February 14, 2019 – The Federal Communications Commission has revised its Antenna Structure Registration System (ASR) by installing a new two-step process for reporting changes in ownership of towers and other antenna structures.[1] Under the new ownership change application process, both the assignor (current owner of tower or structure) and the assignee (new owner) must log into the ASR, complete their respective portions of the application, and provide the signature of an authorized person (by submitting a paper FCC Form 854). To prevent unauthorized changes, both the current owner and the new owner of an antenna structure will be required to approve any change in ownership registration. The new process for each party is summarized below:

Part 1 (Current Owner – Assignor): To complete the first part of an ownership change application, the assignor must:

(1) Log into ASR using its FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password and on “Dashboard,” select the “Ownership Change” purpose. All registrations associated with that FRN that are in “Granted” or “Constructed” status will be displayed.

(2) Select one or more of the displayed registrations to transfer to the assignee and click “Save and Continue.”

(3) Enter the assignee’s FRN and click “Save and Continue.”

(4) Confirm the selected registration(s) on the “Application Summary” page and click “Sign and Send to Assignee.” ASR will then display the “Assignor Certification” page.

(5) Enter the name and title of the individual signing for the assignor and click “Send to Assignee.” ASR will display a confirmation page with the message “Your application is ready for Assignee to complete. Please notify Assignee.” It will also provide an option for the assignor to return to the ASR dashboard.

Part 2 (New Owner – Assignee): To complete and submit an ownership change application, the assignee must:

(1) Log into ASR using its FRN and password, and from the “Dashboard,” select “Review all Saved Applications.” The “Application Manager” will then be displayed.

(2) Under the “Saved Applications” tab, find and select the partially completed OC application(s). ASR will display the “Application at a Glance” page.

(3) Select “Continue Application,” complete the required fields for “Ownership Information,” and click on “Save and Continue.”

(4) Complete the “Contact Information,” and select “Save and Continue.” The “Application Summary” will be displayed.

(5) Clicking on “Sign and Submit” will display the “Assignee Certification” page. Enter the name and title of the individual signing for the assignee and click “Submit Application.” ASR will then display the final “Confirmation” page, showing a row for each registration number that was transferred in the OC application.

The assignor may delete a partially completed ownership change application at any time until it is sent to the assignee, but after an application is sent to the assignee, only the assignee can delete it. The ASR will automatically delete saved ownership change applications after 30 days if the assignee fails to complete the application. The FCC’s Wireless Bureau will send a letter to the assignor confirming the change in ownership after the application is granted.

Signature Page – FCC Form 854

To prevent unauthorized changes, both the current owner and the new owner of an antenna structure will be required to approve any change in ownership registration. Accordingly, before an ownership change application will be granted, both the assignor and assignee must provide the signature of an authorized person by submitting a paper FCC Form 854. The FCC made a number of minor changes to FCC Form 854 to implement the new ownership change application procedures.

***** Footnotes *****

[1] New Procedure For Reporting Ownership Changes In The Antenna Structure Registration System To Be Implemented February 14, 2019, Public Notice, DA 19-69 (Feb. 11, 2019).