Media Contact: 
Janice Wise, (202) 418-8165                                 
janice.wise@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC EASES REPORTING BURDEN FOR VOLUNTEER 
BOARD MEMBERS OF NONCOMMERCIAL BROADCASTERS
Action Responds to Pleas from Public Broadcasters
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today made optional a 
previously mandatory requirement that compelled the officers and board members of noncommercial 
educational (NCE) stations to report personal information. NCE broadcasters said that, if left unchanged,
this requirement would deter volunteers from serving in these important leadership positions.  
Due to revisions to the FCC’s broadcast ownership reporting forms, the Commission recently began 
requiring NCE stations to make “reasonable and good faith efforts” to use unique registration numbers for 
their officers and board members on subsequent ownership reports, similar to the reporting requirements 
for owners of commercial stations.  To obtain a unique registration number, these individuals – in many 
cases volunteers – were required to submit personal information, such as the last four digits of their social 
security number, their date of birth, residential address, and full name, or risk being subject to 
Commission enforcement action.
In May 2016, a number of NCE broadcasters filed petitions, asking the agency to reconsider these January 
2016 changes.  They stated that requiring the submission of personal information to the Commission
would hinder the efforts of their stations to recruit qualified volunteers to serve on their licensee boards 
and would pose other unique challenges for certain noncommercial entities.
Today’s action will allow NCE stations to more readily utilize “special use” registration numbers, which 
do not require the submission of personal information to the Commission, on their ownership forms.  
NCE stations will no longer be required to make “reasonable and good faith efforts” to obtain the
information needed to use unique registration numbers for board members and officers—and individuals 
serving in these important leadership positions will no longer be required to provide such information
under the threat of FCC enforcement action.  However, the FCC will still require NCEs to submit
information about the gender, race, and ethnicity of their governing officers and board members.
This approach properly balances the Commission’s need to improve its broadcast ownership data with the 
potential chilling effects that a mandatory reporting requirement could have on participation in NCE 
station governance.
Action by the Commission April 20, 2017 by Order on Reconsideration (FCC 17-42). Chairman Pai and 
Commissioner O’Rielly approving. Commissioner Clyburn dissenting. Chairman Pai, Commissioners 
Clyburn and O’Rielly issuing separate statements.  
MB Docket No. 07-294; MD Docket No. 10-234
###
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official 
action.  See MCI v. FCC. 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).