The FCC has asked us to remind licensees that their biennial ownership reports were due on December 1, 2021. According to our contacts at the Commission, the response rate for LPTV stations was quite low, and the FCC is encouraging licensees to file on their own accord before the agency sends out formal letters threatening possible repercussions.
All licensees of LPTV stations are required to file biennial ownership reports detailing their ownership as of October 1, 2021.
In a Public Notice released earlier this year, the FCC’s Media Bureau reminded broadcasters that, as part of its review of license renewal applications, Bureau staff will be reviewing whether licensees have filed their 2019 and 2021 biennial ownership information and whether they have certified truthfully concerning compliance with the filing requirement. The Bureau explained that licensees that fail to file their biennial ownership reports could be subject to Commission staff action, including enforcement actions for falsely certifying compliance with the biennial ownership reporting obligation on their license renewal application.
