This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: June 23, 2025 to June 27, 2025

… radio and television broadcasters and other media companies … The release of a request to refresh the record on the television national …

FCC sets Deadlines for Comments on Proposed Foreign Ownership Rules – TVTechnology

… Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years … NAB Urges FCC to “Completely Repeal” Broadcast TV Ownership Restrictions.

FCC Asks for Public Comment on Proposal to Update the 39% National Ownership Cap for …

The Public Notice is not seeking comment on the local broadcast ownership rules that govern how many TV (and radio) stations one owner can have in any …

Radio 47 launches Africa’s first IP-based broadcast hub with Lawo technology

Positioned in Kenya’s capital, the advanced media centre integrates radio, television, livestreaming and remote production into a single, highly …

Community Connection and Coffee, Courtesy Of A TV Channel

“Community, connection, and trusted journalism” is a mantra that perhaps NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt may offer when advocating for local radio …

2025 Second Quarter Issues/Programs List Advisory for Broadcast Stations

By Scott R. Flick and Elizabeth Craig

Broadcasters’ next Quarterly Issues/Programs List (“Quarterly List”) must be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2025, reflecting information for the months of April, May, and June 2025.

Content of the Quarterly List

The FCC requires each broadcast station to air a reasonable amount of programming responsive to significant community needs, issues, and problems as determined by the station.  The FCC gives each station the discretion to determine which issues facing the community served by the station are the most significant and how best to respond to them in the station’s overall programming.

To demonstrate a station’s compliance with this public interest obligation, the FCC requires the station to maintain and place in the Public Inspection File a Quarterly List reflecting the “station’s most significant programming treatment of community issues during the preceding three month period.”  By its use of the term “most significant,” the FCC has noted that stations are not required to list all responsive programming, but only that programming which provided the most significant treatment of the issues identified.

Given that program logs are no longer mandated by the FCC, the Quarterly Lists may be the most important evidence of a station’s compliance with its public service obligations.  The lists also provide important support for the certification of Class A television station compliance discussed below.  We therefore urge stations not to “skimp” on the Quarterly Lists, and to err on the side of over-inclusiveness.  Otherwise, stations risk a determination by the FCC that they did not adequately serve the public interest during their license term.  Stations should include in the Quarterly Lists as much issue-responsive programming as they feel is necessary to demonstrate fully their responsiveness to community needs.  Taking extra time now to provide a thorough Quarterly List will help reduce risk at license renewal time.

The FCC has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Quarterly Lists and often brings enforcement actions against stations that do not have complete Quarterly Lists in their Public Inspection File or which have failed to timely upload such lists when due.  The FCC’s base fine for missing or late Quarterly Lists is $10,000.

Preparation of the Quarterly List

The Quarterly Lists are required to be placed in the Public Inspection File by January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10 of each year.  The next Quarterly List is required to be placed in stations’ Public Inspection Files by July 10, 2025, covering the period from April 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025.

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