Federal Communications Commission (FCC) License Application

An X12 195 transaction communicates Federal Communications Commission license application data between applicants and the FCC or authorized processing entities. Applicants—typically telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, or other regulated entities—send this transaction to submit or update license applications with the FCC. The transaction set uses the mandatory BGN (Beginning Segment) to establish application context, the DTM (Date/Time Reference) segment to specify key dates such as application submission or service start dates, and the optional PWK (Paperwork) segment to reference supporting documentation required by the FCC.

For example, a wireless communications company called Spectrum Wireless Corp. prepares an FCC license renewal application for additional radio frequency spectrum in a new market. Spectrum Wireless Corp. generates and transmits an X12 195 transaction to the FCC’s licensing division, populating the N1 loop with company identification and contact information, using QTY segments to specify the number of licenses requested and coverage areas, and including REF segments to cross-reference prior license numbers. The FCC’s system receives the structured 195 transaction, validates the application data against regulatory requirements, and processes the submission without manual re-entry of applicant details.