Attention TV Broadcasters: Your reports on ancillary and supplementary services (and required fees) are due by Dec. 1.The FCC on Monday issued a Public Notice reminding all full-power, Low-Power, translator and Class A TV stations — both commercial and noncommercial (if they have digital operations) — that they have until the first day of December to file a report that states whether or not they provide ancillary and supplementary services through their broadcast spectrum.If they do provide these services, then they’ll need to pay a fee of 5% of gross revenues received by the TV station for such services.As noted by David Oxenford, a partner at the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, at the Broadcast Law Blog, “Ancillary and supplemental services do not include non-subscription video channels delivered directly to the public, but would include any other services proved over the station’s spectrum from which the station receives compensation, including “computer software distribution, data transmissions, teletext, interactive materials, aural messages, paging services, or audio signals, [and] subscription video.”
All stations must file the report – even if they don’t receive any such revenue. They must state that fact on the report, Oxenford says.
Additionally, the Public Notice noted that the report needs to be filed on FCC Form 2100 Schedule G, using the FCC’s new “Licensing and Management System” electronic filing system (LMS).
This previously had been filed on FCC Form 317, Oxenford says.
Stations that owe a fee must also submit a Form 159. Filing details are in the notice.
