The FCC's proposal to replace the never-implemented Form 355 with a new form to document the public interest programming of television broadcasters (to eventually be expanded to include radio operators) was published in today's Federal Register - setting January 17 as the comment date for those interested in telling the FCC what they think of the proposed new form. We summarized the FCC's proposals for the content of the new form in our article here. This form would also replace quarterly issues programs lists as the way that broadcasters demonstrate how they serve the public interest, and would be included in the new online public inspection file if the proposal for such a file is adopted by the FCC (comments on that proposal are due next week, on December 22, see our notice in link below).

The new form documenting the public interest programming of TV stations is proposed to include information on the following types of programs, based on a "composite week" of data - the dates for which may be selected after the fact, potentially requiring the taping of programs so that broadcasters can reach back to get the required data...