see below) will result in that program’s promotions being counted towards the commercial time limits.
The new order also adopts two exemptions from the website rule:

Public service announcements aired on behalf of independent nonprofit or government organizations (or media companies in partnership with either of these) that display websites not under the control of the licensee will be permitted.
The display of website addresses during station identifications and emergency announcements will not be regulated, even if they do not meet the four-part test.
Note that the FCC declined to follow the National Association of Broadcasters’ suggestion to permit stations to rely on representations from a network or other program provider that website addresses in their programs meet the four-part test. As a practical matter, this means that you will be responsible for confirming that websites appearing in children’s programming meet the test. While you can certainly ask program suppliers for information to help make this determination, the FCC will place ultimate responsibility on licensees.

Host Selling Rule. The Commission has long prohibited the use of program characters or show hosts to sell products in commercials aired during or adjacent to children’s programs in which they appear. In the 2004 order, the Commission extended this ban to the display of website addresses that include program characters or show hosts, and required licensees to be able to document their compliance with the extended ban. This extension applied to both analog and DTV channels, and its effective date was also delayed until the most recent order.

The new order eases this restriction to a limited degree. The ban now applies only to website addresses displayed during or adjacent to a program if, on website pages primarily devoted to free, noncommercial content regarding the program or one of its characters, (1) the website sells products that feature a character appearing in the program or (2) a character that appears in the program is used “to actively sell products.” Thus, addresses may now be displayed for websites where the pages selling merchandise featuring a program-related character are separated from the noncommercial material. Display of website addresses for pages that are commercial in nature will continue to be prohibited during programming, regardless of whether there is host selling, and commercial website addresses displayed during commercial breaks in a program must not use the program or its characters to sell products.

The Commission excluded from the new rule third-party sites linked from the advertisers’ or broadcasters’ web pages, on-air third-party advertisements with website references to third-party websites, and pages that are primarily devoted to multiple characters from multiple programs.

Promotions Rule: Definition of “Commercial Matter.” The 2004 order expanded the definition of “commercial matter,” for purposes of calculating compliance with the commercial limits for children’s programs, to include all program promotions other than for children’s educational or informational programs. That expansion covered both analog and digital channels, and its effective date was also postponed. The new order changes the rule and provides that (1) promotions for educational and informational programming on any channel and (2) promotions for any children’s or other age-appropriate programming appearing on the same channel (whether or not informational or educational) will not be considered commercial matter.

The FCC did not answer the question of how it will define a “channel” in a digital environment. Arguably, a broadcaster could promote children’s or other age-appropriate programming it airs on a different stream without having those promotions count towards the commercial limits.

The new rules are complicated and may be difficult to apply in practice, and the Commission’s staff has been unable to answer numerous questions about interpretation of the rules. As questions arise, we can help you work through the rules or seek guidance from the staff.

For more information on this or other communications and e-commerce matters, contact the authors listed above.

[i] All core programming aired on the analog channel and on any digital stream must include the E/I identification during the entire time the program airs.

Main phone : 217-228-1616 (fax number available on request)

Mail: & Shipping:  
WTJR,  222 North Sixth Street, Quincy Illinois, 62301

Send email to station
visit www.wtjr.org click on contact