FCC Shutdown Creating Uncertainty for Broadcasters, Attorneys Say
The FCC’s decision to shut down immediately after federal appropriations lapsed -- rather than continue operations, as it did during past shutdowns -- has created uncertainty for broadcasters, wrote Wilkinson Barker broadcast attorneys David Oxenford, David O’Connor and Keenan Adamchak…
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in a blog post Friday. “In recent years, there was at least some time for broadcasters and others regulated by the FCC to get ready for the shutdown and get further guidance as to what would happen with respect to particular filing deadlines.” That isn’t so this time, the attorneys wrote. Although the agency has issued public notices on extending some deadlines, it's unclear how broadcasters should handle equal employment opportunity audit responses or major change applications, the blog post said. The FCC’s License Management System is offline during the shutdown, which means broadcasters also won’t be able to meet quarterly issues/programs list filing deadlines. “But will the FCC’s systems be able to handle a crush of filings due the first business day after the day that the government reopens?” the attorneys asked. “These are all questions that broadcasters should consider with their counsel.”