The Federal Communications Commission has suspended the biennial filing requirement for its Form 323 and Form 323-E Ownership Reports until 2027. The reports, which are typically due by December 1 of odd-numbered years, require broadcast stations to disclose detailed information about their ownership structures. The FCC cited the need to implement technical and policy changes before proceeding with the next filing cycle.
In a public notice released July 26, the Commission said it would not initiate the biennial filing process for 2025 and would instead wait until the 2027 cycle. According to the agency, the delay allows the FCC to revise the forms in line with ongoing rulemaking proceedings and software upgrades.
“Given the need for updates and improvements to the filing system, it would not be prudent to require licensees to submit ownership data that may soon become obsolete,” the FCC said. It also noted that licensees still have an obligation to keep ownership information current by filing non-biennial updates as required.
The delay comes amid criticism from industry groups that the biennial process is cumbersome and redundant. Many broadcasters have advocated for streamlining the forms or reducing the frequency of the filings, particularly for noncommercial educational licensees, who file the less-detailed 323-E.
The National Association of Broadcasters and other stakeholders had previously asked the Commission to modernize the system, calling it outdated and unnecessarily complex. The FCC said those concerns would be part of its forthcoming review.
Until 2027, licensees will continue to use the current system for updates triggered by ownership changes but are off the hook for the broader biennial report for now. The next full filing requirement will cover ownership data as of October 1, 2027, with a likely due date of December 1 that year.