diff --git a/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts b/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
index b429aed..4537e49 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
@@ -1329,8 +1329,34 @@ router.get("/api/v1/fcc/cores-search", async (req, res) => {
       source: "FCC Form 499 Filer Database",
     });
   } catch (err: any) {
-    console.error("[fcc-cores-search] Error:", err);
-    res.status(500).json({ error: "FCC search failed: " + (err.message || "unknown error") });
+    // FCC is down or blocking us — fall back to local database
+    console.warn("[fcc-cores-search] FCC search failed, falling back to local DB:", err.message);
+    try {
+      const localResults = await pool.query(
+        `SELECT filer_id, legal_name, trade_name AS dba, frn
+         FROM fcc_499_filers
+         WHERE legal_name ILIKE $1 OR trade_name ILIKE $1
+         ORDER BY legal_name
+         LIMIT 50`,
+        [`%${name}%`],
+      );
+      const enriched = localResults.rows.map((r: any) => ({
+        filer_id: r.filer_id,
+        legal_name: r.legal_name,
+        dba: r.dba || "",
+        frn: r.frn || null,
+      }));
+      res.json({
+        results: enriched,
+        count: enriched.length,
+        total_found: enriched.length,
+        query: name,
+        source: "Local database (FCC search temporarily unavailable)",
+      });
+    } catch (dbErr: any) {
+      console.error("[fcc-cores-search] Local fallback also failed:", dbErr);
+      res.status(500).json({ error: "Search is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later or search by FRN." });
+    }
   }
 });