PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: https://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 16-1135 Released: October 4, 2016 MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES BETA TESTING OF POST-INCENTIVE AUCTION BROADCASTER RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT SYSTEM Broadcasters Invited to Test New FCC Form 2100, Schedule 399 GN Docket No. 12-268 The Media Bureau announces a limited beta test of the Incentive Auction Broadcaster Relocation Reimbursement System (FCC Form 2100, Schedule 399, commonly known as Form 399). Television stations reassigned to new channels and MVPDs that carry those stations will file Form 399 to claim reimbursement from the $1.75 billion TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund for expenses they reasonably incur in connection with the post-incentive auction repack. 1 Form 399 was released by the Media Bureau on October 30, 2015. 2 Beginning October 4, 2016, broadcasters will have access to a test environment where they will be able to interact and familiarize themselves with an updated version of the Form 399. 3 Parties accessing the Form 399 beta test environment are invited to provide feedback on the form and the test environment by November 4, 2016. The beta environment automatically will be open to all broadcasters with an active facility associated with their FRN and password in the Commission’s License and Management System (LMS) database. 1 The Commission established the post-incentive auction process for reimbursing eligible entities and delegated authority to the Media Bureau to develop the form to be used by entities to claim reimbursement, to develop a catalog of eligible expenses and to make other determinations regarding eligible costs and the reimbursement process. Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, GN Docket No. 12-268, Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd 6567, 6815-6820 (2014), affirmed, National Association of Broadcasters v. FCC, No. 14-1154 (D.C. Cir. June 12, 2015) (“Incentive Auction R&O”); see also Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, GN Docket 12-268, Second Order on Reconsideration, FCC 15-69, 30 FCC Rcd 6746 (2015). 2 Media Bureau Finalizes Reimbursement Form for Submission to OMB and Adopts Catalog of Expenses, GN Docket No. 12-268, Public Notice, 30 FCC Rcd 11701 (2015) (Reimbursement Form PN). 3 Within three months of release of the Channel Reassignment Public Notice, broadcasters and MVPDs incurring expenses related to the channel repack will submit an estimate of their expenses. Broadcasters will also submit information about their current equipment and construction plans. Incentive Auction R&O, 29 FCC Rcd at 6817. Form 399 includes the catalog of expenses embedded within it. The catalog of expenses is not exhaustive, but includes baseline costs for and services commonly required for constructing new broadcast facilities. Estimates that exceed those in the catalog of expenses must be accompanied by an explanation. Cost documentation (invoices, contracts, etc.) must be uploaded along with each request for reimbursement submitted throughout the reimbursement period. See Reimbursement Form PN, 30 FCC Rcd 11701. 2As noted above, the beta version of Form 399 will be available on October 4, 2016 for broadcasters to access in LMS. Parties interested in taking part in the Form 399 beta test should note the following: ? The test environment can be accessed at: https://apps2demo.fcc.gov/dataentry/login.html ? A quick start guide is available at: http://www.fcc.gov/incentiveauctions/reimbursement ? Users should submit feedback and report bugs by e-mailing form399beta@fcc.gov. Additionally, please note the beta environment continues to be under active development. As a result of hardware and software changes, users may experience periodic outages. In such cases, please try to access the system later. For persistent issues, please use the email address provided. These issues will be resolved prior to the formal release of Form 399. These issues are unique to the beta test environment and will not occur once the final Form 399 is deployed in the production environment in LMS. For additional information on this proceeding, contact Jeffrey Neumann, Jeffrey.Neumann@fcc.gov, (202- 418-2046), or Raphael Sznajder, Raphael.Sznajder@fcc.gov, (202-418- 1648) of the Media Bureau. Press contact: Charlie Meisch, Charles.Meisch@fcc.gov, (202- 418-2943). - FCC -