This page provides information to help guide visitors through the FCC’s facility security screening process and COVID-19 safety protocols for the FCC’s Headquarters and other facilities.

Security Protocols

Appointments are required for all visitors at all FCC facilities except when attending public events such as the FCC’s Monthly Open Meetings, meetings of the FCC’s Federal Advisory Committees and any other FCC-hosted onsite event open to the general public. Attendees at such public events do not need to make appointments in advance of arriving. We ask, however, that any visitors planning to attend an FCC Open Meeting or similar event in person arrive early to allow ample time for processing through the Commission’s security screening.

Media attending in-person FCC events can contact the FCC’s Office of Media Relations and/or, for Open Meetings, review that month’s Tentative Agenda notice for guidance.

Other than for public events, all visitors are required to have scheduled in advance an appointment with an FCC contact. The FCC contact shall be responsible for escorting the visitor throughout their time in the FCC facility. Visitors without appointments and a designated FCC point of contact will not be permitted to access Commission facilities.

We encourage all visitors to arrive early for scheduled appointments to allow ample time for security screening.

Security Screening at FCC Headquarters and Gettysburg Facilities

All visitors are required to go through the security screening process in the main lobby, including:

• Place personal items on x-ray machine.
• Walk through the metal detectors.
• Once screening is completed, proceed to guard desk and present a valid, Government-issued ID.
• FCC security guards from the Federal Protective Service will sign the visitor in, take photo, and issue a visitor badge which must be prominently displayed at all times above the waist.
• FCC security guards will contact the visitor's designated point of contact (POC) for confirmation of the visitor, and their arrival.
• FCC security guards will direct the visitor to stand to the side in the lobby to await the FCC POC.
• The FCC POC will meet the visitor in the lobby and escort them throughout their time in the building.
• As required by federal COVID-19 safety protocols, all visitors to FCC’s facilities in any county where the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH will be required to wear a “high quality” mask throughout their visit to that facility. "High-quality” masks or respirators include respirators that meet U.S. or international standards (e.g., N-95, KN95, KF94), masks that meet a standard (e.g., ASTM), or “procedure” or “surgical”-style masks.
• When exiting the FCC building, the visitor should return their badge at the guard desk.

Security Screening at Columbia

• All visitors should stop at the guard house at the entrance to the FCC facility in Columbia, Maryland.
• The visitor must present a valid, Government-issued ID to the security guard and inform the guard of their FCC POC, whom the guard will contact.
• Once cleared, the guard will direct the visitor to proceed into the facility.
• As required by federal COVID-19 safety protocols, all visitors to FCC’s facilities in any county where the COVID-19 Community Level is HIGH, will be required to wear a “high quality” mask throughout their visit to that facility. "High-quality” masks or respirators include respirators that meet U.S. or international standards (e.g., N-95, KN95, KF94), masks that meet a standard (e.g., ASTM), or “procedure” or “surgical”-style masks.

Related Materials

• CDC Site Designating Community Transmission Levels by County Nation-wide
• Visitor Guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force
• Additional information on mask-wearing and “high quality” masks may be found at: Updated Implementation Guidance on COVID-19 Community Levels | Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, Updated August 17, 2022