Broadcast Station Reminder: January 10, 2007 - Quarterly Issues Programs Lists and Form 398 Children's Programming Reports Due
By January 10, 2007, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare and place in their public inspection files a list of important issues facing their communities, and the programs aired in the months of October, November, and December dealing with those issues. These Quarterly Issues Programs lists are the only legally required documents that demonstrate how a station has met its public service obligation to its community of license and service area. The failure to have a complete set of Quarterly Issues Programs lists that were prepared and placed in the station's public file at the proper time can lead to significant fines at license renewal time. Moreover, the failure to produce and document programs responsive to community needs could cause even greater problems for a broadcast licensee. See our bulletin on quarterly issues programs lists for more information.
Also by January 10, 2007, television stations (including Class A television stations) must place in their public inspection files and file with the FCC an FCC Form 398 Children's Television Programming quarterly report detailing the core children's programming aired in the fourth quarter of 2006 serving the educational and informational needs of children. By this date, stations must also prepare and place in their public inspection files documentation sufficient to demonstrate their compliance with the limitations on the amount of commercial matter during children’s programming.
