WASHINGTON, D.C.—More radio broadcasters will need to comply with the FCC's Online Public Inspection File (OPIF) requirements starting March 1, and Womble Bond Dickinson telecom lawyer John Garziglia discussed the requirements with Radio World.

On March 1, non-commercial stations, commercial stations in the top 50 Nielsen Audio markets with fewer than five full-time employees, and all commercial stations beyond those top 50 markets must begin including all new public and political file materials in an online database accessible to the public. The first phase of the Online Public Inspection File conversion saw large stations in top 50 markets comply with the new regulations.

Garziglia tells Radio World that the transition has gone well for his clients so far.

"My advice to broadcasters has been that the most difficult portion is using the licensee's FRN [FCC registration number] and password to obtain the separate log-in to the online public file. Once the separate log-in is established, everything else is pretty much self-explanatory," he said.

Click here to read "Second Wave of Stations Move Public File Online" in Radio World.

John Garziglia represents radio and television broadcasters, offering personalized assistance in all areas of communications and telecommunications law including transactional and contract negotiations for broadcast station mergers and acquisitions, the securing of financing, governmental auctions of new frequencies, license renewals, new stations applications, facility changes, facility upgrades, licensing, and compliance with FCC rules, regulations and policies.

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