*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 6578.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 TWELFTH STREET, S. W.; TW- A325 WASHINGTON, D. C. 20554 News Media Information: (202) 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand: (202) 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov MASS MEDIA BUREAU IMPLEMENTS MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING OF FCC FORMS 301, 314, AND 315 DA 01- 283 Released: February 2, 2001 By this Public Notice the Mass Media Bureau announces mandatory electronic filing for the following FCC Forms: x Form 301, The Application for Construction Permit For Commercial Broadcast Station x Form 314, The Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License x Form 315, The Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Corporation Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License Mandatory electronic filing will commence on February 15, 2001. Paper versions of these forms will not be accepted for filing after February 14, 2001, unless accompanied by an appropriate request for waiver of the electronic filing requirement. Users can access the electronic filing system via the Internet from the Mass Media Bureau's Web Site at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ mmb Pursuant to the 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review -- Streamlining of Mass Media Applications, Rules, and Processes, 13 FCC Rcd 23056 (1998) (Streamlining Order), mandatory electronic filing was to commence six- months after a given form was made available for electronic use. On April 28, 2000, the Mass Media Bureau implemented the electronic forms filing component of the Radio and Television Broadcast Station Consolidated Database System (CDBS), making available for electronic use FCC Forms 301, 302- FM, 314, 315, 316 and 347. By Public Notice DA 00- 2390, released October 20, 2000, the Bureau required that FCC Forms 302- FM, 316 and 347 filed after October 31, 2000 be filed electronically. In that Public Notice, we declined to require mandatory electronic filing of FCC Forms 301, 314, and 315 because of difficulties with printing electronically filed forms. Since that Public Notice, we have implemented a simple method for displaying and printing in- progress and previously filed forms. This “one- button- printing” method is available on both the electronic filing system and the CDBS Public Access page, both accessible from the web site listed above. 1 2 In the Streamlining Order, which announced the Commission’s electronic filing requirement, the Commission recognized the need for limited waivers of this requirement in light of the “burden that electronic filing could place upon some licensees who are seeking to serve the public interest, with limited resources, and succeed in a highly competitive local environment.” 13 FCC Rcd at 23061. However, such waivers will not be routinely granted and the applicant must plead with particularity the facts and circumstances warranting relief. Instructions for use of the electronic filing system are available in the CDBS User’s Guide which can be accessed from the electronic filing web site. Special attention should be given to the details of the applicant account registration function, form filing function, and the fee form handling procedures, if a fee is required. Failure to follow the procedures in the User’s Guide may result in an application being dismissed, returned, or not considered as officially filed. Internet access to the CDBS public access system at the Commission's Web Site requires a user to have a browser such as Netscape version 3.04 or Internet Explorer version 3.51, or later. For technical assistance in running the system or to report technical problems with the system, please contact the CDBS Help Desk at (202) 418- 2MMB. To request additional information concerning specific broadcast applications, please call (202) 418- 2700 (radio forms) or (202) 418- 1600 (television forms). By: Chief, Mass Media Bureau -FCC- 2