On June 28, the commission passed, in broad form, a rule setting requirements for renewal applications.

"We're going to oppose any effort to extend the deadline for the renewal application, or to shortchange the public process," he said in an interview.

The company said it planned to submit its renewal application in mid-2005.

So far, the renewal applications have attracted little public opposition.

It has denied only four renewal applications due to the licensee's failure to meet its public interest programming obligation.

The renewal application must be submitted six months before the expiration date.

Federal law requires an administrative hearing before a city can finally reject a renewal application.

But, in the process, he alienated a season-ticket fan base that sometimes did not receive its renewal applications until August.

For renewal applications, a detailed Progress Report must be included.

The commission denied the renewal application a year later.