The Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission has issued a public notice reminding broadcast licensees about the upcoming mandatory biennial ownership reports submission window. Licensees of commercial and non-commercial AM and FM radio stations must submit these reports during odd-numbered years.
Given the significance of biennial ownership reporting in informing the Commission and the public about the station’s current ownership, the Media Bureau encourages licensees to prepare in advance. Reports need to contain data current as of October 1 of the filing year and must adhere to the requirements of the current version of the relevant broadcast ownership report form. The upcoming filing window for biennial ownership reports is set to open on October 2.
Maintaining the latest ownership report in the station’s Online Public Inspection File is a fundamental duty of the licensee. The FCC regards timely and accurate ownership information filing as crucial for public transparency regarding who owns, operates, and controls broadcast stations.
This also supports the Commission’s policy-making efforts by providing reliable data on the race, gender, and ethnicity of attributable interest holders in broadcast stations.
