FCC Gears Up Auction 114 for FM Broadcast Permits Next Year
Published Date: 8/7/2026
Rule
Summary
This document summarizes the procedures, deadlines, and upfront payment and minimum opening bid amounts for the upcoming auction of FM broadcast construction permits. The Auction 114 Procedures Public Notice summarized here provides details regarding the procedures, terms, conditions, dates, and deadlines governing participation in Auction 114 bidding, as well as overview of the post- auction application and payment processes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory application and payment deadlines
If you want to bid for an FM construction permit, you must file a short-form application (FCC Form 175) by 6:00 p.m. ET on September 30, 2026, and your upfront payment must be received by 6:00 p.m. ET on December 3, 2026. Bidding is scheduled to begin on February 2, 2027.
Wire-transfer only upfront payments
All upfront payments for Auction 114 must be sent by electronic wire transfer in U.S. dollars to the specified U.S. Treasury account and must be received before 6:00 p.m. ET on December 3, 2026. Each payment must be accompanied by a completed FCC Form 159 and the form must be faxed or emailed at least one hour before initiating the wire.
Higher deposit for former defaulters
If an applicant (or its controlling interests) is a former defaulter, the applicant must pay an upfront payment that is 50% greater than the amount required of non-defaulters (i.e., multiply required bidding units by 1.5).
Environmental and historic-review obligations
Winning permittees must comply with environmental review rules under the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and related statutes, including consultations with agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and preparation of environmental assessments when required.
132 FM construction permits offered
Auction 114 will offer 132 FM broadcast construction permits, including 33 permits that were offered but not sold in prior auctions. These 132 new allotments are available for qualified bidders to select and bid on.
Mutual exclusivity requires bidding
If two or more timely short-form applications select the same FM allotment, that construction permit becomes mutually exclusive and must be awarded by auction; when mutual exclusivity exists, even a single qualified applicant must submit at least one bid to obtain the permit.
Auction may be delayed, suspended, or canceled
The FCC may delay, suspend, or cancel Auction 114 at any time before or during bidding for reasons like natural disaster, technical problems, network interruption, evidence of unlawful bidding, or other factors affecting fair conduct. The FCC will notify participants by public notice and/or the bidding system.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20591, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
The FCC is checking in on its paperwork rules for TV stations using Next Gen TV technology to make sure they're not too tricky or time-consuming. Businesses, governments, and nonprofits involved with local TV broadcasts might need to share info, but the FCC wants to keep it simple and clear. If you have thoughts, speak up by December 7, 2026, so the FCC can keep things smooth and fair without extra costs or hassle.
2026-20590, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is asking for your thoughts on how it collects info about radiofrequency safety rules. This affects individuals, businesses, and governments who must report or share info sometimes. They want to make the process easier and clearer, especially for small businesses, and need your comments by December 7, 2026.
2026-20676, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
The FCC is checking in on its paperwork rules for cable companies and local governments to make sure the info they collect is useful and not too much work. They want your thoughts on how to make the process easier, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. If you want to share your ideas, send them in by December 7, 2026—this helps keep things fair and smooth for everyone involved.
2026-20607, Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and other agencies to review and comment on their paperwork plans to make things easier, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. They want feedback by November 9, 2026, to help reduce the time and hassle of filling out forms. This is part of a government effort to cut down on unnecessary paperwork and save everyone time and money.
2026-20681, Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and other agencies to comment on a paperwork update aimed at making things easier, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. They want your thoughts by November 9, 2026, to help reduce the hassle and keep everything running smoothly. This is part of a government effort to cut down on unnecessary forms and save time and money.
2026-20486, Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is asking the public and businesses to review and comment on some paperwork they collect to make sure it’s useful and not too much of a hassle. This review affects companies, nonprofits, and government groups, especially small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Comments are due by December 7, 2026, and the FCC aims to keep things clear, quick, and fair without costing too much time or money.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-16129, Special Conditions: ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Régional Model ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A Airplanes; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized Internal Access
The FAA is setting new safety rules for ATR42-500 and ATR72-212A airplanes because they have a cool new digital system that lets people inside the plane access its electronics through wireless and wired networks. These rules make sure this tech is just as safe as older systems. The changes kick in on August 7, 2026, and anyone can share their thoughts by September 21, 2026—no extra costs expected.
Next: 2026-16136, Ohio Regulatory Program
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), is approving, in part, two amendments to the Ohio regulatory program (the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). As proposed by Ohio, the amendment involves statutory and regulatory changes to its bonding program (i.e., revising Ohio's alternative bonding system and providing the option for an applicant to post full-cost performance securities) and also includes statutory and regulatory changes pertaining to other subjects, such as abandoned mine land program funding, permitting standards, valid existing rights, remining, blasting, and topsoil handling. Ohio submitted this amendment, in part, to satisfy a program condition related to bonding inadequacies. We are removing this program condition.