Public inspection file checklist for radio stations

Commercial AM and FM stations keep their public inspection file online, in the file the FCC hosts at publicfiles.fcc.gov (47 CFR 73.3526(b)(2)). This checklist follows the rule’s list of contents. Noncommercial educational stations follow a parallel rule, 73.3527. Not every item applies to every station.

Items most stations keep

Authorization: the station’s license and other authorizations (73.3526(e)(1)).
Applications and related materials (e)(2).
Ownership reports and related materials (e)(5): the most recent complete ownership report, kept until a new complete report is filed. Biennial reports are due December 1 of odd-numbered years, current as of October 1 (73.3615).
Political file (e)(6).
Equal Employment Opportunity file (e)(7), including the annual EEO public file report for employment units with five or more full-time employees (73.2080).
Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists (e)(12): due by the 10th day of the month after each quarter and kept until final action on the station’s next license renewal application. See the full guide.
Local public notice announcements (e)(13): at renewal, a certification with the dates and times the announcements aired, placed within 7 days of the last one.

Items that apply only in some cases

Citizen agreements (e)(3).
Contour maps (e)(4).
Material relating to an FCC investigation or complaint (e)(10).
Time brokerage agreements (e)(14) and joint sales agreements (e)(16).
Foreign sponsorship disclosures (e)(19).
Booster public interest certifications, for program-originating FM boosters (e)(20).

The station’s own website

A station with a website links to its online public file from the home page and posts contact information for someone who can help people with disabilities with questions about the file. The online file also shows the station’s address, phone number and the email address of its designated contact for public file questions (73.3526(b)(2)(ii)).

How long items stay

Retention differs by item. Quarterly lists and EEO materials stay until final action on the next renewal; an ownership report stays until a newer complete one is filed; a local notice certification stays as long as the application it refers to. Check 73.3526 or your counsel for the rest.

Want to see your station’s file at a glance? The free check covers the quarterly lists; the Desk’s renewal readiness report adds file counts and latest uploads for every folder.

Sources

StationClerk is independent software. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Communications Commission, and nothing it shows or produces is legal advice. Each station is responsible for its own public inspection file and quarterly lists.