RecordsIn8pection~P"blic
BEFORE THE
71
F.C.C.71-157
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
V\TASHINGTON, D.C. 20554
In Re '[
AVAILABILITY OF LOCALLY l\LUNTAINED REC 
ORDS FOR INSPECTION BY Th1ElVIBERS OF THE J
PUBLIC
FEBRUARY 23, 1971
THID COJl,IlYIISSION BY CO]'tf]HSSIONERS BURCH (CHAIRMAN) I BARTLEY,
ROBERT E. LEE, .JOHNSON, H. REX LEE, vVELLS, AND HOUSER,
ISSUED 'rHE FOLLO"VVING PUBLIO NOTICE:
AVAILABILrry OF LOCALLY J\fAIN'l'AINED RECORDS FOR I::-:lBPECTION BY
:MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
The Comulissiol1 has received c01nplaints from n1embers of the pub 
lic concerning the availability for public inspection of the records
which Section 1.526 of the Rules requires licensees, permittees 'md
applicants to maintain in their comnlunitie3. The cOlllpla-ints indicate
that some licensee.s ma,y not fully understand the seope of the Con1 
mission's public inspection requirements. 80111e licensees have stated as
justification for not n1aking records available upon request that they
were too busy or that there was no one on duty at the station who could
make the records available. One complainant stated that when he asked
to see the public records file the licensee stat-Bd that ", .. he had no
time t'tnd I should 111ake an appointment with his secretary,"
Section 1.526 (d) of the Commission's Rules provides as follows:
The file shall be maintained at the main studio of the station, or at any other
accessible place (osuch as a public registry for documents or an ntta,rney's office)
in the community to \vhieh the station is or is proposed to be licensed, ana shall
lJC ava.IJable for pUblic 'insvectio'n at an1! Hrne during 1'egnlM business hOU1'S.
[Emphasis supplied.]
The rule does not require 111embe.rs of the public to Inake an appoint 
ment. to revie-.,v a. hcensee's public records, nor does it require that 111em 
bel'S of the public e.xmnine such l'eeords only at tirn.es most convenient
t.o the licensee or his staff.
The Commission reminds alllicensees~,pennittees and applicants
that the recol>ds specified ]n Section 1.526 Inust be made available. for
Dubhe inspection during the regular business hours of the station and
[my require1nent that a 111ember of the public make an appointment
in advance or return at another tilne is a violation of Section 1.526 (d)
of the Commission's R.ules.
The Commission notes with interest a Inen10ranchun sent to the NAB
Membership by the NAB Legal Department which suggests that sta 
tions set aside an area with a t[l,ble at which the public may inspect the
28 F.o.C. 2d
72 Federal Oommunications Oommission Repol'ts
Tecorcls specified in Section 1.526. The Commission conside.rs this sug 
gestion to be in keeping with the spirit of the COlnmission's publlc
inspection requirements.
Action by the Commission February 17,1971. Conmlissioners Burch
(Chtlirman), Bartley, Robert E. Lee, Johnson, H. Rex Lee, l'Vells, and
Houser.
28 F.e.e. 2d