Audio Division

The Audio Division of the Media Bureau licenses commercial and noncommercial educational AM, FM, FM Translator, and FM Booster radio services, and also the noncommercial educational Low Power FM radio service.  The Division provides legal analysis of broadcast, technical, and engineering radio filings and recommends appropriate disposition of applications, requests for waivers, and other pleadings.

Information about radio broadcast stations and the application process is available through this page.

New Visitors to the Audio Division Site

If you are coming to the Audio Division or Video Division pages for the first time, please start with our New Visitors page.  On this page we have collected the information most commonly sought by first time users concerning radio and television broadcasting. 

Headlines for the Audio Division

The Audio Division Headlines page lists recent and past documents of importance, dating back to 2002.  There are also options to help locate other documents published by the Audio Division (back to 2006) and FM Allotment Rulemaking orders (back to 2006).

Filing Courtesy Copies of Pleadings Relating to Audio Division Applications

The Audio Division encourages parties that wish to file courtesy copies of pleadings relating to Audio Division applications (broadcast radio only) to submit a copy of the FCC date-stamped filing to the following e-mail box: audiodivisionpleadings@fcc.gov.  PDF is the preferred format for these submissions.  Pleadings must be officially filed in accordance with the Commission's rules and the procedures established by the Office of the Secretary.  Only properly filed pleadings will receive a Commission date stamp.  Documents submitted by e-mail but not formally filed through the Office of the Secretary will not be considered.

Broadcast Station Search Tools

Our popular Internet Queries may be used to retrieve information about radio and TV broadcast stations: AM Query   FM Query   TV Query
Mailing Addresses for AM, FM, TV
CDBS Public Access Search
Search CDBS Using a Facility ID number or an Application ID number
 Radio stations authorized to transmit IBOC digital signals: [ AM | FM ].
    Digital Radio page 
AM Travelers' Information Stations
Conversions -- Requires Javascript

Most Requested Information

• AM Revitalization, including AM broadcast station only filing windows for FM Translators in 2016 and 2017.
• AM radio information, FM and LPFM radio information
• The Public and Broadcasting provides a brief, non-technical overview of the FCC's regulation of radio and television, including Public Inspection File requirements.  Current edition: July 2008.
• How to Apply for a Broadcast Station.  Provides information about the process.
• FM Allotment Finder can assist in determining whether a commercial FM station allotment is possible for your area.
• Filing documents at the FCC, from the Office of the Secretary, FCC
• Low Power AM and FM Broadcast Radio Stations.  Briefly covers licensed and unlicensed operation.
• Low Power FM Radio Service (station licensing required)
• AM and FM Lists of Community of License Minor Change Applications filed pursuant to the streamlined procedures adopted by the Commission in Revision of Procedures Governing Amendments to FM Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast Services, Report and Order (R&O), MB Docket 05-210, FCC 06-163, released November 29, 2006.  [ PDF | Word ].
• Ownership of Radio Broadcast Stations
• Localism in Broadcasting (Localism Task Force)
• Broadcast Station Totals (1990 to Present).  Provides current and past numbers of AM, FM, TV, and translator stations.
• Tower Siting page
• Obscenity, Indecency, and Profanity is handled by the Enforcement Bureau.  [On-line complaint form].
• Religious Broadcasting -- The FCC will not prohibit religious organizations' ownership of broadcast stations.  A petition (RM-2493, erroneously attributed to Madalyn Murray O'Hare) which had requested that the FCC make changes was denied in 1975 (54 FCC 2d 941).  Excerpts from that proceeding are located here.

• Broadcast Station Filings

  • Broadcast Application filings in CDBS and User's Guide.
  • Guidance Provided to FM Licensees Regarding Operations with Increased Digital Power (MM Docket No. 99-325), Public Notice, MM Docket 99-325, DA 10-866(2010).  [ PDF | Word ].  See also the IBOCdigital radio page.
  • MDCL waivers for AM broadcast stations to save energy
  • Radio Broadcast Renewal Applications -- All radio broadcast station licenses will expire between 2027 and 2030.  Licensees will be required to file a renewal application for the current license term.  This page provides information about the radio broadcast license renewal process.
  • Special Temporary Authority for licensed broadcast radio stations.

   

  
  
  For more information on AM and FM radio broadcasting, please visit the Audio Division website, and the Broadcast Radio Links page.
  
  FCC > Media Bureau