NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: 
November 27, 2007 Mary Diamond (202) 418-2388
FCC Requires Television Broadcasters to Provide More Local 
Programming Information to the Public 
Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted a Report and 
Order (Order) which requires television broadcasters to provide more information on the local 
programming they are broadcasting and facilitate the public’s access to that information.  The 
Commission is committed to establishing and maintaining a system of local broadcasting that is 
responsive to the unique interests and needs of individual communities.  Today’s action ensures 
the public is well informed about how well television stations are serving their local communities 
and will make broadcasters more accountable to their viewers. 
Under today’s Order, television broadcasters must file a standardized programming form 
on a quarterly basis. This form will provide the public with easily accessible information in a 
standardized format on each television station’s efforts to serve its community. The form 
requires broadcasters to list various types of programming, including local civic programming, 
local electoral affairs programming, public service announcements, and independently produced 
programming, and also includes information about efforts that have been made to ascertain the 
programming needs of various segments of the community, and information regarding closed 
captioning and video described content. This form will replace the current issues/programs list, 
which required broadcasters to place in their public file on a quarterly basis a list of programs that 
have provided the station’s most significant treatment of community issues during the preceding 
three-month period. The standardized programming form will be available online and filed with 
FCC.
In this Order, the Commission also specifically requires television licensees to make their 
public inspection file (with the exception of their political file) available online if they have 
Internet websites and notify their audiences twice daily about the location of the station’s public 
file. 
Action by the Commission November 27, 2007, by Report and Order (FCC 07-205).  
Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, and Tate with Commissioner McDowell 
concurring in part and dissenting in part.  Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, 
Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell.
Media Bureau contact: Holly Saurer (202) 418-7283
-FCC-
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322