Broadcast Auctions

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In May, the FCC announced that it would be conducting an auction in February 2027 for construction permits to build over 130 new FM stations in various locations around the country (see our article here). Last week, the FCC issued a Public Notice that provided the remaining details about the auction, including a September filing window for “short-form” applications to participate in the auction, the December 3 deadline for submitting “upfront payments,” and a detailed discussion of the rules for participating in the auction.  An attachment to that Public Notice provides the final list of available channels and their minimum bids.  In addition, the FCC issued a second Public Notice that announced that there will be a filing freeze on minor change applications for any FM station during the short-form filing window to avoid possible conflicts between sites specified by auction applicants and those specified in the minor change application of previously authorized FM stations.

In connection with the auction, the FCC will also hold tutorials and a mock auction to ensure that bidders know the process for filing applications and for participating in the auction.  Even if you have participated in FM auctions in the past, you may want to monitor these tutorials and mock auctions because the auction procedures have changed, as discussed below.

The dates and deadlines for the auction are as follows:

  • Auction Application Tutorial Available (via Internet) (August 21, 2026)
  • Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175) Filing Window Opens (September 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET)
  • Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175) Filing Deadline (September 30, 2026, 6:00 p.m. ET)
  • Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) (December 3, 2026, 6:00 p.m. ET)
  • Bidding Tutorial Available (via Internet) (January 6, 2027)
  • Mock Auction (January 29, 2027)
  • Auction Bidding Begins (February 2, 2027)

The short-form applications are the first step in participating in the auction.  Anyone who wants to participate in the auction must file one of these applications in the window set out above – with the deadline being September 30 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. As with any other FCC filing, do not wait until the last minute to file, as the FCC’s electronic filing system has been known to have slowdowns and glitches, and not getting the short-form application on file by the deadline is fatal to any hopes of participating in the auction.

Continue Reading Applications to Participate in February Auction for 132 New FM Stations Due by September 30 – FCC Releases Auction Rules and Procedures
  • The FCC’s Order adopted in June that requires broadcasters to quickly adopt new security practices to protect their EAS systems
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Although many, including Congress, take the last of their summer vacations in August, there are still many dates to which broadcasters should be paying attention this month.  One deadline that most commercial broadcasters should be anticipating is the FCC’s Order that will set the amount of their Annual Regulatory Fees.  Payment of those fees will be due sometime in September before the October 1 start of the federal government’s new fiscal year.  These announcements usually come in late August or in the first few days of September.  So be on the lookout for that announcement.

Noncommercial broadcasters who were anticipating a filing window for new noncommercial educational FM translators in the reserved band (88.1-91.9 MHz) in August, when it was originally scheduled to be held, should instead look later in the year, as the filing window has been moved from August to November (see our discussion here).  Applications can be drafted for the November window beginning August 3, but they cannot be filed until the window opens.

Continue Reading August 2026 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Annual EEO Public File Reports, Political Windows, and more
  • The FCC’s Media Bureau announced that the upcoming new noncommercial educational FM translator reserved band (88.1-91.9 MHz) filing window has
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The FCC had scheduled an August 2026 filing window for licensees of noncommercial AM or FM stations and LPFM operators to file applications for new FM translators in the Reserved Band (88.1 MHz to 91.9 MHz) (see our articles here and here on the filing window).  However, after the filing window was announced, CBI, Inc.…

The lazy days of summer provide little respite from the regulatory actions of importance to broadcasters.  July brings quarterly requirements including, most importantly, the obligation to upload Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists to a station’s online public file.  Also in July, eligible applicants may also begin drafting their applications for new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM translator stations to be filed in the mid-August filing window.  To allow preparations for that filing window, the FCC instituted a filing freeze on all LPFM, FM translator, and FM booster station minor modification applications beginning on July 10.  Political file windows are also opening in July in a few states.  So, even if the beach chair is calling, remember to keep an eye on dates that can affect your stations.

July 1 is the first date for existing NCE station operators to begin preparing their applications in the FCC’s LMS database for the new NCE FM translator reserved band (88.1-91.9 MHz) filing window.  That window will be open between 12:01 a.m., ET, on August 11, 2026 and 11:59 p.m., ET, on August 25, 2026.  To facilitate the preparation of the filing window applications by stabilizing the technical database, the Bureau announced a filing freeze on both reserved and non-reserved band LPFM, FM translator, and FM booster station minor modification applications beginning at 11:59 p.m., ET, on July 10, and continuing until the filing window’s closing.  So if you are planning a change in a translator or LPFM’s facilities, get it on file before July 10 or you will be precluded from filing for the next six weeks.  For more on the filing window and the filing freeze, see our Broadcast Law Blog article here.

Continue Reading July 2026 Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters – Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists, Comment Deadlines, NCE FM Translator Filing Window Applications and Filing Freezes, Political Windows, and more
  • At its regular monthly Open Meeting, the FCC took actions to increase the security of the Emergency Alert System by
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  • The FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice announcing that applications for new noncommercial Reserved Band (88.1 to 91.9 MHz)
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In January, the FCC announced it would be opening a filing opportunity for new FM translators to operate in the FM Reserved Band (88.1-91.9 MHz) (see our article here).  Applications can only be filed by existing noncommercial station operators.  Subsequently, the FCC’s Media Bureau announced that applicants would be limited to 10 applications nationwide – and low power FM operators would be allowed to file for only 2 translators (4 if they were a Tribal group)(see our article here).  This week, the Media Bureau issued a Public Notice announcing more rules for the window – and setting the dates for applications.  The window for filing applications will open at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and it will close at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Parties can begin to prepare applications much sooner, as the application forms will be available in the FCC’s LMS database starting on July 1.  Applications must include information about the applicant for a potential “points system” analysis that will be used to choose between applications that have technical conflicts that cannot be resolved by engineering changes.  For more on the points system, see our articles here and here.  Claims for points will be frozen at the end of the filing window, so be sure to detail your claims for those points in your initial application.

Continue Reading Window for Filing Applications for New Noncommercial FM Translators Set – Applications Due by August 25