If you’re broadcasting video in digital, we’re talking to you.
Attention, all DTV broadcasters! It’s that time of year again. Your Form 317 is due at the FCC by December 2. You get an extra day this year (since the normal due date, December 1, falls on a Sunday), but that extra day should give you plenty of time to complete and file the form – assuming, that is, that CDBS hasn’t crashed under the weight of all the biennial Ownership Reports that are currently scheduled to be filed by the same deadline.
Having trouble recalling just what Form 317 is all about? No problem. Form 317 is the “Digital Ancillary/Supplementary Services” Report on which you have to report whether, between October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013, your DTV station provided any ancillary or supplementary services for a fee and, if so, how much revenue the station received. If you did provide any such services, then you’ve got to fork over five percent of the gross revenues you got from them (the payment to be accompanied by a completed Form 159, thank you very much.)
“Ancillary or supplementary services” include any services that are provided using the portion of a facility’s spectrum that is not needed for its required one free broadcast signal. Multiple video streams that are received free to the public are not considered to be ancillary or supplementary services.
The filing requirement applies to ALL digital broadcasters of television programming – commercial and noncommercial – including not only full service stations, but also TV translators, LPTV and Class A television stations, whether operating pursuant to a license, program test authority, or Special Temporary Authority. And it applies whether or not the broadcaster in fact offered any ancillary/supplementary services for a fee. Obviously, if you offered no such services, the report will be short and you won’t have to do any calculations or pay any money to the Commission – but, if you have a facility that is operating digitally to broadcast television programming, the FCC wants a Form 317 report from you, and it wants that report by December 2.
In a public notice reminding one and all of the requirement, the Commission darkly observes that failure to file “may result in appropriate sanctions”. Consider yourself warned.
As with most forms these days, the Form 317 must be filed electronically through CDBS. Also, keep in mind for planning purposes that only one station goes on each report. Thus, if you are a licensee with a number of digital translators, you’ll probably need to allow more time for filing.
If you would like any help in navigating the electronic filing or have any questions about the form and what needs to be included, please let us know. While we won’t help with any payments that may be due, we can assist you in the filing process.
