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October 9, 2007

Re:      Reminder Regarding Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists and Children’s TV Reports

Deadline:        October 10, 2007

This is a reminder that each broadcast station must prepare a quarterly issues/programs list for the July 1 through September 30, 2007 period and place that list in its public inspection file by October 10, 2007.  In addition, licensees of commercial television stations must also prepare a quarterly Children’s Television Programming Report (“CTV Report”) for the same period, file that Report with the FCC electronically, and place a copy in their public files by October 10, 2007.

Issues/Programs Lists

As you know, the FCC’s rules require that each radio and television station prepare, on a quarterly basis, an issues/programs list that: (1)identifies local issues that the station has addressed through its programming over the previous three months, (2)identifies the programs that have provided the station’s most significant treatment of such community issues during that period, (3) includes a brief narrative describing each such program, and (4) specifically identifies the duration, time, and date of airing of each program segment listed.  Although the FCC does not require any specific format for these lists, so long as they contain the information required, we have enclosed a model you might find helpful. 

The issues/programs list requirements are part of the Commission’s public inspection file rule.  Significantly, under the FCC’s forfeiture schedule, the base penalty for failure to comply with this rule is a $10,000 forfeiture (which may be adjusted up or down, based upon the circumstances).  Additionally, it is extremely important at renewal time for a broadcast station to demonstrate that it has maintained issues/programs lists documenting its attention to local community issues.  Specifically, a broadcaster must certify in its renewal application that the station has placed all of the required documents in its public file on a timely basis.  A licensee cannot truthfully make this certification if it has not prepared an issues/programs list for each quarter during the license term (or for each quarter in which it has owned the station, if acquired more recently).  Indeed, a renewal applicant that did so would face a possible finding of misrepresentation and thus disqualification from holding an FCC license.  Parties opposing a station’s renewal application may target deficiencies in a station’s issues/programs list and assert that the licensee has made false certifications about its public file’s completeness. 
The FCC has been regularly issuing monetary forfeitures of $20,000 or more against licensees for failing to timely prepare issues/programs lists and other violations of the public inspection file rule.  As a result, broadcasters should be extremely vigilant in ensuring that their public files are complete and up to date.  Indeed, in the event of a petition to deny a station’s renewal application alleging inadequate public service programming, the issues/programs list may constitute a primary defense.

If a station has scripts or texts of any of its issue-responsive programs, it should keep copies with its private records until the grant of the next renewal application.  (Unlike the issues/programs lists, licensees do not need to place these additional documents in the station’s public inspection file.)  Contemporaneously prepared records, such as scripts, program notes, or guest lists, are good supplementary evidence that the station has complied with the FCC’s requirements for issue-responsive programming.

Children’s Television Programming Reports

In addition, each commercial television station licensee must complete and file, by October 10, 2007, a CTV Report for all children’s programming carried by the licensee for the period of July 1 – September 30, 2007.  The new CTV Report form (FCC Form 398), which is available on the FCC’s website, now includes a section for a station to report the “core” children’s programming that was broadcast on its digital stream(s). 

The FCC is continuing its vigorous enforcement of the children’s television rules.  Over the past few months, it has issued numerous monetary forfeitures, some totaling $20,000 or more, against individual stations for various violations.  In addition, a proceeding remains pending at the FCC that seeks comment on, among other things, whether stations generally are complying with the requirement to carry “core” children’s programming.

Please contact this office if you would like more information on the FCC’s requirements for quarterly issues/programs lists or the CTV Reports.  In addition, we would be pleased to review your issues/programs lists in light of the FCC’s requirements, and to offer suggestions for improving those lists.

Quarterly List of Community Isses and Responsive Programs

 

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