FCC Audit of Radio Licenses Held by Many Industries and Municipal Agencies
September 5, 2001
Jonathan Epstein - Washington
Charles Naftalin - Washington
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just began a broad audit of
private land mobile radio licenses. This includes radios used by many
businesses, industries, and municipal agencies. Companies must update
their license information and respond to the audit or face cancellation
of their FCC radio licenses.
Who is Affected? The FCC audit will cover most Private Land Mobile Radio
(PLMR) radio stations. This includes most industrial/business and public
safety radios licenses, such as:
- Trucking and delivery services
- Hotels and resorts
- Bus, limousine, and taxis
- Utility and petroleum industries
- Manufacturing and railroads
- Lumber, mining and forestry
- Police systems
- Fire, ambulance and EMS services
- School systems
- Hospitals and medical facilities
- Other government radio systems
What does the FCC Audit Mean? Having recently updated its database
software, the FCC is trying to weed out licenses for stations that are
no longer operating, that were authorized but never constructed, and to
ensure companies are renewing their licenses. Audit letters will be sent
out over the next six-months. If your company fails to respond and
update its records as necessary, its licenses may be cancelled.
Don’t Wait for the Letter to Take Action. If your company operates
private radios, don’t wait to receive a letter. The FCC may have
out-of-date or incorrect data and may cancel your licenses, even if you
never receive an audit letter. Take these steps:
Check paper license authorizations to ensure they are current.
Verify that your license information on the FCC Universal Licensing
System (ULS) database is correct and up-to-date at: http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls/.
Correct license information by filing an FCC Form 601 electronically
with the FCC or through the relevant frequency coordinator.
Responding to the Audit Letter. The Audit letter will ask whether each
station is currently operating as authorized. Use the steps above to
determine the status and file corrections. The FCC has set up a special
Web page with information on the audit at: http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/plmrs/audit.html.
Do You Need Help? If your company needs help verifying the status of its
licenses, filing renewals or corrections, or responding to an audit
letter, Holland & Knight LLP can assist. Our experienced
telecommunications paralegals, using proprietary tracking software and
online systems, provide a cost- effective solution. They routinely track
and file renewals of FCC licenses for many of our clients.
The Holland & Knight Advantage. The lawyers of Holland & Knight’s
telecommunication group advise companies and organizations, both in and
outside the telecommunications industry, on a wide range of issues
including FCC regulatory issues, technology licensing, electronic
equipment certification, and high-technology exports.
This publication is intended to summarize points of interest in the
material discussed herein. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be
legal advice with respect to the matters discussed.