With the television license renewal cycle beginning in 2012, the radio renewal cycle continuing, Lowest Unit Rate windows for the upcoming Presidential and Congressional primaries and elections, and all of the normal regulatory issues that face broadcasters each year, there are a host of regulatory deadlines that broadcasters must note for the coming year. The attached calendar tries to summarize many of the important dates that should be on the radar of all broadcasters.

While the FCC and the rest of the Washington bureaucracy considers other big issues that may affect broadcasters — including the possibility of incentive auctions and the proposed reclamation of parts of the television spectrum, a review of the media ownership rules, online public files and new forms to document public interest obligations of broadcasters, copyright reforms, indecency enforcement, and many other issues—broadcasters, as always, will be faced with a number of mandatory deadlines throughout the year that are critical for FCC compliance, the avoidance of fines, and keeping your FCC license secure. These routine deadlines include children's programming reports, EEO public file reports, ownership reports for noncommercial stations, quarterly issues/programs lists, and annual FCC regulatory fees, all of which are required over the course of the year.