The Telecommunications Act of 1996 provided for the expiration of broadcast licenses as a matter of law upon a station's failure to operate for 12 consecutive months. The Commission still has discretion to terminate licenses under existing revocation and cancellation policies in situations in which the automatic expiration provisions do not apply.

It is imperative that licensees notify the Commission in writing when broadcast operations are resumed. The licensee of any silent station, including the licensees on the AM and FM Silent Lists, who has resumed operation, or who resumes operation at a future date, must so notify the Commission. Written communications regarding silent stations should be mailed to:

The following Silent Station lists are generally updated on the 1st of each month, or the first business day thereafter. This list only includes stations that have been silent for more than 2 months.

List users should be aware that silent stations may not be available for sale. The FCC does not maintain any list of stations that may be available for purchase.

Deleted or Cancelled Stations. Stations that lose their license are not immediately available for purchase or application by other interested parties. In the case of AM stations, the potential applicant must await the next application filing window period, and at that time file an application for a new AM station, including all technical showings to demonstrate the lack of interference to other AM stations. When an FM station is deleted or cancelled, the allotment (or placeholder) remains, but no application can be filed until the next auction/application filing window. In both services, new station facilities are auctioned, as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Notifications and Requests for Special Temporary Authority (STA). Stations that go silent should notify Ms. Williams by letter within 10 days of ceasing operation. The letter should include a brief explanation of the reason for ceasing operation and an expected date (if possible) for the station's return to licensed operation. Short periods of discontinued operation (less than 10 days) need not be notified. Tower obstruction lighting must be maintained without interruption during all periods of silence to protect general aviation.

If the station's silent period is expected to last beyond 30 days, Special Temporary Authority is necessary (see 47 CFR 73.1635). Station licensees must submit the STA request (in triplicate) through the Office of the Secretary, FCC, and clearly explain in a cover letter that the request is for silent station authority and is therefore exempt from application filing fees. After review, the staff may grant Special Temporary Authority for a period not exceeding 180 days, but extensions may be approved upon the submission of a new STA request.

This page is located at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/status/silent.html.