Federal Communications Commission DA 22-1060 DA 22-1060 Released: October 4, 2022 MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TO UPDATED VERSION OF CABLE OPERATIONS AND LICENSING SYSTEM (COALS) EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 18 Webinar to be held October 26 By this Public Notice, the Media Bureau announces that the Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS) is being modernized. Cable operators and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) that use COALS will experience improved security, reliability, and performance as a result of the new COALS platform. The new version of COALS also brings filings for the Cable Antenna Relay Service (CARS) CARS service provides point-to-point and mobile microwave services for cable operators, allowing the bridging of cable systems or the transmission of live programming. fully online and hosts the cable Equal Employment Opportunity annual filings. See Public Notice, DA 22-282, July 1, 2022 (reminding MVPD employment units with six or more full-time employees to file an FCC Form 396-C, Multichannel Video Programming Distributor EEO Program Annual Report by September 30, 2022 via the FCC’s website using the updated COALS). Timing. To effectuate this transition, as of Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 5 p.m. EST the current version of COALS will no longer accept filings. The legacy version of COALS is located at https://apps.fcc.gov/coals/. On Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 8 a.m. EST the updated version of COALS will be activated. Accordingly, COALS will be unavailable for the period between October 11, and October 18, 2022. The updated version of COALS will be available at https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/coals. System Transition. With limited exceptions, information and data contained in the existing version of the COALS system will be migrated to and available in the updated version of COALS when it becomes available on October 18, 2022. Filings submitted prior to the October 11, 2022 shut down which did not require filing fees or for which required filing fees have been submitted will be processed and migrated to the updated COALS. Similarly, CARS filings placed on public notice prior to October 11, 2022 will be processed and migrated. However, drafts of filings stored in the current version of COALS and filings with unpaid fees will not be processed or migrated and the associated fee requests will be cancelled. Filings to transfer community units (CUIDs) that have not been accepted by the recipient will also be cancelled. Cancelled filings may be refiled in the new system. If COALS users want access to drafts and unaccepted filing contained in the current version of COALS they are encouraged to download such materials prior to October 11, 2022. CARS Online Filing. In addition, the new version of COALS will enable the electronic filing of all CARS filings. Prior to the introduction of this updated version of COALS, CARS applications were submitted by email and using manual payment procedures. See Public Notice DA 20-1484, Dec. 16, 2020. CARS filings to be filed on the modernized COALS system will include filings for new licenses, major and minor modifications, Please note, however, there is a freeze on new licenses or major modifications in the 12.7-13.25 GHz band, effective September 19, 2022. See Public Notice DA 22-974, Sept. 19, 2022. license renewals, license cancellations, and requests for Special Temporary Authority (STAs). In cases of emergency involving danger to life or property or due to damage to equipment, STA requests may be made by other means. See 47 CFR §78.33. System Login. The updated version of COALS will require the use of a username and password from the Commission Registration System (CORES). For security purposes, the use of legacy “COALS ID” logins will be retired with this transition. All communities, licenses, systems, and filings in COALS will be linked to an FCC Registration Number (FRN) based on the most recent one used in the legacy system. Users with access to these existing FRNs and passwords will be able to delegate authority for that FRN to one or more new or existing CORES usernames. CORES tutorial videos are located at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fcc-registration-system-cores/commission-registration-system-video-tutorials to provide assistance with this process. The FRN associated with a particular community or filing will be visible in the new, public search and users may manage FRN associations in the new system. To manage CORES usernames and passwords, please visit https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do. Help with CORES login information can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/commission-registration-system-fcc. Webinar. A webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 26 from 1:00-2:00 pm EST to provide an introduction to the login, features, and capabilities of the updated COALS. The webinar will be streamed live at both www.fcc.gov/live and on the Commission’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/FCC. In addition, a recording of the webinar will be posted on the Commission’s website and on the Commission’s YouTube page after the event for those who cannot join the session live. The event will include time for questions submitted in advance of the workshop to COALS_Help@fcc.gov. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available on request. Please include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill. Send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice). Further Information. For help with COALS contact COALS_Help@fcc.gov. For further information contact Jeffrey Neumann, Media Bureau, Jeffrey.Neumann@fcc.gov or Jake Riehm, Industry Analysis Division, Media Bureau at Jake.Riehm@fcc.gov. Press inquiries should be directed to Janice Wise, janice.wise@fcc.gov, at (202) 418-8165. – FCC – 2