Contact

Reaching the Radio Broadcast Authority connects broadcasters, engineers, station owners, and regulatory researchers to a centralized reference point for questions about FCC licensing, construction permits, spectrum allocation, and operational compliance across the United States. This page outlines the available contact channels, the geographic scope of coverage, and the specific information that should accompany any inquiry to ensure an accurate and timely response.

Additional contact options

Radio broadcast operations span a complex regulatory environment governed primarily by the Federal Communications Commission under Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (47 CFR, FCC Rules). Questions that fall outside the scope of general reference — particularly those requiring legal interpretation of FCC rules, spectrum enforcement actions, or formal license applications — should be directed to the appropriate federal agency or a qualified communications attorney.

For regulatory inquiries addressed directly to the FCC, the agency maintains a dedicated broadcaster resource page at fcc.gov/media/radio, which covers license renewals, construction permit filings, and the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). The FCC's Media Bureau handles broadcast licensing and can be reached through the agency's published contact provider network.

Industry bodies provide parallel reference channels:

1. National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) — The NAB publishes technical standards guidance and regulatory advocacy materials relevant to both AM and FM licensees (nab.org).
2. Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) — Technical questions involving transmission equipment, antenna systems, and engineering certifications fall within the SBE's published resource library (sbe.org).
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — Inquiries related to public radio funding structures, community service grants, and public file requirements for non-commercial stations align with CPB's published guidance (cpb.org).

How to reach this office

The Radio Broadcast Authority functions as a reference and information resource, not a regulatory body. Correspondence submitted through the site's contact form is reviewed and routed to the appropriate editorial or subject-matter category. Response timelines vary based on inquiry complexity:

• General reference questions (definitions, regulatory framework overviews, licensing process explanations): responses within 3 to 5 business days
• Technical subject inquiries (signal propagation, equipment standards, tower permitting concepts): responses within 5 to 7 business days
• Complex regulatory or legal-adjacent topics: these are redirected to named public agencies or professional organizations, with a response acknowledging the referral within 2 business days

Submissions involving active FCC enforcement matters, pending license applications, or specific call-sign disputes are outside the editorial scope of this resource. Those matters require direct engagement with the FCC's Media Bureau or licensed legal counsel familiar with broadcast communications law under 47 U.S.C. § 301 and related statutes (47 U.S.C. § 301, Cornell LII).

Service area covered

The Radio Broadcast Authority covers the full scope of licensed radio broadcasting in the United States, including territories subject to FCC jurisdiction. Coverage extends across all four primary service categories as defined under FCC licensing rules:

Coverage also extends to associated topics including construction permits for broadcast stations, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) as defined under 47 CFR Part 11, music licensing obligations under agreements administered by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, and public file compliance standards codified at 47 CFR § 73.3526.

Satellite radio services operated by SiriusXM under FCC satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) licenses fall partially within scope on a comparative basis — for example, in distinguishing terrestrial broadcast obligations from SDARS regulatory requirements — but the authority does not cover SDARS-specific licensing procedures in depth.

What to include in your message

Structured inquiries receive more specific responses. Including the following information in any submission eliminates the need for follow-up clarification and reduces response time:

1. Station call sign or facility ID (if the question relates to a specific licensed station — call signs follow the FCC's CDBS or Licensing and Management System (LMS) format)
2. Service type — AM, FM, LPFM, HD Radio, or non-commercial educational (NCE)
3. Frequency and community of license — for example, 91.5 MHz licensed to a specific city and state
4. Regulatory section or topic area — referencing the specific part of 47 CFR or an FCC proceeding number where known
5. Nature of the question — distinguish between factual reference requests, process questions (e.g., how the license renewal cycle works under 47 CFR § 73.3539), and technical concept questions
6. Prior research conducted — noting which FCC resources, NAB publications, or SBE standards documents have already been consulted allows responses to address gaps rather than repeat existing public information

Submissions that involve emergency broadcast failures, EAS equipment malfunctions, or interference complaints should be directed immediately to the FCC's 24-hour Operations Center at 202-418-1122, which is the designated point of contact for time-sensitive broadcast engineering and interference matters.