FCC Hits 'Pause' On Biennial Ownership Reports

The FCC’s Media Bureau has announced an 18-month waiver of the biennial ownership report filing requirement for full-power radio and television stations, originally set to begin on October 2, 2025.

Typically, commercial stations file FCC Form 323, and noncommercial stations file Form 323-E in odd-numbered years. 

The decision follows feedback from broadcasters, including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), as part of the FCC’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” proceeding (GN Docket No. 25-133).

The NAB and other broadcasters argued that the reports, which often involve resubmitting unchanged ownership data from prior filings, are redundant and burdensome, with information already tracked on station licenses. They suggested limiting filings to instances of actual ownership changes or eliminating the requirement entirely. 

While no final decision has been made on abolishing the rule, the Media Bureau cited “good cause” to pause the requirement for 18 months, setting a new filing deadline of June 1, 2027, pending further review.

This waiver aligns with the FCC’s broader effort to eliminate outdated regulations, with a vote scheduled for August 2025 to remove 98 redundant broadcast rules, including 43 full rule sections, 28 sub-paragraphs or definitions, and 28 legacy reference rules.