Shutdown: Sunday (1/21) 11PM update

As the news has been reporting, there appears to be a vote scheduled at 1AM (two hours from now) to consider a continuing resolution to keep the government open until early February.  

The FCC had announced on Friday that in the event of a partial shutdown (which we apparently are in right now), the FCC will be operating business as usual on Monday and is expected to remain open and paying full staff until Friday.  It is anticipated that the FCC will keep an emergency staff on board as with the 2013 shutdown but do not expect any application processing or the availability of web services.  Also, unless you hear otherwise after the shutdown, any filings that were due during the shutdown will be due at the end of the day that the FCC reopens.  We anticipate a short extension.

If the shutdown is prolonged and the FCC closes, then this will mean that FCC systems may go down as early as close of business on Friday.  For those needing to file in the cross-serivice FM translator window, this will leave a short opportunity for applicants to be able to file Form 175 before the systems are taken down.  Form 175 can't even be prepared prior to the opening of the window.  Short form 349 applications can now be "staged" in CDBS.  

When the government shut down in 2013, it also happened in the middle of a broadcast filing window (LPFM).  When the FCC resumed operations, they extended the filing window.  REC anticipates the FCC will do the same, especially since Form 175 can't be prepared in advance.

This can all change if government services are reinstated this week.

Just another reminder that this week is also a filing freeze for LPFM and FM translator modification applications.  During this time, you can still file license to cover applications, silent notifications, resumption of operations, special temporary authority applications, assignment and transfer applications.   Of course, we will need to keep a watch for any extension of the cross-service FM translator filing window as that would extend the LPFM & translator filing freeze. 

REC still has some availability and territory to handle last minute AM clients in this window.  Please contact REC if interested.

Have a great week everyone!

=m