Media Bureau Announces December NCE-TV Filing Window and Filing Freezes  

The FCC will accept applications from non-profit and governmental organizations for 12 noncommercial educational television station construction permits in Alabama, Alaska, California, Idaho, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.  The Media Bureau released a public notice on October 10^th with application instructions and details on the FCC’s points system for deciding among competing applicants.

The filing window will open at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 4 and closed at 6:00 p.m. EST on December 11, 2024. The application form is currently available in LMS so that applicants can begin preparing the application and the several exhibits that are necessary to be accepted for filing and included in the selection process.

Those thinking of applying should retain an experienced attorney and consulting engineer now to ensure that applications can be completed and submitted on time.  The FCC’s post NCE filing window decisions are rife with examples of applications that are incomplete and legally or technically insufficient for an applicant to be awarded a permit. A careful reading of the public notice and all footnotes is critical.  Before submission, a careful re-reading of the public notice and cross-checking – preferably by more than one individual – is highly recommended, based upon our experience.

These filing windows always prompt filing freezes that impact other broadcasters.  In this case, the FCC immediately stopped accepting petitions to amend the TV Table of Allotments for new reserved NCE TV channels on October 10^th.  In addition, it will stop accepting rulemaking petitions for full power TV stations to change channels, as well as both minor and major change applications for full power and Class A television stations, beginning at 12:01 a.m. EST on December 3, 2024 (one day prior to the start of the filing window) through the end of the filing window at 6:00 p.m. EST on December 11, 2024.