Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
May 1, 2018
                                                                  
                                                                
                                                                                                                              DA 18-441
SMALL ENTITY COMPLIANCE GUIDE
Amendment of Parts 74, 76 and 78 of the Commission’s Rules
Regarding Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules
FCC 18-16
MB Docket No. 17-231
Released:  February 20, 2018
This Guide is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 212 of the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.  It is intended to help small entities—small businesses, 
small organizations (non-profits), and small governmental jurisdictions—comply with the revised 
rules adopted in the above-referenced Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) 
rulemaking dockets.  This Guide is not intended to replace or supersede these rules, but to facilitate 
compliance with the rules.  Although we have attempted to cover all parts of the rules that might be 
especially important to small entities, the coverage may not be exhaustive.  This Guide cannot 
anticipate all situations in which the rules apply.   Furthermore, the Commission retains the 
discretion to adopt case-by-case approaches, where appropriate, that may differ from this Guide.  
Any decision regarding a particular small entity will be based on the statute and any relevant rules. 
In any civil or administrative action against a small entity for a violation of rules, the content of the 
Small Entity Compliance Guide may be considered as evidence of the reasonableness or 
appropriateness of proposed fines, penalties or damages.  Interested parties are free to file comments 
regarding this Guide and the appropriateness of its application to a particular situation. The FCC 
will then consider whether the recommendations or interpretations in the Guide are appropriate in 
that situation.  The FCC may decide to revise this Guide without public notice to reflect changes in 
the FCC’s approach to implementing a rule, or it may clarify or update the text of the Guide.  Direct 
your comments and recommendations, or calls for further assistance, to the FCC’s Consumer 
Center:
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
Videophone: 1-844-4-FCC-ASL (1-844-432-2275)
Fax: 1-866-418-0232
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROCEEDING ...................................................................................1
II. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................................1
III. RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS .................................................2
IV.        IMPLEMENTATION DATE ......................................................................................................2
V.         INTERNET LINKS ......................................................................................................................2
                               
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I.            OBJECTIVES OF THE PROCEEDING
Through this Report and Order in MB Docket No. 17-231, the Commission eliminates provisions 
of the Commission’s rules that obligate certain broadcasters and cable entities to maintain paper copies of 
Commission rules.
Specifically, the Report and Order eliminates:  (i) the requirement that licensees or permittees of 
low power TV, TV translator, and TV booster stations maintain a copy of Volume I and Volume III of the 
Commission’s rules; (ii) the requirement that licensees or permittees of FM translator and FM booster 
stations maintain a copy of Volumes I (Parts 0, 1, 2 and 17) and III (Parts 73 and 74) of the Commission’s 
rules; (iii) the requirement that certain cable operators maintain a copy of Part 76 of the Commission’s 
rules and, if subject to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules contained in Part 11 of such rules, an 
EAS Operating Handbook; and (iv) the requirements that cable television relay station (CARS) licensees 
maintain a copy of Part 78 of the Commission’s rules and, in cases where aeronautical obstruction 
markings of antennas are required, Part 17 of such rules.  The Report and Order finds that eliminating 
these recordkeeping requirements will remove an outdated and unnecessary regulatory burden that may 
impede competition and innovation in media markets. 
II. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Report and Order eliminates provisions of the Commission’s rules that obligate the 
following broadcast and cable entities to maintain paper copies of Commission rules: (1) low power TV, 
TV translator, and TV booster stations, (2) FM translator and FM booster stations, (3) cable operators 
serving 1,000 or more subscribers, and (4) cable television relay station (CARS).
Low power TV, TV translator, and TV booster stations (47 CFR § 74.769)
? The Report and Order eliminates rule provisions requiring that stations maintain a current copy 
of Volume I and Volume III of the Commission’s rules, and retains provisions requiring the 
subject entities to be familiar with the rules governing their operations. 
FM translator and FM booster stations (47 CFR § 74.1269)
? The Report and Order eliminates rule provisions requiring that stations maintain a current copy of 
Volumes I (Parts 0, 1, 2 and 17) and III (Parts 73 and 74) of the Commission’s rules, and retains 
provisions requiring the subject entities to be familiar with the rules governing their operations.
Cable operators serving 1,000 or more subscribers (47 CFR § 76.1714(a))
? The Report and Order eliminates rule provisions requiring that cable operators maintain a current 
copy of Part 76 of the Commission’s rules and, if subject to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) 
rules contained in Part 11, an EAS Operating Handbook. The Report and Order retains provisions 
requiring the subject cable entities to be familiar with the rules governing their operations.
Cable television relay station (CARS) (47 CFR §§ 76.1714(c), 78.67)
? The Report and Order eliminates rule provisions requiring that CARS licensees maintain a 
current copy of Part 78 of the Commission’s rules and, in cases where aeronautical obstruction 
markings of antennas are required, a current copy of Part 17.  The Report and Order retains 
provisions requiring the subject cable entities to be familiar with the rules governing their 
operations.
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III. RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The Commission’s actions in the Report and Order did not create any new recordkeeping or 
reporting requirements.
IV. IMPLEMENTATION DATE
The rules in the Report and Order became effective upon publication of the text or summary 
thereof in the Federal Register, i.e., on March 30, 2018.
V. INTERNET LINKS
A copy of the Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules Order, is available at: 
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-346577A1.pdf. 
A copy of the Federal Register Summary of the Maintenance of Copies of FCC Rules Order
is available at: 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/30/2018-06029/maintenance-of-copies-of-fcc-rules.