Pandemic Slows Media Bureau Video Division's Renewal Process

The FCC Media Bureau’s Video Division is “running a little behind schedule” in handling broadcast license renewals because of the pandemic, said Senior Attorney-Adviser David Roberts at an FCBA event Monday. “We are living in a COVID world” and working remotely, “so we ask you not to hold it against us,” he said. Those difficulties occasionally lead to a broadcaster's renewal not being completed by the day its license expires, he said. Stations seeking such renewals are themselves being slowed by the difficulties of the pandemic, he said. There’s “nothing magic about that day,” Roberts said. “It just means we’re working through your group.” The Video Division is “flooded” with “several significant work streams,” said Chief Barbara Kreisman, citing the license renewal season, repacking reimbursement, low-power TV stations converting to digital by this summer’s deadline, and a recent host of stations requesting channel changes. Takeovers are also “heating up,” Kreisman said. Disorganized online public files can cause a station renewal application to take longer, Roberts said. He said the agency’s shift to the license management system for the renewal process, from the consolidated database system, was a major change. “Getting used to LMS has been an adjustment,” he said. Video Division staff repeatedly said it's best for stations anticipating problems with their renewal applications -- political file violations, late filings, kidvid issues -- to be as clear as possible in their filings and contact the division to discuss the matter. “Reach out in advance,” Roberts said. “Be thoughtful on disclosures.”