Our New Mexico radio license renewals will be due on June 1st of this year. Our TV station’s renewals will be due a year later, on June 1st, 2022. Recently a number of stations east of us have been fined for failing to file timely renewals. FCC fines are the ultimate non-revenue producing expenses.
Where can you get good advice for free for how to file your radio station license renewal?
This year the FCC has expanded the instructions that accompany the renewal form. The instructions now run to 14 pages followed by worksheets for help in filling out specific parts of the renewal form
You can download the renewal form and instructions at:
https://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form303-S/303s.pdf .
IMPORTANT REMINDER: All stations, except LPFM and FM Translator stations, also must file a Broadcast Equal Employment Opportunity Program Report (FCC Schedule 396) at the same time. That form is available at:
https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/forms . On that site, select “396 Electronic Filing” down the left margin.
Instructions for FCC Schedule 396 are available at:
https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/2100-396_instructions.pdf
Related auxiliary stations and FM Booster stations are renewed with the main station license; do not file separate renewal applications for auxiliary or FM Booster stations.
Your FCC attorney will likely send you either these form or links a couple of months ahead of your required renewal filing. If you’ll take a look at these forms and instructions ahead of time, you can make filing your renewal application as painless as possible!
IMPORTANT REMINDER: License renewal is an electronic only filing. Do not mail paper copies of your license renewal application to the FCC.
More about license renewal filing next time – yes, there have been changes since last renewal time!
Mike/
