Media Bureau Extends OPIF Filing Deadlines Due to Technical Issue

The FCC Media Bureau extended filing deadlines for documents to be uploaded to broadcast, cable and satellite online public inspection files due to technical issues, said a public notice in Monday’s Daily Digest. “All documents that were due to be placed in an entities OPIF since January 1, 2023, must be filed no later than January 31, 2023," said the public notice. Stations and lawyers uploading documents to the system have experienced difficulties doing so since Jan. 1, said Fletcher Heald broadcast attorney Kathleen Victory in an interview. Documents didn’t show as having been uploaded or would appear to have uploaded and then vanish, she said. Before the extension, Q4 issues/program lists were due from almost all broadcasters Tuesday. Missing those deadlines or deadlines for political ad filings often leads to enforcement actions, Victory said. “The Online Public Inspection File experienced intermittent operation last week,” emailed an FCC spokesperson. The system was upgraded Friday to address the issue, the spokesperson said. “Our testing indicates the upgrade addressed the problem, but we will continue to monitor the system and address any new issues that arise.”