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Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Tue, 01/19/2016 - 00:00
In this document, the Commission adopted a number of procedures and procedural changes designed to assist AM broadcasters to better serve the public, thereby advancing the Commission's fundamental goals of localism, competition, and diversity in broadcast media.

Revitalization of the AM Radio Service

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Tue, 01/19/2016 - 00:00
In this document, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), in which it sought comment on several proposals designed to revitalize the AM broadcast radio service, or to reduce burdens on AM broadcasters. The Commission further adopted a Notice of Inquiry (NOI), in which it sought comment on two proposals designed to revitalize the AM broadcast radio service. One of the proposals, regarding increased utilization of the AM expanded band, was suggested by several commenters in response to the NPRM in this proceeding, The second proposal, for relaxation of the Commission's main studio rules for AM stations, was suggested by a commenter and supported by others.

Petitions for Reconsideration of Public Notice Regarding Application Procedures for Broadcast Incentive Auction

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Tue, 12/22/2015 - 00:00
On December 10, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a summary of a Public Notice, 80 FR 76649, announcing that oppositions to Petitions for Reconsideration must be filed by December 28, 2015, and replies to an opposition must be filed by December 21, 2015. This document corrects the due date for replies to an opposition.

Petitions for Reconsideration of Public Notice Regarding Application Procedures for Broadcast Incentive Auction

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Thu, 12/10/2015 - 00:00
Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's proceeding by: Kathleen O'Brien Ham, on behalf of T- Mobile USA, Inc.; Caressa D. Bennet, on behalf of PBP Group, LLC, Bulloch Cellular, Inc., Pineland Cellular, Inc., and Planters Rural Cellular, Inc.; and A. Wray Fitch, III, on behalf of Walker Broadcasting Company, Inc. T-Mobile USA, Inc.'s petition requests a declaratory ruling in the alternative.

Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Wed, 12/02/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Commission announces that, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved, on an emergency basis, for a period for six months, an information collection for FCC Form 177, Application to Participate in a Reverse Incentive Auction, and certain Commission's rules contained in the Report and Order, Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, FCC 14-50. This document is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the rules and requirements.

Media Bureau Finalizes Reimbursement Form for Submission to OMB and Adopts Catalog of Expenses

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Mon, 11/30/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Media Bureau adopts the following a final catalog of expenses; a procedure whereby reimbursement payments will be disbursed via the agency's internal vendor payment system; a procedural requirement that the Reimbursement Form, with supporting cost documentation, must be submitted each time an entity makes a request for reimbursement from the Fund; and a decision that cost documentation, as well as the name, address, and other identifying information pertaining to vendors, will not be made publicly available.

Shared Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with the Commission's Report and Order, GN Docket No. 12-354, FCC 15-47. This document is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirements.

Unlicensed Use of TV Band and 600 MHz Band Spectrum

The Commission recently adopted rules to repurpose broadcast television spectrum for new wireless services via an incentive auction. This document modifies Commission rules for unlicensed wireless devices and wireless microphones in the reconstituted TV bands and the new 600 MHz band. This document modifies the Commission's rules for unlicensed operations in the frequency bands that are now and will continue to be allocated and assigned to broadcast television services (TV bands), including fixed and personal/portable white space devices and unlicensed wireless microphones. It adopts technical and operational rules for unlicensed devices and wireless microphones in the 600 MHz guard bands, including the duplex gap, and in the 600 MHz band that will be repurposed for new wireless services. It also adopts rules for fixed and personal/portable white space device operation on channel 37 and for the operation of unlicensed wireless microphones in the TV bands. This document modify the white space database rules to implement certain decisions, including protecting areas where new 600 MHz service licensees commence operation and areas used by incumbent services on channel 37.

Unlicensed Use of TV Band and 600 MHz Band Spectrum

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Mon, 11/23/2015 - 00:00
The Commission recently adopted rules to repurpose broadcast television spectrum for new wireless services via an incentive auction. This document modifies Commission rules for unlicensed wireless devices and wireless microphones in the reconstituted TV bands and the new 600 MHz band. This document modifies the Commission's rules for unlicensed operations in the frequency bands that are now and will continue to be allocated and assigned to broadcast television services (TV bands), including fixed and personal/portable white space devices and unlicensed wireless microphones. It adopts technical and operational rules for unlicensed devices and wireless microphones in the 600 MHz guard bands, including the duplex gap, and in the 600 MHz band that will be repurposed for new wireless services. It also adopts rules for fixed and personal/portable white space device operation on channel 37 and for the operation of unlicensed wireless microphones in the TV bands. This document modify the white space database rules to implement certain decisions, including protecting areas where new 600 MHz service licensees commence operation and areas used by incumbent services on channel 37.

Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Tue, 11/17/2015 - 00:00
This document resolves the remaining technical issues affecting the operation of new 600 MHz wireless licensees and broadcast television stations in areas where they operate on the same or adjacent channels in geographic proximity. Specifically, the Commission adopted the methodology and the regulatory framework for the protection of both wireless services and broadcasting in the post-auction environment that it proposed in October 2014. The Commission affirms its decision regarding the methodology to be used during the incentive auction to predict inter-service interference between broadcasting and wireless services. The Commission also affirmed its decision declining to adopt a cap on the aggregate amount of new interference a broadcast television station may receive from other television stations in the repacking process.

Promoting Spectrum Access for Wireless Microphone Operations

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Tue, 11/17/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Commission takes several steps to accommodate the long-term needs of wireless microphone users. Wireless microphones play an important role in enabling broadcasters and other video programming networks to serve consumers, including as they cover breaking news and live sports events. They enhance event productions in a variety of settings--including theaters and music venues, film studios, conventions, corporate events, houses of worship, and internet webcasts. They also help create high quality content that consumers demand and value. In particular, the Commission provides additional opportunities for wireless microphone operations in the TV bands following the upcoming incentive auction, and provides new opportunities for wireless microphone operations to access spectrum in other frequency bands where they can share use of the bands without harming existing users.

Review of Foreign Ownership Policies for Broadcast, Common Carrier and Aeronautical Radio Licensees

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Fri, 11/06/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to extend its foreign ownership rules and procedures that apply to common carrier licensees to broadcast licensees, with certain modifications to tailor them to the broadcast context. The Commission also seeks comment on whether and how to revise the methodology a licensee should use to assess its compliance with the 25 percent foreign ownership benchmark in section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, in order to reduce regulatory burdens on applicants and licensees. Finally, the Commission makes several proposals to clarify and update existing foreign ownership policies and procedures for broadcast, common carrier and aeronautical licensees.

Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:00
In this Second Order on Reconsideration, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) provides more flexibility to broadcasters interested in the channel sharing option in the broadcast incentive auction by clarifying that back-up channel sharing agreements (``CSAs'') are permitted under its rules and providing more time for successful bidders to transition to shared facilities after the auction. The Commission also provides guidance regarding how the CSA exception to the prohibited communications rule applies with respect to back-up CSAs.

Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions; Channel Sharing by Full Power and Class A Stations Outside the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction Context

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Mon, 11/02/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Commission refines the rules it adopted in the Incentive Auction Report and Order and the preceding Channel Sharing Report and Order to provide greater flexibility and certainty regarding channel sharing agreements (``CSAs''). Among other things, we modify our rules to allow broadcasters that relinquish rights in the incentive auction in order to channel share to enter into CSAs after the auction and, whether they enter into CSAs before or after the auction, to determine the length of their agreements.

Application Procedures for Broadcast Incentive Auction Scheduled To Begin on March 29, 2016; Technical Formulas for Competitive Bidding

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Thu, 10/29/2015 - 00:00
This document announces the final application procedures for the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction (Auction 1000), including the forward and reverse auctions (Auctions 1001 and 1002 respectively). This document also summarizes detailed information, instructions, and deadlines for filing applications, as well as certain post-auction procedures established by the Commission's prior orders.

Petitions for Reconsideration of Action in Rulemaking Proceeding

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Fri, 10/23/2015 - 00:00
Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking Proceeding by Ari Q. Fitzgerald, on behalf of GE Healthcare; Ronald J. Bruno on behalf of The VideoHouse, Inc.; Benjamin Perez on behalf of Abacus Television; Lawrence Rogow on behalf of WMTM, LLC; and Larry E. Morton on behalf of KMYA, LLC.

Broadcast Licensee-Conducted Contests

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Fri, 10/23/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (``Commission'') amends the portion of its rules known as the ``Contest Rule'' to permit broadcast licensees to comply with their obligation to disclose material contest terms either by broadcasting those terms or by making them available in writing on a publicly accessible Internet Web site. In particular, the Commission amends the Contest Rule to allow licensees to satisfy their disclosure obligation by posting material contest terms on the station's Web site, the licensee's Web site, or, if neither the individual station nor the licensee has its own Web site, any Internet Web site that is readily accessible to the public. The Commission also adopts requirements that define the disclosure obligation in cases where a licensee has chosen to meet its obligation through an Internet Web site.

Preserving Vacant Channels in the UHF Television Band for Unlicensed Use

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Fri, 09/18/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) provides notice of the revised comment and reply comment deadlines in this proceeding. The comment period in this proceeding has previously been suspended pending action in the Commission's incentive auction proceeding and the Media Bureau announces that it has been restarted and the new deadlines for filing comments and reply comments.

Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions

Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting) - Thu, 09/17/2015 - 00:00
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, certain information collection requirements associated with the Commission's Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions Report and Order (Incentive Auction Report and Order), FCC 14- 50. This document is consistent with the Incentive Auction Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of to the new information collection requirements.

Reorganization of the Enforcement Bureau's Field Operations

The Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) acts to improve the Commission's efficiency, effectively manage Commission resources, and align the Commission's field enforcement activities with contemporary needs for a field enforcement presence. The Commission, the Office of Managing Director and the Enforcement Bureau will take several actions to realign the mission and resources of its 24 field offices. The Bureau's field offices will primarily support the enforcement of the Commission's radio frequency spectrum rules and other key regulations in a manner likely to have the greatest impact, in the most cost effective way possible.

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