FCC Puts ‘Form 399’ Reimbursement Form To Test

0

The FCC’s Media Bureau on Tuesday (Oct. 4) revealed that it has started a “limited beta test” of the Incentive Auction Broadcaster Relocation Reimbursement System.
This requires TV stations to utilize FCC Form 399.


Television stations reassigned to new channels, along with the MVPDs that carry those stations, will need to file Form 399 to claim reimbursement from the $1.75 billion TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund for expenses “they reasonably incur” in connection with the post-incentive auction repack.

Form 399 was released by the FCC’s Media Bureau on October 30, 2015.

Starting Oct. 4, broadcasters will have access to a test environment where they will be able to interact and familiarize themselves with an updated version of Form 399.

Those accessing the Form 399 beta test environment are invited to provide feedback on the form and the test environment until Nov. 4.

The beta environment will be open to all broadcasters with an active facility associated with their FRN and password in the Commission’s License and Management System (LMS) database.

Parties interested in taking part in the Form 399 beta test should note the following:

The FCC notes that the beta environment continues to be under active development, and therefore periodic service outages may take place.

“These issues will be resolved prior to the formal release of Form 399,” the FCC promises, as “these issues are unique to the beta test environment and will not occur once the final Form 399 is deployed in the production environment in LMS.”