Public File Resources
Understand the requirements. Document your coverage. Prepare your quarterly report.
What stations need to document
Identify community issues and the programming that provided the station’s most significant treatment of them during the preceding quarter.
- Community issue and a brief narrative describing its treatment
- Program or segment title
- Actual air date and time
- Duration and description of coverage
Select meaningful coverage from confirmed broadcast records. A schedule alone does not confirm that a program aired.
Build your quarterly report
Group broadcasts by issue, check your entries, and prepare a document for station review.
Open Report Generator →Print / Save PDF · Editable HTML document · Save and reopen drafts
Prepare → Review → Export → Upload
Quarterly deadline reference
| Coverage period | Standard due date |
|---|---|
| January–March | April 10 |
| April–June | July 10 |
| July–September | October 10 |
| October–December | January 10 (next year) |
The rule specifies the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter. Verify applicable weekend, holiday, or other deadline adjustments with current FCC guidance. Commercial stations retain these lists until final action on their next license renewal application.
Official FCC resources
- Search station public files ↗
- Commercial station rules — §73.3526 ↗
- Noncommercial station rules — §73.3527 ↗
Before you prepare your list
Requirements depend on the station’s service and license classification.
Commercial TV and Class A TV
Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists: §73.3526(e)(11)(i).
Commercial AM / FM radio
Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists: §73.3526(e)(12).
Noncommercial educational stations
Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists: §73.3527(e)(8). Class D FM stations and stations with wholly instructional programming are exempt under this provision.
Other services, including translators, LPFM and LPTV, require separate applicability review. Children’s television programming reports and commercial-limit records follow separate annual requirements.
Examples & templates
Import or paste rows from your records into the generator, then verify their accuracy before export.
Keep records throughout the quarter
Add coverage as it airs. Group broadcasts by community issue. Review the completed list before uploading.
Open Broadcast Calendar →A printed copy supports your station records. Required online public-file placement is a separate step. This preparation tool does not file with the FCC or certify compliance. Broadcast Workflow is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC.
Requirements reviewed October 11, 2026 · Refer to the linked rules for current requirements.