1. ABC challenges FCC's unprecedented early license review in federal court
A federal judge heard arguments yesterday on The Walt Disney Company/ABC's request to block the FCC's early review of eight ABC-owned television licenses that ordinarily do not expire until 2028–2031. ABC argues the proceeding is retaliation for editorial decisions and violates the First Amendment; the FCC says the review arose from ABC's response to agency information requests and argues the district court lacks jurisdiction. Reuters
Why it matters: The case directly tests whether the Commission can use an extraordinary license review outside the normal renewal cycle where programming or editorial decisions are implicated. A ruling for ABC could impose meaningful limits on how FCC licensing authority may be used against broadcasters.
Action: No ruling yet. The judge requested additional briefing, so watch for a decision after mid-October.
2. FCC's Q3 station count shows accelerating AM attrition
New FCC station totals through September 30 show only 4,258 licensed AM stations, down 42 in one quarter and 84 since year-end 2025. Commercial FM fell by 20 to 6,540; NCE FM increased by nine to 4,815; translators/boosters declined by 20 to 8,826; and LPFM edged up to 2,014. Radio Ink
Why it matters: The AM decline is becoming significant rather than statistical noise—125 AM licenses have disappeared since the end of 2024. That provides additional real-world context for pending FCC debates over AM ownership limits and the economic viability of marginal facilities.
Action: No filing action. For AM allocation work, continue treating license cancellations and surrendered facilities as a meaningful source of changing preclusions, rather than assuming the AM database is static.
3. NCE translator freeze now in force — time for the post-freeze database refresh
The FCC freeze on reserved- and nonreserved-band LPFM, FM translator and FM booster minor modifications took effect after October 2 and remains through November 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET. The new reserved-band NCE translator application window itself runs November 4–17. Broadcast Law Blog
Why it matters: For November applications, the relevant secondary-service landscape is now substantially stabilized. Pre-freeze applications filed on October 1–2 can still change individual channel results, so studies performed before the freeze should not automatically be treated as final.
Action: Refresh FCC data and rerun final preclusion/overlap studies now. Application window opens November 4 and closes November 17 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
4. Q3 Issues/Programs Lists due Monday; ETRS deadline follows October 30
Full-power AM/FM/TV and Class A stations must upload their third-quarter Issues/Programs Lists by Monday, October 13. EAS participants separately must file ETRS Form One by October 30 for the nationwide EAS test scheduled for November 17 at 2:20 p.m. ET. Broadcast Law Blog
Why it matters: Issues/Programs Lists remain a frequent source of easily documented public-file violations. ETRS Form One is also a useful engineering checkpoint following the new EAS cybersecurity requirements that became effective September 29.
Action: October 13 — Q3 Issues/Programs List. October 30 — ETRS Form One. November 17 — nationwide EAS test.
5. Long-term Treasury yield reaches 24-year high as federal debt and inflation concerns intensify
The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield briefly reached 5.7041% today, its highest level in 24 years, amid concern over persistent inflation, rising federal debt and oil prices above $100 per barrel. Markets are awaiting today's Federal Reserve September-meeting minutes and Treasury's 10-year auction, followed by a 30-year auction Thursday. Reuters
Why it matters: This is more consequential than an ordinary market move: sustained long-term yields near these levels materially increase federal borrowing costs, mortgage and commercial financing rates, and the cost of financing capital-intensive businesses—including broadcast acquisitions and major tower/transmitter projects.
Action: Watch today's Fed minutes and 10-year auction and Thursday's 30-year auction for evidence that the yield move is becoming persistent rather than a short-term spike.
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Label: FCC & U.S. Policy Briefing
