FCC Reviews Paperwork Burden on 200 Small Businesses
Published Date: 7/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The FCC is checking in on some paperwork rules to make sure they’re useful and not too tricky, especially for small businesses. They want your thoughts on how to make these forms easier and better, with a deadline to share ideas by September 4, 2026. This review affects about 200 businesses and nonprofits, each spending around 2 hours on these forms.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Obligation to Remedy Blanketing Interference
Under 47 CFR 73.88, the licensee of each broadcast station must satisfy all reasonable complaints of blanketing interference within the 1 V/m contour. This duty applies to licensees and could require them to take corrective actions when complaints arise.
One-Year Financial Responsibility After Changes
Per 47 CFR 73.318(b) and (c), permittees or licensees that commence program tests, replace antennas, request facilities modifications, or collocate and begin program tests (on or after January 1, 1985) must satisfy complaints of blanketing interference received during a one-year period and, for collocating permittees, assume full financial responsibility for remedying new complaints for one year.
Paperwork Burden on Licensees
The FCC is renewing an information collection (OMB Control No. 3060-0716) that affects 200 business and nonprofit respondents. Each respondent is estimated to spend about 2 hours per response, for a total annual burden of 400 hours, and the FCC requests comments by September 4, 2026.
Reduced Long-Term Liability After Year One
After the first year following program test authority, a licensee is required only to provide technical assistance to determine the cause of interference rather than to bear financial responsibility for remedying it.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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