With much of everyone’s focus on the outcome of the November 3 midterm elections, broadcasters cannot forget the regulatory dates and deadlines in November and early December.  While the dates and deadlines in November tend to be lighter than in other months, many routine deadlines do fall in early December, and even the upcoming month does have dates worthy of note to all broadcasters—including the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is scheduled for November 17.  For more on the nationwide EAS test and broadcasters’ accompanying filing obligations in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS), as well as other dates and deadlines occurring next month and in early December, here is our look at what is coming your way.

Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1.  The change in the clocks means that AM daytime-only stations, AM stations with different daytime and nighttime patterns, and AM stations operating with pre-sunrise and/or post-sunset authority should check their sign-on and sign-off times on their current FCC authorizations to ensure continued compliance with the FCC’s technical rules.  AM stations need to note that all times listed in FCC licenses are stated in standard time, not daylight savings time even if it is in effect.

The noncommercial educational (NCE) reserved band (88.1-91.9 MHz) FM translator filing window will open at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 4 and will close at 6:00 p.m. EST on November 17.  To have an application considered by the FCC, by November 17, applicants must have complete applications in the FCC’s electronic filing system providing all the information necessary to establish the applicant’s claims for points to be used in the FCC’s “points system” to choose between mutually exclusive applicants (applicants who, for technical reasons, cannot both be granted without destructive interference).  For more on the points system, see our articles here and here.  Applicants are limited to 10 applications nationwide, except that LPFM operators are only allowed to file for 2 translators (4 if they are a Tribal group).  See our articles here, here, here, and here for more on the NCE FM translator filing window. As we noted here and here, the FCC implemented a filing freeze on all reserved and non-reserved band LPFM, FM translator, and FM booster station minor modification applications to freeze the FM database to facilitate the preparation of applications for the new translators in the reserved band.  The freeze began on October 2 and will end at 6:00 p.m. ET on November 17.