Daily FCC & U.S. Policy Briefing — 

September 3, 2026

1. FCC opens CORES for FY 2026 regulatory fees — September 24 deadline

The FCC has opened CORES for FY 2026 regulatory-fee payments. Commercial AM/FM, FM translators and boosters, full-power TV, LPTV and Class A facilities are among the media services covered; payment must be completed electronically by 11:59 p.m. EDT September 24. 

Why it matters: A late payment triggers an immediate 25% statutory penalty, and delinquency can cause the FCC to withhold action on or dismiss pending applications. The licensee or permit holder on the payment due date bears the obligation even where an assignment occurred after October 1, 2025. 

Action: Have commercial broadcast clients verify their CORES/FRN access and fee obligations now; don't leave electronic payment troubleshooting until September 24.

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2. Auction 114 FM freeze begins September 14 — file pending minor changes beforehand

The Media Bureau's Auction 114 FM minor-change freeze begins September 14 when the Form 175 window opens. During September 14–30, the FCC will not accept commercial or NCE FM minor-change applications; applications submitted during the freeze will be dismissed. Auction 114 contains 132 vacant non-reserved FM allotments. 

Why it matters: This directly affects ordinary FM engineering work. Pending minor-change proposals should also be checked for protection of the Auction 114 allotment reference coordinates and, once disclosed, protected preferred-site coordinates.

Action: File ready FM minor changes before September 14. Auction applicants have until 6:00 p.m. ET September 30 to submit Form 175; bidding begins February 2, 2027. 

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3. EAS modernization: cybersecurity work and September 29 reply-comment deadline

The FCC's EAS modernization proceeding remains one of the more consequential technical compliance matters for broadcasters this month. The June order addresses cybersecurity safeguards for EAS and related networked broadcast equipment, while the accompanying Further Notice continues consideration of additional EAS/WEA changes; reply comments are due September 29 in PS Dockets 25-224, 15-94 and 15-91.

Why it matters: EAS is increasingly an IT/network-security issue as well as a Part 11 issue. Password management, software/firmware maintenance and isolation of Internet-accessible equipment deserve engineering review rather than being left solely to station administrative staff.

Action: Put September 29 on the engineering/compliance calendar and review EAS network exposure, credentials and update practices.

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4. FCC's 2026 broadcast EEO audit responses are due October 20

The Enforcement Bureau has selected roughly 5% of radio and television stations for its 2026 random EEO audits. Selected stations must upload the principal audit response to their FCC-hosted online public inspection files by October 20, 2026; certain privacy-sensitive responses are instead submitted directly to the Enforcement Bureau by email. 

Why it matters: This is easy for engineering-oriented clients to overlook because it is not an LMS filing. Stations should verify whether any facility in their ownership group or associated employment unit appears on the audit list.

Action: Check client call signs against the FCC's August 21 audit list now. Affected stations have about seven weeks remaining to assemble the required records.

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5. Federal shutdown avoided: stopgap funding signed through December 11

President Trump signed H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, on September 2. It funds federal agencies through December 11, 2026, eliminating the immediate October 1 shutdown risk while Congress continues work on the FY 2027 appropriations bills. 

Why it matters: For broadcast practitioners, this materially reduces the near-term risk of disruption to FCC application processing, Media Bureau/OET work, FAA and other federal regulatory functions during an already busy fall filing period.

Action: No immediate filing action. The next federal-funding pressure point is December 11, which is worth keeping in view for filings or federal approvals expected late in the year.