The deadline is fast approaching to file comments in support of NAB’s petition to reconsider changes to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) ownership reporting requirements. Earlier this year, the FCC adopted an order expanding the biennial ownership reporting obligations to sole proprietors and certain non-attributable investors. NAB sought reconsideration of this order, asserting that the sole proprietor filing requirement will not add to the FCC’s knowledge about minority and female ownership and will burden small licensees. NAB also urged the FCC to reconsider its new ownership reporting requirement for certain non-attributable investors. Because these investors do not influence station operations, compiling data on them would not help develop a more complete understanding of minority or female ownership. Moreover, the requirement would burden licensees and their investors and potentially deter investment at a particularly perilous time for the industry.

Comments on NAB's Petition must be filed August 11, 2009; replies will be due August 21, 2009.

NAB’s Petition for Reconsideration can be found here.

If you are interested in filing comments, click here to access FCC’s filing system.