eLMS: Enhanced LMS

Updated June 23, 2023

REC Networks is working to address the shortcomings of the raw data that is now delivered by the FCC with the replacement of the old CDBS application filing system with the new LMS system that went into service for most FM broadcast applications on September 25, 2019.  

Currently, the FCC ships out on a daily basis, a raw data file of each broadcast related application in LMS.  Some of the information in the raw data is of bad quality (with errors) and many critical data elements are still missing.

Once fully implemented, eLMS will review each new broadcast application as it is filed and convert that into a data source that we can use throughout our system universe.  

How does eLMS work?

eLMS builds upon REC's existing functionality that frequently monitors the public access portal of the FCC's License Management System (LMS).  This is the functionality that drives our FCC.today website.   

When either an application or amendment is filed, applications that qualify for eLMS handling are then referred to the eLMS system.  eLMS will then retrieve the application and read the data that was entered and writes it to a database.  For applications involving engineering, eLMS will also call to the FCC's mapping interface systems (API) in order to get the facility's service contours.  During the business day, this process normally takes about 20 minutes from the filing until when it appears in our systems.  

When an application is granted, a similar process is done to read the application and then eLMS will retreive the application's authorization document and read the data off of that and update the database accordingly. 

eLMS also interfaces with the raw data that is provided by the FCC through their CDBS, LMS and IBFS (for shortwave broadcast stations) to maintain a master application list for each service. 

Various REC projects such as the Radio History Project and the BAPS Restoral Project are also included in some of the eLMS data.

What does REC do with eLMS?

For qualfiied services eLMS drives the popular FCCdata.org website.  Because of our "near real-time" updating ability, applications filed at the FCC could appear in FCCdata within about 20 minutes of being filed at the FCC.

eLMS also provides a much more robust data product for REC which assists in research and statistics as well as for our engineering functions.  It fills in many of the holes that were created when the FCC converted radio from CDBS to LMS.  

Which broadcast services and application types are fully supported by eLMS?

Fully supported applications are ingested by the eLMS system at the time of filing and at the time of action.

  Full-Service FM, LPFM, FM Translators, FM Boosters AM Stations TV Stations, Class A TV and Low Power TV (digital only) International Broadcast Stations
Applications with engineering (CPs, modifications, license to cover, modify license, etc.) Yes No No No
Assignments/Transfers Yes Yes Yes No
Consummation Notices Yes  Yes Yes N/A
Notice of Non-consummation Yes Yes Yes N/A
Extension of Consummation Yes Yes Yes N/A
EEO Reports Yes Yes Yes N/A
Ownership Reports Yes Yes Yes N/A
Administrative Updates Yes Yes Yes No
Renewals Yes Yes Yes No
Special Temporary Authority (Legal) Yes No Yes No
Special Temporary Authority (Engineering) No (possibly 2024) No No No
Silent and resumption of operations Yes Yes Yes No
Digital Notification Yes Yes N/A N/A
Modulation Dependent Carrier Level N/A Yes N/A N/A
Ancillary/Supplemental Service N/A N/A Yes N/A
Change Main Studio/Control Point N/A N/A Yes N/A
Change in Primary Station Yes N/A N/A N/A
Cancellation of License Yes Yes Yes N/A
Tolling & CP Extensions Yes Yes Yes N/A
Withdrawal of application Yes Yes Yes N/A
Program Test Authority Yes Yes N/A N/A
Call Sign Requests Yes Yes Yes N/A

eLMS Data Tables

Here's a list of the tables in eLMS.  Files are normally linked through the hexidecimal LMS application identifier.

Public copies of raw data are currently unavailable.  We may offer something in the future.  This list goes demonstrates the data that we collect.

Using table application or the applist_* tables are your best starting point.

alien_ownership 08/2021 Tracks the data entered on the application regarding alien ownership.
altc_applicant 08/2022 Applicant data from applications for assignments and tranfers.
altc_consummation 08/2022 Consummation notice data.  Filed when the transaction (such as a station sale) from a previously granted assignment application has been completed.
altc_details 08/2022 Answers to the various questions asked on an assignment or transfer application.
altc_facility 08/2021 Listings of the facilities invlolved in an assignment or transfer of control.
ancillary 05/2022 Information from annual ancillary/supplemental service report.
ancillary_services 05/2022 Information about each individual ancillary or supplemental service on the annual report.
antenna 08/2021 Field values of directional FM antennas.
application 08/2022 Header details for applications managed in eLMS.
application_service 05/2022 Code table to indicate the service code of a record.
application_status 05/2022 Code table to indicate the status of an application.
application_type 05/2022 Code table to indicate the type of application.
applist_am 05/2022 Master application list for AM radio.  (Engineering data is in CDBS)
applist_dtv 05/2022 Master application list for TV applications related to the 2009 digital television conversion.
applist_fm 05/2022 Master application list for FM radio. (Engineering data is in eLMS)
applist_hf 05/2022 Master application list for international broadcast stations. (Engineering data is in IBFS)
applist_kidvid 05/2022 Master application list of Children's Televisions Reports  (eLMS does not store specifc program information included in the submissions, nor is it kept in the REC data store.)
applist_repack 05/2022 Master application list of TV applications related to the repack.
applist_tv 05/2022 Master application list of TV, except for the DTV conversion, children's television reports and the repack. (Engineering data is in LMS)
attachments 05/2022 Links to the attached documents included in LMS applications including FCC decision letters.
callsign_request 05/2022 Applications related to adding, changing and exchanging call signs.
cancellation 05/2022 Additional details on authorizations being cancelled.
conditions 05/2022 Special conditions that appear on authorization documents for permits and licenses.
contact_info 05/2022 Contact information including legal and engineering contacts.
digital 05/2022 Digital notifications.
eeo 05/2022 Answers to questions on the EEO Report.
eeo_common 05/2022 Facilities included in an EEO Report.
facility 05/2022 Listing of facilities by Facility ID
fair_distribution 05/2022 NCE Window population counts, REC adjustments and other REC application tracking.
fmeng 05/2022 Engineering details for FM facilities.
fm_contour 05/2022 Geographic coordinates to plot service contours.
fm_ind 05/2022 Answers to various FM specific questions on FM applications.
legal 05/2022 Answers to the legal questions on FM applications.
main_studio_ctrl_pt 05/2022 Main studio and control points.
mdcl 05/2022 Modulation Dependent Carrier Level AM filings.
mx_dismissal_reason 05/2022 Code table of reasons why an LPFM or NCE original construction permit was dismissed.
mx_facility 05/2022 Applications that were filed in a LPFM or NCE filing window.
mx_group 05/2022 Identification of groups of mutually exclusive applications in a LPFM or NCE filing window.
mx_notes 05/2022 Notes made by REC at the MX Group level.
mx_relationship 05/2022 Linkage to how one application is MX to another.  (In effect as of the close of the window, not reflecting amendments)
mx_window 05/2022 LPFM and NCE filing windows supported by eLMS.
nce_contour 05/2022 Geographic coordinates to plot interfering contours of new NCE stations from 2021 filing window.
owr 05/2022 Header data for ownership reports.
owr_attrib 05/2022 Attributable interests on ownership reports.
owr_docs 05/2022 Agreements and contracts on ownership reports.
owr_facility 05/2022 Facilities included in the ownership report.
owr_facility_group 05/2022 Ownership groups and related FRN from the ownership report.
owr_family 05/2022 Ownership report familial relationships.
owr_newspaper 05/2022 Ownership report newspaper cross-ownership
owr_org_chart 05/2022 Ownership report links to organizational charts.
owr_owner 05/2022 Information about specific persons or corporations that are a party to that station/group.
party 05/2022 Parties to an application.
pn 05/2022 FCC (broadcast) Applications public notices
pn_application 05/2022 Applications appearing on each public notice.
point_system 05/2022 Noncommercial educational and LPFM point system points claimed on application.
pop_area 05/2022 Population within service contour based on FCC Contours API.
renewal 05/2022 License renewal details.
silence_log 07/2022 Log of broadcast facility silence.
sta 05/2022 Special Temporary Authority (including silent stations)
tolling 07/2022 Tolling (extension) requests.
vacant_fm_allotments 05/2022 List of vacant FM allotments found in §73.202.
widefm_allotments 07/2022 REC WIDE-FM Proposal: Proposed Table of  Allotments and hypothetical LPFM stations. 
widefm_tv_facilities 07/2022 REC WIDE-FM Proposal: TV Channel 5 and 6 facilities.
widefm_tv_haat 07/2022 REC WIDE-FM Proposal: TV Channel 5 and 6 facilities - distance to the appropriate contours.