FCC Status Under the Partial Government Shutdown

Generally speaking, the FCC is shut down aside from auction-related activities, which includes the Incentive Auction Task Force’s work on repacking. While certain online systems are still available, only those related to auctions are being updated. Many other online systems, including the FCC’s online public inspection files, are not available during the shutdown.

For most filing deadlines, submissions that would ordinarily be due during the shutdown will now be due on the second day of resumed normal operations. Televisions stations, however, were still required to file their quarterly post-incentive auction transition updates by January 10 and licensees must continue to update the Network Outage Reporting System and the Disaster Information Reporting System as necessary.

Because it is difficult to predict when the government will reopen, stations are encouraged to continue to prepare and file required documents as they are able, including children’s television reports and commercial limits certifications, issues/programs reports and EEO reports. For more information, please consult your station’s counsel and the FCC’s Public Notice addressing the shutdown.