FCC To Suspend Operations Due To Government Shutdown, Copyright Office To Stay Open

UPDATED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will suspend most operations on Thursday, January 3rd. The suspension announcement comes as the US government shutdown over the funding of a border wall enters Day 12.

Employees will be given up to four hours to complete an orderly shutdown of operations. “However, work required for the protection of life and property will continue, as will any work related to spectrum auctions, which is funded by auction proceeds,” the FCC said in a press release. “In addition, the Office of the Inspector General will continue operations until further notice.”

UPDATE: The FCC  has released a Public Notice detailing the effects the suspension of operations will have, including on electronic filing and database systems, filing deadlines, regulatory and application fee payments, transaction shot clocks and more. Read and download a pdf of the Public Notice here.

US Copyright Office Stays Open

The Copyright Office is still open for normal business, weekdays 8:30 am to 5 pm.”We are not affected by the partial government shutdown.” the agency said in a notice. “Online registration is available every day.”