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FCC Eliminates Two Public Inspection File Requirements

“The Federal Communications Commission today eliminated two public inspection file rules.  These rules currently require: (1) commercial television and radio broadcast stations to retain, and make available to the public, copies of correspondence from viewers and listeners;  and (2) cable operators to maintain and allow public inspection of the location of a cable system’s principal headend. The Commission modernized public file rules for broadcast television licensees in 2012, moving television public files that previously were retained at stations’ local main studios to an online, Commission-hosted database.  TV broadcasters completed their transition to the online file in July 2014. Moving to an online filing process made it easier for consumers to access information about their broadcast services without having to travel to the station’s main studio and reduced the cost of broadcaster compliance. In January 2016, the Commission expanded the move to online filing to cable, radio, and satellite operators. Today’s action furthers the Commission’s progress in modernizing its public inspection file rules. The  elimination of these rules will reduce regulatory burdens on commercial broadcasters and cable operators  without adversely affecting the general public.  Removing these requirements also will enable broadcasters and cable operators to make their entire public inspection file available online and permit them to cease maintaining local public files…”

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