Audio Division Home Page Broadcast Radio (FCC) USA

The Audio Division of the Media Bureau licenses commercial and noncommercial educational AM, FM, FM Translator, and FM Booster radio services, and also the noncommercial educational Low Power FM radio service. The Division provides legal analysis of broadcast, technical, and engineering radio filings and recommends appropriate disposition of applications, requests for waivers, and other pleadings.

Information about radio broadcast stations and the application process may be located at this site.

If you are coming to the Audio Division or Video Division pages for the first time, please start with our New Visitors page. On this page we have collected the information most commonly sought by first time users concerning radio and television broadcasting.

October 2011
Media Bureau Announces Opening of Filing Window for 2011 Biennial Ownership Reports, Form 323, Public Notice, DA 11-1621, released September 30, 2011 [ PDF | Word ]. Related information is posted at http://www.fcc.gov/guides/ownership-report-commercial-broadcast-station-form-323.

All commercial AM, FM, TV, LPTV, and Class A stations and all entities with attributable interests in such stations, are required to file a Form 323 between October 1 and December 1, 2011. Filings must include information reflecting ownership interests existing as of October 1, 2011.

October 2011
Radio License Renewal Cycle Has Begun! Renewal applications for the second licensee group (radio licensees in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) were due on October 3, 2011. Alabama and Georgia licensees must file their renewal applications by December 1, 2011.

The License Renewal Applications for Radio Broadcast Stations page provides important information on renewal procedures and form changes. See Public Notice, Media Bureau Announces Revisions To License Renewal Procedures and Form 303-S; Radio License Renewal Cycle To Commence On May 2, 2011, DA 11-489, released March 14, 2011 [ PDF | Word ].

May 17, 2010

Guidance Provided to FM Licensees Regarding Operations with Increased Digital Power (MM Docket No. 99-325), Public Notice, MM Docket 99-325 , DA 10-866, released May 17, 2010. [ PDF | Word ].

Filing Courtesy Copies of Pleadings Relating to Audio Division Applications

The Audio Division encourages parties that wish to file courtesy copies of pleadings relating to Audio Division applications (broadcast radio only) to submit a copy of the FCC date-stamped filing to the following e-mail box: audiodivisionpleadings@fcc.gov. PDF is the preferred format for these submissions. Pleadings must be officially filed in accordance with the Commission's rules and the procedures established by the Office of the Secretary. Only properly filed pleadings will receive a Commission date stamp. Documents submitted by e-mail but not formally filed through the Office of the Secretary will not be considered.

The Public and Broadcasting provides a brief, non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of radio and television, including Public Inspection File requirements. Revised July 2008.

How to Apply for a Broadcast Station. General information about the process.

FM Allotment Finder can assist in determining whether a commercial FM station allotment is possible for your area.

Filing documents at the FCC, from the Office of the Secretary, FCC

Low Power AM and FM Broadcast Radio Stations. Licensed and Unlicensed operation.

Low Power FM Radio Service (station licensing required)

AM and FM Lists of Community of License Minor Change Applications filed pursuant to the new streamlined procedures adopted by the Commission in Revision of Procedures Governing Amendments to FM Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast Services, Report and Order (R&O), MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, released November 29, 2006. [ PDF | Word ].

Multiple Ownership of Radio Broadcast Stations

Localism in broadcasting (Localism Task Force)

Broadcast Station Self-Inspection Checklists for AM, FM, LPFM, and TV

Broadcast Station Totals (1990 to Present). Numbers of AM, FM, TV, and translator stations.

Engineering and Legal documents pertaining to radio, of historical and topical interest, as collected by the Audio Division. A Subject List is available to show the various subject areas. Updated as needed.

FCC Word / Number Search. Use the Word / Number Search to help locate Public Notices referencing an application by entering the right-hand part of the application file number, (e.g., 20010612ACX), or Dockets by entering the Docket number (e.g. 98-93)

MB Tower Siting Information Guide was created at the request of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding the inclusion of broadcast facilities in the March 16, 2001 nationwide Programmatic Agreement on Collocation of communications antennae. It is also intended to help State Historic Preservation Officers as well as Tribal Historic Preservation Officers understand broadcast facilities.

Nationwide Programmatic Agreement: A Learning Interactive Unit for the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

Noncommercial Educational (NCE) FM Mutually Exclusive Application Determinations

Obscenity, Indecency, and Profanity is handled by the Enforcement Bureau. [ On-line complaint form ].

Radio Broadcast Renewal Applications -- All radio broadcast station licenses will expire between 2011 and 2014. Licensees will need to file a renewal application for the next license term. This page provides information about the radio broadcast license renewal process.

AM and FM Radio Rules in Part 73 of Title 47 may be retrieved by rule section number. FM Translator and Booster Rules in Part 74 may also be retrieved in this manner. You may also Search for any Rule in Title 47 (47 CFR -------) by the rule section number.

Religious Broadcasting -- The FCC will not prohibit religious organizations' ownership of broadcast stations. A petition (RM-2493, erroneously attributed to Madalyn Murray O'Hare ) which had requested that the FCC make changes was denied in 1975 (54 FCC 2d 941). Excerpts from that proceeding are located here.

Subcarriers / SCA (Subsidiary Communications Authority) Additional audio or data channels transmitted along with the main station signal.

Special Temporary Authority for licensed broadcast radio stations.

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