Due dates for expired/expiring construction permits, political file, STAs and §312(g) handling for silent stations. REC Seventh Notification.
This is hopefully our last notification for FCC post-shutdown resumption of operations.
The Media Bureau has issued a Public Notice in respect to the License Management System (LMS) used for broadcast applications. LMS will return to service on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
For construction permits that expired during the Government shutdown or after the shutdown up to and including November 18, a license to cover application must be filed by November 28, 2025. Some permits can be tolled pursuant to §73.3598(b) & (c) of the FCC Rules.
For silent stations where the statutory 12 months of non-operation fell within the shutdown period or up until November 18, must resume operations by 11:59PM EST on November 18 in order to avoid statutory expiration of the license under §312(g) of the Communications Act.
Consistent with the REC Sixth Notification, any Special Temporary Authority (STA) that was/is set to expire between October 1 and November December 4, 2025 have been extended to December 5. Make sure your station restores licensed operation or files for an extension by December 5 (this includes silent STAs where the §312(g) period has not been reached).
In a separate public notice for commercial full service stations, the FCC has set several filing windows for uploading political file data to upload records of requests to purchase broadcast time that were received between October 1 and November 12, 2025. The filing window dates vary by state as set forth:
November 19~25, 2025 - for stations in NY, NJ and CT.
December 1~8, 2025 - for stations in DC, MD, VA and WV.
December 9~16, 2025 - for stations in CA.
December 17~24, 2025 - for stations in all other states and territories.
This is hopefully the last REC Notification regarding post-shutdown resumption of operations at the FCC. It should not have taken seven notices, but this year, it did.