The Audio Division of the Media Bureau licenses commercial and noncommercial educational AM, FM, FM Translator, and FM Booster radio services, and also the noncommercial educational Low Power FM radio service. The Division provides legal analysis of broadcast, technical, and engineering radio filings and recommends appropriate disposition of applications, requests for waivers, and other pleadings.

Information about radio broadcast stations and the application process may be located at this site.

New Visitors to the Audio Division Site

If you are coming to the Audio Division or Video Division pages for the first time, please start with our New Visitors page. On this page we have collected the information most commonly sought by first time users concerning radio and television broadcasting.

Internet Queries

Our popular Internet Queries may be used to retrieve information about radio and TV broadcast stations.

  • AM Query
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  • FM Query
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  • TV Query
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  • Mailing Addresses for AM, FM, TV
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  • CDBS Public Access Search
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  • Search CDBS Using an Application ID Number
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  • CDBS System Status
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  • Radio stations authorized to transmit IBOC digital signals: [ AM | FM ].

    •       IBOC Digital Radio page 
  • AM Travellers' Information Stations
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  • Conversions -- Requires Javascript.
  • Radio Tools Popup -- Requires Javascript.
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    Most Requested Information

     
  • The Public and Broadcasting provides a brief, non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of radio and television, including Public Inspection File requirements. Revised May 2008.
     
  • How to Apply for a Broadcast Station. General information about the process.
  • FM Allotment Finder can assist in determining whether a commercial FM station allotment is possible for your area.

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  • Filing Locations for Paper Documents and Instructions for Mailing Electronic Media (PDF), Public Notice, DA 03-2730, released August 22, 2003. [ Word version ].
     
  • Low Power AM and FM Broadcast Radio Stations. Licensed and Unlicensed operation.
  • Low Power FM Radio Service (station licensing required)

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  • AM and FM Lists of Community of License Minor Change Applications filed pursuant to the new streamlined procedures adopted by the Commission in Revision of Procedures Governing Amendments to FM Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast Services, Report and Order (R&O), MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, released November 29, 2006. [ PDF | Word ].

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  • Multiple Ownership of Radio Broadcast Stations

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  • Localism in broadcasting (Localism Task Force)
     
  • Broadcast Station Self-Inspection Checklists for AM, FM, LPFM, and TV

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  • Broadcast Station Totals (1990 to Present). Numbers of AM, FM, TV, and translator stations.

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  • Engineering and Legal documents pertaining to radio, of historical and topical interest, as collected by the Audio Division. A Subject List is available to show the various subject areas. Updated as needed.

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  • FCC Word / Number Search. Use the Word / Number Search to help locate Public Notices referencing an application by entering the right-hand part of the application file number, (e.g., 20010612ACX), or Dockets by entering the Docket number (e.g. 98-93)

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  • MB Tower Siting Information Guide was created at the request of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regarding the inclusion of broadcast facilities in the March 16, 2001 nationwide Programmatic Agreement on Collocation of communications antennae. It is also intended to help State Historic Preservation Officers as well as Tribal Historic Preservation Officers understand broadcast facilities.

  • Nationwide Programmatic Agreement: A Learning Interactive Unit for the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

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  • Noncommercial Educational (NCE) FM Mutually Exclusive Application Determinations

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  • Obscenity, Indecency, and Profanity is handled by the Enforcement Bureau. [ On-line complaint form ].

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  • Radio Broadcast Renewal Applications -- All radio broadcast station licenses will expire between 2003 and 2006. Licensees will need to file a renewal application for the next license term. This page provides information about the radio broadcast license renewal process.

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  • AM and FM Radio Rules in Part 73 of Title 47 may be retrieved by rule section number. FM Translator and Booster Rules in Part 74 may also be retrieved in this manner. You may also Search for any Rule in Title 47 (47 CFR -------) by the rule section number.
     
  • Religious Broadcasting -- The FCC will not prohibit religious organizations' ownership of broadcast stations. A petition (RM-2493, erroneously attributed to Madalyn Murray O'Hare ) which had requested that the FCC make changes was denied in 1975 (54 FCC 2d 941). Excerpts from that proceeding are located here.

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  • Subcarriers / SCA (Subsidiary Communications Authority) Additional audio or data channels transmitted along with the main station signal.

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  • Special Temporary Authority for licensed broadcast radio stations.

    • Major Subject Areas for the Audio Division

  • AM page
  • FM page
  • LPFM information
  • Fact Sheets and Information
  • Information about Applications
  • Broadcast Information from Outside the Audio Division

    Quick EDOCS / ECFS Search

    If you know the FCC reference number for a particular Commission item released in 2000 or later, e.g. FCC 00-29, DA 02-222, you can use this quick search by selecting the appropriate type under "EDOCS" and specifying the output type. Docket and rulemaking numbers (e.g., Docket 99-25) released since approximately 1990 can be searched by selecting the appropriate type under ECFS (no document type needed). Not all documents may be available using this limited search.
    (Popup with more about this search function.)

    Selecting "EDOCS" or "ECFS" + Search will take you to the search pages for these systems.

     
    		Document, Docket,
    or RM (number only):
    		      
    (EDOCS searches
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    Pending rulemaking proceedings (PRM) in the Media Bureau. Rulemaking proceedings that have not been assigned a document number, and that were filed in 2002 or later, may be retrieved here. This search retreives all such pending rulemaking proceedings in a given year, and may contain staff decisions about such rulemaking proposals.


    Media Bureau PRM Search

     Year:        

    For FM or TV allotment rulemaking requests, you can use the FM Query or the TV Query to locate the name of the proponent, then search for that name in the PRM output using the Find or Search-In-Page function of your browser. Note that different items pertaining to the same proposal may be listed under different years.


    April 24, 2008

  • Media Bureau Released Updated Version of 'The Public and Broadcasting' and Announces that Broadcast Information Specialists Are Available for Public Inquiries, Public Notice, DA 08-940, released April 24, 2008. [ PDF | Word ].

    • April 24, 2008

  • Media Bureau Makes Available FM Allotment Finder Tool, Public Notice, DA 08-955, released April 24, 2008. [ PDF | Word ].

    • April 21, 2008

  • Media Bureau Is Prepared to Grant Certain Auction No. 62 Broadcast Construction Permit Applications, Public Notice, Report No. AUC-06-62-R, DA 08-912, released April 21, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ]. Final payments due by May 5, 2008.

    • April 7, 2008

  • Media Bureau Suspends Dismissal of FM Translator Applications Related to Processing Cap (MM Docket No. 99-25), Public Notice, DA 08-801, released April 7, 2008. [ PDF | Word ].

    • April 7, 2008

  • Media Bureau Is Prepared to Grant Auction No. 37 Broadcast Construction Permit Applications, Public Notice, Report No. AUC-04-37-AM, DA 08-811, released April 7, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ].

    • April 3, 2008

  • FCC Commences 2008 EEO Audits, Public Notice, DA 08-787, released April 3, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. April 2008 TV and radio audits: [ PDF | Word ].

    • March 7, 2008

  • Media Bureau Announces Groups of Mutually Exclusive Applications Submitted in the October 2007 Filing Window for Noncommercial Educational FM Stations, Public Notice, DA 08-536, released March 7, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ]. Groups of four or fewer applications were listed. Comparative analyses to begin after 30 days unless notified by the applicants of time share or settlement negotiations.

    • March 7, 2008

  • Media Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Dates for Low Power FM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Notice, MM Docket 99-325, DA 08-531, released March 7, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Comments due 04/07/2008; reply comments due 04/21/2008.

    • March 5, 2008

  • FCC Adopts Rules to Promote Diversification of Broadcast Ownership, Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, MB Dockets 07-294, 06-121, 07-277, and MM Dockets 02-277, 01-317, 01-235, and 00-244, DA 07-217, released March 5, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Martin: [ PDF | Word ]. Copps: [ PDF | Word ]. Adelstein: [ PDF | Word ]. Tate: [ PDF | Word ]. McDowell: [ PDF | Word ].

    • March 4, 2008

  • Media Bureau Invites Applicants to Select FM Translator Applications for Voluntary Dismissal to Comply With Processing Cap, Public Notice, DA 08-496, released March 4, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Dismissal requests must be filed within 30 days.

    • February 29, 2008

  • Media Bureau Provides Guidance for Continued Presunrise and Postsunset Operations During March 2008 by AM Stations In Areas With Daylight Saving Time , Public Notice, DA 08-482, released February 29, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. DST commences on March 9 in 2008.

    • February 22, 2008

  • Media Bureau Adopts Simplified Application Procedures for AM Nondirectional Valcom Antennas, Public Notice, DA 08-448, released February 22, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment B: [ PDF | Word ].

    • February 19, 2008

  • Media Bureau Is Prepared to Grant Certain Auction No. 62 Broadcast Construction Permit Applications, Public Notice, Report No. AUC-06-62-Q, DA 08-363, released February 19, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ]. Final payments due 03/04/2008.

    • January 24, 2008

  • Broadcast Localism, Report on Broadcast Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, MB Docket 04-233, FCC 07-218, released January 24, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Martin: [ PDF | Word ]. Copps: [ PDF | Word ]. Adelstein: [ PDF | Word ]. Tate: [ PDF | Word ]. McDowell: [ PDF | Word ].

    • January 24, 2008

  • Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O), FCC 08-3, released January 24, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Copps: [ PDF | Word ]. Adelstein: [ PDF | Word ]. Granted applications for consent to transfer of control of Clear Channel Communications, inc.

    • January 22, 2008

  • AM Auction No. 84 Singleton Applications Dismissed for Failure to File, Public Notice, DA 08-138, released January 22, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment D-3: [ PDF | Word ].

    • January 18, 2008

  • A-O Broadcasting Corporation, re license status of DKTMN, Cloudcroft, NM, Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O), FCC 08-10, released January 18, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Unauthorized operation does not count toward Section 312(g) of the Communications Act, that a station resume broadcasting within on year of going silent. Petitions for reconsideration and application for review were denied.

    • January 18, 2008

  • Eagle Broadcasting Group, Ltd., for silent FM station DKVEZ (FM), Parker, AZ, Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O), FCC 08-9, released January 18, 2008. [ PDF | Word ]. Four petitions for reconsideration were denied. Unauthorized operation cannot be used to avoid the loss of station license and operating authority under Section 312(g) of the Communications Act, after being silent for one year.

    • 2007

    December 11, 2007

  • Creation of a Low Power FM Radio Service , Third Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, MM Docket 99-25, FCC 07-204, released December 11, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Martin: [ PDF | Word ]. Copps: [ PDF | Word ]. Adelstein: [ PDF | Word ]. Tate: [ PDF | Word ]. McDowell: [ PDF | Word ].

    • November 27, 2007

  • FCC Adopts Rules to Promote the Growth of the Low Power FM Radio Service, News Release, released November 27, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Martin: [ PDF | Word ]. Copps: [ PDF | Word ]. Adelstein: [ PDF | Word ]. Tate: [ PDF | Word ]. McDowell: [ PDF | Word ].

    • November 8, 2007

  • Window Opened to Expedite Grant of New NCE FM Station Construction Permits; Bureau Will Accept Settlements and Technical Amendments , Public Notice, DA 07-4571, released November 8, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Settlements and technical amendments filing period ends 01/07/2008.

    • November 8, 2007

  • Media Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Dates For the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Amendment of Service and and Eligibility Rules for FM Broadcast Translator Stations, Public Notice, MB Docket 07-172, DA 07-4572, released November 8, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Comments due by 01/08/2008, reply comments due 02/04/2008.

    • October 26, 2007

  • Media Bureau Provides Guidance for Continued Presunrise and Postsunset Operation During November 2007 by AM Stations In Areas With Daylight Saving Time, Public Notice, DA 07-4390, released October 26, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].

    • October 24, 2007

  • Emergency Broadcast Licensing For Southern California Broadcast Stations -- The Media Bureau's CDBS application filing system is temporarily down. To facilitate the issuance of emergency authorizations during this outage, the Media Bureau has established the following emergency contacts for radio and television stations impacted by the wildfires:

    Radio Stations Television Stations
    Charles N. "Norm" Miller, Engineer Kevin Harding, Engineer
    Audio Division, Media Bureau Video Division, Media Bureau
    Phone: 202-418-2767 Phone: 202-418-7077
    Email: Charles Miller Email: Kevin Harding
       
    Peter H. Doyle, Chief Barbara A. Kreisman, Chief
    Audio Division, Media Bureau Video Division, Media Bureau
    Phone: 202-418-2700 Phone: 202-418-1600
    E-mail: Peter Doyle E-mail: Barbara Kreisman

    • October 19, 2007

  • Media Bureau to Extend Window for NCE FM New Station and Major Change Applications; Window Will Close on October 22, 2007, Public Notice, DA 07-4355, released October 19, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. NCE window filing period extended to 2 PM Eastern Time on Monday, October 22, 2007.

    • October 18, 2007

  • Media Bureau Announces Mandatory Electronic Filing of Broadcast EEO Mid-Term Report (FCC Form 397) , Public Notice, DA 07-4262, released October 18, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].

    • October 10, 2007

  • FCC Adopts Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications in October 12 - October 19, 2007 Window, Public Notice, MM Docket 95-31, FCC 07-179, released October 10, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. 10 application filing limit by any party for new noncommercial educational (NCE) stations in the October 12-19,2007 application filing window period.

    • October 2, 2007

  • Clarification of Notification Procedures for Dual Antenna Hybrid Digital Operation, Public Notice, DA 07-4114, released October 2, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Effective date of the new notification procedures for dual antenna hybrid systems was September 14, 2007.

    • September 4, 2007

  • Media Bureau Is Prepared to Grant Certain Auction No. 62 Broadcast Construction Permit Applications, Public Notice, DA 07-3800, released September 4, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ].

    • August 30, 2007

  • Supplemental AM New Station and Major Modification Auction Filing Window for Auction 84; Minor Modification Application Freeze , Public Notice, Report No. AUC-07-84F, DA 07-3793, released August 30, 2007. [ PDF | Word ]. Attachment A: [ PDF | Word ]. Notice and filing requirements regarding October 1-5, 2007; Window for certain AM construction permit applications for Rockland County, NY; Notice regarding freeze on the filing of AM expanded band minor change construction permit applications.

    • August 15, 2007

  • Amendment of Service and Eligibility Rules for Translator Stations, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), MB Docket 07-172, FCC 07-144, released August 15, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].

    • August 9, 2007

  • FCC Seeks Comment on Proposed Application Limit for NCE FM New Station Applications in October 12 - October 19, 2007 Window, Public Notice, MM Docket 95-31, FCC 07-145, released August 9, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].

    • August 9, 2007

  • Media Bureau Announces NCE New Station and Major Change Filing Procedures for October 12 - October 19, 2007 Window; Limited Application Filing Freeze to Commence on September 8, 2007, Public Notice, DA 07-3521, released August 9, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].

    • August 7, 2007

  • Reply Comment Date Extended to September 7, 2007, On Proposed Rules Permitting Antenna Modeling to Verify AM Directional Performance , Public Notice, MM Docket 93-177 , DA 07-3520, released August 7, 2007. [ PDF | Word ].