Sec.  73.3526   Local public inspection file of commercial stations.

   (a) Responsibility to maintain a file. The following shall maintain for
   public inspection a file containing the material set forth in this section.

   (1) Applicants for a construction permit for a new station in the commercial
   broadcast services shall maintain a public inspection file containing the
   material, relating to that station, described in paragraphs (e)(2) and
   (e)(10) of this section. A separate file shall be maintained for each
   station for which an application is pending. If the application is granted,
   paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall apply.

   (2) Every permittee or licensee of an AM, FM, TV or Class A TV station in
   the commercial broadcast services shall maintain a public inspection file
   containing the material, relating to that station, described in paragraphs
   (e)(1) through (e)(10) and paragraph (e)(13) of this section. In addition,
   every permittee or licensee of a commercial TV or Class A TV station shall
   maintain for public inspection a file containing material, relating to that
   station, described in paragraphs (e)(11) and (e)(15) of this section, and
   every permittee or licensee of a commercial AM or FM station shall maintain
   for public inspection a file containing the material, relating to that
   station, described in paragraphs (e)(12) and (e)(14) of this section. A
   separate file shall be maintained for each station for which an
   authorization is outstanding, and the file shall be maintained so long as an
   authorization to operate the station is outstanding.

   (b) Location of the file. The public inspection file shall be maintained at
   the main studio of the station. An applicant for a new station or change of
   community shall maintain its file at an accessible place in the proposed
   community of license or at its proposed main studio.

   (c) Access to material in the file. (1) The file shall be available for
   public inspection at any time during regular business hours. All or part of
   the file may be maintained in a computer database, as long as a computer
   terminal is made available, at the location of the file, to members of the
   public who wish to review the file. Material in the public inspection file
   shall be made available for printing or machine reproduction upon request
   made in person. The applicant, permittee, or licensee may specify the
   location for printing or reproduction, require the requesting party to pay
   the reasonable cost thereof, and may require guarantee of payment in advance
   (e.g., by requiring a deposit, obtaining credit card information, or any
   other reasonable method). Requests for copies shall be fulfilled within a
   reasonable period of time, which generally should not exceed 7 days.

   (2) The applicant, permittee, or licensee who maintains its main studio and
   public file outside its community of license shall:

   (i) Make available to persons within its geographic service area, by mail
   upon telephone request, photocopies of documents in the file (see
    Sec. 73.3526(c)(1)), excluding the political file (see  Sec. 73.3526(e)(6)), and the
   station shall pay postage;

   (ii) Mail the most recent version of “The Public and Broadcasting” to any
   member of the public that requests a copy; and

   (iii) Be prepared to assist members of the public in identifying the
   documents they may ask to be sent to them by mail, for example, by
   describing to the caller, if asked, the period covered by a particular
   report and the number of pages included in the report.

   Note to paragraph (c)(2): For purposes of this section, geographic service
   area includes the area within the Grade B contour for TV, 1 mV/m contour for
   all FM station classes except .7 mV/m for Class B1 stations and .5 mV/m for
   Class B stations, and .5 mV/m contour for AM stations.

   (d) Responsibility in case of assignment or transfer. (1) In cases involving
   applications for consent to assignment of broadcast station construction
   permits or licenses, with respect to which public notice is required to be
   given under the provisions of  Sec. 73.3580 or  Sec. 73.3594, the file mentioned in
   paragraph (a) of this section shall be maintained by the assignor. If the
   assignment is consented to by the FCC and consummated, the assignee shall
   maintain the file commencing with the date on which notice of the
   consummation of the assignment is filed with the FCC. The assignee shall
   retain public file documents obtained from the assignor for the period
   required under these rules.

   (2) In cases involving applications for consent to transfer of control of a
   permittee or licensee of a broadcast station, the file mentioned in
   paragraph (a) of this section shall be maintained by the permittee or
   licensee.

   (e) Contents of the file. The material to be retained in the public
   inspection file is as follows:

   (1) Authorization. A copy of the current FCC authorization to construct or
   operate the station, as well as any other documents necessary to reflect any
   modifications thereto or any conditions that the FCC has placed on the
   authorization. These materials shall be retained until replaced by a new
   authorization, at which time a copy of the new authorization and any related
   materials shall be placed in the file.

   (2) Applications and related materials. A copy of any application tendered
   for filing with the FCC, together with all related material, and copies of
   Initial Decisions and Final Decisions in hearing cases pertaining thereto.
   If petitions to deny are filed against the application and have been served
   on the applicant, a statement that such a petition has been filed shall be
   maintained in the file together with the name and address of the party
   filing the petition. Applications shall be retained in the public inspection
   file until final action has been taken on the application, except that
   applications for a new construction permit granted pursuant to a waiver
   showing and applications for assignment or transfer of license granted
   pursuant to a waiver showing shall be retained for as long as the waiver is
   in effect. In addition, license renewal applications granted on a short-term
   basis shall be retained until final action has been taken on the license
   renewal application filed immediately following the shortened license term.

   (3) Citizen agreements. A copy of every written citizen agreement. These
   agreements shall be retained for the term of the agreement, including any
   renewal or extension thereof.

   Note to paragraph (e)(3): For purposes of this section, a citizen agreement
   is a written agreement between a broadcast applicant, permittee, or
   licensee, and one or more citizens or citizen groups, entered for primarily
   noncommercial purposes. This definition includes those agreements that deal
   with goals or proposed practices directly or indirectly affecting station
   operations in the public interest, in areas such as—but not limited
   to—programming and employment. It excludes common commercial agreements such
   as advertising contracts; union, employment, and personal services
   contracts; network affiliation, syndication, program supply contracts, etc.
   However, the mere inclusion of commercial terms in a primarily noncommercial
   agreement—such as a provision for payment of fees for future services of the
   citizen-parties (see “Report and Order,” Docket 19518, 57 FCC 2d 494
   (1976))—would not cause the agreement to be considered commercial for
   purposes of this section.

   (4) Contour maps. A copy of any service contour maps, submitted with any
   application tendered for filing with the FCC, together with any other
   information in the application showing service contours and/or main studio
   and transmitter location (State, county, city, street address, or other
   identifying information). These documents shall be retained for as long as
   they reflect current, accurate information regarding the station.

   (5) Ownership reports and related materials. A copy of the most recent,
   complete ownership report filed with the FCC for the station, together with
   any statements filed with the FCC certifying that the current report is
   accurate, and together with all related material. These materials shall be
   retained until a new, complete ownership report is filed with the FCC, at
   which time a copy of the new report and any related materials shall be
   placed in the file. The permittee or licensee must retain in the public file
   either a copy of the contracts listed in such reports in accordance with
    Sec. 73.3615(a)(4)(i), or an up-to-date list of such contracts. Licensees or
   permittees who choose to retain a list of contracts must provide a copy of
   any contracts to requesting parties within 7 days.

   (6) Political file. Such records as are required by  Sec. 73.1943 to be kept
   concerning broadcasts by candidates for public office. These records shall
   be retained for the period specified in  Sec. 73.1943 (2 years).

   (7) Equal Employment Opportunity file. Such information as is required by
    Sec. 73.2080 to be kept in the public inspection file. These materials shall be
   retained until final action has been taken on the station's next license
   renewal application.

   (8) The public and broadcasting. At all times, a copy of the most recent
   version of the manual entitled “The Public and Broadcasting.”

   (9) Letters and e-mail from the public. (i) All written comments and
   suggestions received from the public regarding operation of the station,
   unless the letter writer has requested that the letter not be made public or
   when the licensee feels that it should be excluded from public inspection
   because of the nature of its content, such as a defamatory or obscene
   letter. Letters and electronic mail messages shall be retained for a period
   of three years from the date on which they are received by the licensee.

   (ii) For purposes of this section, written comments and suggestions received
   from the public include electronic mail messages transmitted via the
   internet to station management or an e-mail address publicized by the
   station. Personal e-mail messages sent to station employees need not be
   retained. Licensees may retain e-mails either on paper or in a computer
   file. Licensees who choose to maintain a computer file of e-mails may make
   the file available to the public either by providing the public with access
   to a computer terminal at the location of the public file, or providing the
   public with a copy of such e-mails on computer diskette, upon request. In
   the case of identical communications, licensees and permittees may retain
   one sample copy of the letter or electronic mail message together with a
   list identifying other parties who sent identical communications.

   (10) Material relating to FCC investigation or complaint. Material having a
   substantial bearing on a matter which is the subject of an FCC investigation
   or complaint to the FCC of which the applicant, permittee, or licensee has
   been advised. This material shall be retained until the applicant,
   permittee, or licensee is notified in writing that the material may be
   discarded.

   (11)(i) TV issues/programs lists. For commercial TV and Class A TV broadcast
   stations, every three months a list of programs that have provided the
   station's most significant treatment of community issues during the
   preceding three month period. The list for each calendar quarter is to be
   filed by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter (e.g., January 10
   for the quarter October-December, April 10 for the quarter January-March,
   etc.) The list shall include a brief narrative describing what issues were
   given significant treatment and the programming that provided this
   treatment. The description of the programs shall include, but shall not be
   limited to, the time, date, duration, and title of each program in which the
   issue was treated. The lists described in this paragraph shall be retained
   in the public inspection file until final action has been taken on the
   station's next license renewal application.

   (ii) Records concerning commercial limits. For commercial TV and Class A TV
   broadcast stations, records sufficient to permit substantiation of the
   station's certification, in its license renewal application, of compliance
   with the commercial limits on children's programming established in 47
   U.S.C. 303a and 47 CFR 73.670. The records for each calendar quarter must be
   filed by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter (e.g., January 10
   for the quarter October-December, April 10 for the quarter January-March,
   etc.). These records shall be retained until final action has been taken on
   the station's next license renewal application.

   (iii) Children's television programming reports. For commercial TV broadcast
   stations, both analog and digital, on a quarterly basis, a completed
   Children's Television Programming Report (“Report”), on FCC Form 398,
   reflecting efforts made by the licensee during the preceding quarter, and
   efforts planned for the next quarter, to serve the educational and
   informational needs of children. The Report for each quarter is to be placed
   in the public inspection file by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar
   quarter. By this date, a copy of the Report for each quarter is also to be
   filed electronically with the FCC. The Report shall identify the licensee's
   educational and informational programming efforts, including programs aired
   by the station that are specifically designed to serve the educational and
   informational needs of children, and it shall explain how programs
   identified as Core Programming meet the definition set forth in  Sec. 73.671(c).
   The Report shall include the name of the individual at the station
   responsible for collecting comments on the station's compliance with the
   Children's Television Act, and it shall be separated from other materials in
   the public inspection file. The Report shall also identify the program guide
   publishers to which information regarding the licensee's educational and
   informational programming was provided as required in  Sec. 73.673, as well as
   the station's license renewal date. These Reports shall be retained in the
   public inspection file until final action has been taken on the station's
   next license renewal application. Licensees shall publicize in an
   appropriate manner the existence and location of these Reports.

   (12) Radio issues/programs lists. For commercial AM and FM broadcast
   stations, every three months a list of programs that have provided the
   station's most significant treatment of community issues during the
   preceding three month period. The list for each calendar quarter is to be
   filed by the tenth day of the succeeding calendar quarter (e.g., January 10
   for the quarter October—December, April 10 for the quarter January—March,
   etc.). The list shall include a brief narrative describing what issues were
   given significant treatment and the programming that provided this
   treatment. The description of the programs shall include, but shall not be
   limited to, the time, date, duration, and title of each program in which the
   issue was treated. The lists described in this paragraph shall be retained
   in the public inspection file until final action has been taken on the
   station's next license renewal application.

   (13) Local public notice announcements. Each applicant for renewal of
   license shall, within 7 days of the last day of broadcast of the local
   public notice of filing announcements required pursuant to  Sec. 73.3580(h),
   place in the station's local public inspection file a statement certifying
   compliance with this requirement. The dates and times that the pre-filing
   and post-filing notices were broadcast and the text thereof shall be made
   part of the certifying statement. The certifying statement shall be retained
   in the public file for the period specified in  Sec. 73.3580 (for as long as the
   application to which it refers).

   (14) Radio and television time brokerage agreements. For commercial radio
   and television stations, a copy of every agreement or contract involving
   time brokerage of the licensee's station or of another station by the
   licensee, whether the agreement involves stations in the same markets or in
   differing markets, with confidential or proprietary information redacted
   where appropriate. These records shall be retained as long as the contract
   or agreement is in force.

   (15) Must-carry or retransmission consent election. Statements of a
   commercial television or Class A television station's election with respect
   to either must-carry or re-transmission consent, as defined in  Sec.  Sec. 76.64 and
   76.1608 of this chapter. These records shall be retained for the duration of
   the three year election period to which the statement applies.

   (16) Radio and television joint sales agreements. For commercial radio and
   commercial television stations, a copy of agreement for the joint sale of
   advertising time involving the station, whether the agreement involves
   stations in the same markets or in differing markets, with confidential or
   proprietary information redacted where appropriate.

   (17) Class A TV continuing eligibility. Documentation sufficient to
   demonstrate that the Class A television station is continuing to meet the
   eligibility requirements set forth at  Sec. 73.6001.

   Note 1 to paragraph (e): For purposes of this section, action taken on an
   application tendered with the FCC becomes final when that action is no
   longer subject to reconsideration, review, or appeal either at the FCC or in
   the courts.

   Note 2 to paragraph (e): For purposes of this section, the term “all related
   material” includes all exhibits, letters, and other documents tendered for
   filing with the FCC as part of an application, report, or other document,
   all amendments to the application, report, or other document, copies of all
   documents incorporated therein by reference and not already maintained in
   the public inspection file, and all correspondence between the FCC and the
   applicant pertaining to the application, report, or other document, which
   according to the provisions of  Sec.  Sec. 0.451 through 0.461 of this part are open
   for public inspection at the offices of the FCC.

   [ 63 FR 49497 , Sept. 16, 1998, as amended at  63 FR 70049 , Dec. 18, 1998;  64 FR 35947 , July 2, 1999;  64 FR 50645 , Sept. 17, 1999;  65 FR 7457 , Feb. 15,
   2000;  65 FR 30006 , May 10, 2000;  65 FR 53614 , Sept. 5, 2000;  65 FR 67288 ,
   Nov. 9, 2000;  70 FR 38 , Jan. 3, 2005]

   Effective Date Note:   At  70 FR 38 , Jan. 3, 2005,  Sec. 73.3526 was amended by
   revising paragraph (e)(11)(iii). This paragraph contains information
   collection and recordkeeping requirements and will not become effective
   until approval has been given by the Office of Management and Budget.