Federal Communications Commission DA 26-666 DA 26-666 July 6, 2026 MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES REVISED DATES FOR THE FILING WINDOW FOR NEW NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL RESERVED BAND FM TRANSLATOR STATION APPLICATIONS WINDOW OPEN FROM NOVEMBER 4, 2026 TO NOVEMBER 17, 2026 LIMITED APPLICATION FILING FREEZE TO COMMENCE ON OCTOBER 2, 2026 MB Docket No. 26-20 On June 17, 2026, the Media Bureau (Bureau) announced a filing window for new noncommercial educational (NCE) reserved band FM translator station construction permit applications, and provided an overview of the procedures, filing requirements, and comparative selection process that will apply to the window. See Media Bureau Announces Dates, Procedures, and Requirements for the Filing Window for New Noncommercial Educational Reserved Band FM Translator Station Applications; Limited Application Filing Freeze to Commence on July 10, 2026, Public Notice, DA 26-601 (MB June 17, 2026) (June Procedures Public Notice). The filing window was scheduled to open on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and close on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. In conjunction with the filing window, the Bureau announced a freeze on reserved band and non-reserved band low power FM (LPFM) station, FM translator station, and FM booster station minor modification applications from July 10, 2026, through the close of the window. Several groups, including College Broadcasters, Inc., See Letter from Anabella Poland, President, College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI), to Chairman Carr, Commissioners, and Media Bureau Staff (June 18, 2026) (CBI Letter). the Pala Band of Mission Indians, See Email from John Fox, Station Manager, Pala Rez Radio, Pala Band of Mission Indians, to Chairman Carr, Commissioners, and Media Bureau Staff (June 19, 2026) (Fox Email). the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, See Letter from A. Rima Dael, CEO, National Federation of Community Broadcasters, to Chairman Carr, Commissioners, and Media Bureau Staff (June 23, 2026) (NFCB Letter). Native Public Media and the National Congress of American Indians, See Letter from Loris Taylor, President and CEO, Native Public Media, and Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians, to Chairman Carr, Commissioners, and Media Bureau Staff (June 24, 2026) (NPM/NCAI Letter). and Community Media Assistance Project See Letter from Betty J. McArdle, Executive Director, Community Media Assistance Project, to Chairman Carr, Commissioners, and Media Bureau Staff (June 28, 2026) (CMAP Letter). recently requested a delay in the dates for the NCE reserved band FM translator filing window, primarily asserting that an August 2026, window would inhibit the ability of student media outlets, Tribal communities, and smaller, rural community based broadcasters to participate in the window. See CBI Letter at 1-2 (noting that an August 2026, window “falls squarely in the middle of summer recess and presents a significant challenge for our constituents” and “we cannot conduct national outreach until faculty and staff return in the fall.”); Fox Email (“Tribal Communities cannot simply approve applying for these FCC applications and researching technical proposals at the drop of a hat.”); NFCB Letter at 1-2 (“announced timeline presents significant challenges for many community broadcasters … For volunteer-led organizations, educational institutions, and small community licensees, these requirements cannot always be addressed within a compressed summer timeframe.”); NPM/NCAI Letter at 2 (“A November filing window better aligns with Tribal governmental processes.”); CMAP Letter at 1-2 (noting that “external approvals can take many weeks or months” and “allowing more time can result in fewer incomplete and ‘sketchy’ applications.”). We agree that it would serve the public interest to reschedule the filing window by several months to afford all interested parties sufficient time to prepare applications for new construction permits for this important service and participate in this first ever filing window for NCE reserved band FM translator station construction permit applications. Based on the forgoing, the Bureau grants the requests to reschedule the NCE reserved band FM translator filing window. The window will now open at 12:01 am EST on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and close at 6:00 pm EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. In light of this additional time, we do not anticipate granting any further extensions of the filing window. Applications must be filed between November 4, 2026, and November 17, 2026. The FCC Form 2100, Schedule 349, FM Translator or FM Booster Station Construction Permit Application (Schedule 349) will now be available for data entry in the Bureau’s Licensing Management System on August 3, 2026, and applicants may begin preparing their applications at their earliest convenience. The filing deadline will be strictly enforced. Applications submitted before November 4, 2026, or after the 6:00 pm EST November 17, 2026, application deadline will be dismissed by public notice without further consideration. In addition, in conjunction with the new dates of the filing window, the Bureau will not accept reserved band and non-reserved band LPFM station, FM translator station, and FM booster station minor modification applications after 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, October 2, 2026. The freeze will continue in effect until the November 17, 2026, close of the window. Finally, the Bureau also notes the “snap shot” date for establishing points and comparing applications will match the revised window filing deadline of November 17, 2026. Aside from the new window and filing freeze dates, all other instructions and procedures included in the June Procedures Public Notice remain applicable to the upcoming filing window. Bureau staff recently received questions regarding the point system selection criteria, including qualification requirements for diversity of ownership points. See 47 CFR § 73.7003. The Bureau may issue a future Public Notice to provide additional guidance and clarification, as appropriate. For additional information on the filing window, contact James Bradshaw, James.Bradshaw@fcc.gov; Joseph Cohen, Joseph.Cohen@fcc.gov; Lisa Scanlan, Lisa.Scanlan@fcc.gov; or Amy Van de Kerckhove, Amy.Vandekerckhove@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-2700. Press inquiries should be directed to Nancy Murphy, Nancy.Murphy@fcc.gov, (202) 418-1043. - FCC - 13