DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Reports Due December 1, 2016

By December 1, 2016, commercial and noncommercial digital television licensees must file an annual DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report stating whether their television station(s) provided ancillary or supplementary digital services between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. Ancillary and supplementary services include, but are not limited to, computer software distribution, data transmissions, teletext, interactive materials, paging services, and subscription video. Ancillary and supplementary services do not include free broadcast programming streams. But, licensees must file a report even if their station(s) did not provide ancillary or supplementary services during the reporting period.

If a television station provided ancillary or supplementary services during this period, the licensee must remit to the FCC an amount equal to 5% of the gross revenue received from such services, including any subscription fees received from third parties.

The Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report is filed in the FCC’s Licensing and Management System (LMS) on Form 2100 – Schedule G, which allows a licensee to file a single report for all of its licensed television stations. Form 2100 – Schedule G must be submitted for full power commercial and noncommercial television stations operated pursuant to FCC licenses or permits, including stations operated under special temporary authority (“STA”), and for digital Class A, low power television, and television translator stations operating pursuant to an FCC license or STA.

If you have questions concerning the DTV Ancillary/Supplementary Services Report, please contact any attorney in our office.