PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
 St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 18-329
Released: April 2, 2018
COMMENT DEADLINES SET FOR NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON 
ELIMINATION OF OBLIGATION TO FILE BROADCAST MIDTERM REPORT (FORM 397)
MB Docket No. 18-23
Comment Date:  April 30, 2018
Reply Comment Date:  May 15, 2018
On February 22, 2018, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in 
MB Docket No. 18-20 that proposes to eliminate the requirement in Section 73.2080(f)(2) of the 
Commission’s rules that certain broadcast television and radio stations
1
 file the Broadcast Mid-Term 
Report (Form 397).
2
 The Commission set deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 45 
days, respectively, after publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.
3
 A summary of the NPRM was 
published in the Federal Register on March 21, 2018, which inaccurately established a 60 and 90 day 
period for comments and reply comments, respectively.
4
 On April 2, 2018, a correction was published in 
the Federal Register which adjusts the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments.
5
 Thus, 
comments must be submitted no later than April 30, 2018. Reply comments must be submitted no later 
than May 15, 2018. Commenters must follow the filing instructions provided in paragraph 15 of the 
NPRM.
6
  The NPRM is also available on the Commission’s website.
7
1
 See 47 CFR 73.2080(f)(2) (stating that “The Commission will conduct a mid-term review of the employment 
practices of each broadcast television station [employing five or more persons in full-time positions] and each radio 
station that is part of an employment unit of more than ten full-time employees four years following the station's 
most recent license expiration date as specified in § 73.1020.”).
2
 Elimination of Obligation to File Broadcast Mid-Term Report (Form 397) Under Section 73.2080(f)(2), MB 
Docket No. 18-23, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 18-20 (Rel. Feb 22, 2018) (NPRM); FCC Form 397, 
available at https://transition.fcc.gov/Forms/Form397/397.pdf.
3
 NPRM at 1.
4
 See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/21/2018-05726/elimination-of-obligation-to-file-
broadcast-mid-term-report-form-397. 
5
 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/02/2018-06599/elimination-of-obligation-to-file-broadcast-
mid-term-report-form-397-under-section-732080f2. 
6
 NPRM at 7, para. 15.
7
 See https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-18-20A1.pdf.
2People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities 
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
For further information, contact Jonathan Mark, Jonathan.Mark@fcc.gov or (202) 418-3634.  
Press inquiries should be directed to Janice Wise, Janice.Wise@fcc.gov or (202) 418-8165. 
-FCC-