Special Temporary Authority (STA)

FCC Bureaus and Offices issue Special Temporary Authority (STA) for those areas falling under their respective jurisdiction. They issue STAs for emergency situations, such as natural disasters, restoration of communications, or other short term operations. STAs may also be granted if an applicant can demonstrate extraordinary circumstances that require immediate communications and the applicant cannot wait for the normal licensing process to conclude.

First Responders and Public Safety entities should contact the PSHSB for assistance. PSHSB Help.

During normal FCC business hours--Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. E.T.--you need to contact the Bureau or Office that oversees your license to obtain a STA.

Outside of normal FCC business hours, you may contact the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau's Communications & Crisis Management Center (CCMC) at 202.418.1199.

Apart from getting a STA, in extraordinary circumstances, the Media Bureau (MB) may authorize AM and FM broadcasts to transmit emergency information. MB Help.

Government and some non-profit Public Safety entities are exempt from filing fees.