Change is never easy, but the FCC Media Bureau’s new Licensing and Management System (LMS) is getting largely positive reviews from the broadcast industry. Womble Bond Dickinson Telecom attorney Reid Avett was among the industry insiders who recently spoke about the change to LMS with Radio World.

LMS replaces the Consolidated Data Base System (CDBS) and is an online system for radio and television stakeholders to file application forms with the FCC. 

“We have not had any issues with the carrying over of databases, including call signs or FRNs [FCC Registration Number],” Avett tells Radio World. “Some of the improvements, such as having the ability to create a special use FRN for ownership reports within the LMS form are very helpful. Generally, it’s more user-friendly for filers. For example, LMS can model an ownership report off of a prior ownership report, so it takes less time to complete.”

However, he said that searching can sometimes be tricky on LMS. Also, a filer must search several sub-menus in order to find all the reports that can be filed, which can create unnecessary confusion, he said.

Click here to read, “FCC Database Transition Nears Completion” in Radio World

Reid Avett counsels clients in a full range of FCC regulatory, transactional and related business issues for a wide range of broadcast industry clients. He practices in Womble Bond Dickinson’s Washington, DC office.