PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 99-174 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: January 20, 1999 CLARIFICATION OF FILING OF REVISED BROADCAST OWNERSHIP REPORT FCC Form 323, which is used to collect information about the ownership of commercial broadcast station licensees and permittees, was revised to elicit gender and race or ethnicity information for holders of attributable interests in such licensees and permittees. This revised FCC Form 323 (December 1998 edition) has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is now effective and available for use. In accord with the policies and requirements adopted by the Commission in the Report and Order in MM Docket Nos. 98-43 and 94-149 (FCC 98-281, released November 25, 1998), all commercial licensees that are not exempted from the annual reporting program are required to submit in 1999, on the anniversary date of their stations' renewal application filing date, the revised FCC Form 323. After the initial filing of the revised FCC Form 323, licensees will submit updated ownership information every two years, rather than annually. Consistent with OMB's standards for maintaining, collecting and presenting federal data on race and ethnicity and in order for the Commission to obtain such current information in the most expeditious manner possible, ALL non-exempt commercial broadcast station licensees must file initially a revised FCC Form 323 (December 1998 edition). To accommodate non-exempt licensees that have experienced no changes in the identity and ownership interests of previously reported holders of attributable interests, such 1999 filers need only submit a revised FCC Form 323, identifying themselves, attesting that no changes have occurred, and completing Question 11 in full. Once a revised FCC Form 323 is filed, licensees eligible for "no change" letter filings can again submit them. For additional information, please contact Jim Brown of the Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau at (202) 418-1600. - F C C -