Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

This document summarizes procedures and announces upfront payment amounts and minimum opening bids for the auction of certain cross-service FM translator construction permits. The Public Notice summarized here is intended to familiarize applicants with the procedures and other requirements for participation in Auction 100.

In this document the Federal Communications Commission adopts rules to strengthen and streamline the rules relating to FM translator interference with other broadcast stations by allowing FM translators to resolve interference issues by changing channels to any available same-band frequency using a minor modification application; standardizing the information that must be compiled and submitted by any station claiming interference, including establishing a required minimum number of listener complaints; establishing interference complaint resolution procedures; and establishing an outer contour limit for the affected station within which interference complaints will be considered actionable.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) eliminates a requirement of our rules that oblige certain broadcast television and radio stations to file the FCC Broadcast Mid-Term Report (Form 397). This requirement has become redundant now that most of the information that the form requests is readily accessible online via the Commission's Online Public Inspection File (Public File). The Public File will be modified to allow stations to indicate whether they are subject to a mid-term review, as this is the only information not otherwise available. It therefore finds that eliminating this requirement will serve the public interest.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of television station WNLO(TV), channel 32, Buffalo, New York (WNLO), and WUTV Licensee, LLC (WUTV Licensee), licensee of television station WUTV(TV), channel 36, Buffalo, New York. The Joint Petitioners propose the substitution of channel 32 for channel 36 as WNLO's DTV allotment; and the substitution of channel 36 for channel 32 as WUTV's allotment. The Joint Petitioners also request a waiver of the Media Bureau's current freeze on the filing and processing of petition for digital channel substitutions and minor modification applications for changes to existing television service areas that would increase a full power television noise limited contour. The Joint Petitioners seek to exchange the channels of WNLO and WUTV so that after the swap, WNLO would operate on channel 36 and WUTV would operate on channel 32. WUTV would continue to operate form its existing pre-auction location and WNLO would move the Nexstar shared facilities in the site previously vacated by WIVB-TV (Buffalo, New York (CBS) (WIVB). The channel substitution serves the public interest because it would allow for a more efficient allocation of UHF television channels and resolve significant over-the-air reception problems in WIVB's prior service area.

At the request of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. (CPBI), licensee of television station WEDW channel *49, Bridgeport, Connecticut (WEDW), the Commission has before it a contested Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change WEDW's community of license from Bridgeport to Stamford, Connecticut. The Commission believes that the proposal is a preferential arrangement of allotments because it will provide Stamford, the third largest city in Connecticut, with its first broadcast television service. The Commission also reiterates that the grant of the proposal will not deprive Bridgeport of its sole broadcast television service because it will continue to be served by full power television station WZME, Bridgeport, Connecticut, licensed to NRJ TV NY License Co., LLC (NRJ).

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts streamlined procedures for reauthorizing television satellite stations when they are assigned or transferred. This document continues the Commission's efforts to modernize its regulations and reduce unnecessary requirements that can impede competition and innovation in the media marketplace.

In this document, the Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau, in conjunction with the Office of Economics and Analytics, announce an auction of construction permits for low power television stations and TV translator stations. This document also seeks comment on competitive bidding procedures and proposed minimum opening bid amounts for Auction 104.

At the request of ION Media License Company, LLC. (ION), licensee of television station WPXH-TV, channel 45, Gadsden, Alabama (WPXH), the Commission has before it an unopposed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments by changing WPXH's community of license from Gadsden to Hoover, Alabama. The Commission believes that the proposed reallotment is consistent with the Commission's second allotment priority by providing Hoover with its first local transmission service. The Commission also notes that the proposed reallotment will not deprive Gadsden of its sole broadcast station because it will continue to be served by station WTJP-TV, licensed to Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc. on channel 26 at Gadsden. We also grant ION's requested waiver of the Commission's rules.

In this document, the Commission adopts rules to implement Congress's directive in the 2018 Reimbursement Expansion Act (REA) that the Commission reimburse certain Low Power Television and television translator stations and FM broadcast stations, for costs incurred as a result of the Commission's broadcast television spectrum incentive auction. In the REA, Congress provided additional funding for the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund and expanded the list of entities eligible to receive reimbursement for costs reasonably incurred as a result of the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum to include LPTV/ translator and FM stations. This document adopts rules relating to eligibility, expenses, and procedures the Commission will use to provide reimbursement to these entities and mandates the use of various measures designed to protect the Reimbursement Fund against waste, fraud, and abuse.

In this document, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in which it sought comment on several proposals designed to improve the rules and procedures to select and license competing applications for new noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations and low power FM (LPFM) stations.

At the request of ION Media License Company, LLC (ION), licensee of digital television station WNPX-TV, channel 36, Cookeville, Tennessee (WNPX), the Commission has before it an unopposed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to amend the Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments to reallot channel 36 from Cookeville to Franklin, Tennessee. ION further requested modification of WNPX's license to specify Franklin as the station's community of license. ION claimed that proposed reallotment is mutually exclusive with WNPX's current allotment because it is based on the technical specifications currently authorized for the station. Furthermore, ION stated that the proposed reallotment is consistent with the Commission's second allotment priority because it will provide Franklin with its first local transmission service. ION explained that Franklin not only qualifies as a community for allotment purposes, but is also a larger community than Cookeville and is deserving of its first local transmission service.

This document requests comments on a Petition for Rule Making filed by SSR Communications Inc., proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by allotting Channel 264A at Caliente, Nevada, as the first local service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 264A can be allotted to Caliente consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules without a site restriction. The reference coordinates are 37-36-02 NL and 114-30-32 WL.

In this document, the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) initiates the 2018 quadrennial review of its media ownership rules, launched pursuant to a requirement of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act) that the Commission review its media ownership rules every four years to determine whether they remain ``necessary in the public interest as the result of competition'' and to ``repeal or modify any determine[d] to be no longer in the public interest.'' The three rules currently subject to review are the Local Radio Ownership Rule, the Local Television Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network Rule. The NPRM seeks comment on whether, given the current state of the media marketplace, the Commission should retain, modify, or eliminate any of these rules. The NPRM also seeks comment on several proposals offered as potential pro- diversity initiatives.

At the request of ION Media License Company, LLC. (ION), licensee of television station WPXH-TV, channel 45, Gadsden, Alabama (WPXH), the Commission is proposing to amend the DTV Table of Allotments by changing WPXH's community of license from Gadsden to Hoover, Alabama. ION asserts that the proposed reallotment is consistent with the Commission's second allotment priority by providing Hoover with its first local transmission service. ION also asserts that the proposed reallotment will not deprive Gadsden of its sole broadcast station because it will continue to be served by station WPXH-TV, licensed to Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc. on channel 26 at Gadsden.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) eliminates provisions of our rules that require broadcasters to post and maintain copies of their licenses and related information in specific locations. These rules have become redundant and obsolete now that licensing information is readily accessible online through the Commission's databases, including CDBS, LMS, and ULS. It therefore finds that eliminating these rules, which apply in some form to all broadcast licensees, will serve the public interest.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Alan S. Tilles, on behalf of The City of New Orleans, Louisiana; Virginia Municipal League; Kentucky League of Cities; Mississippi Municipal League; Pennsylvania Municipal League; Alabama League of Municipalities; Arkansas Municipal League; Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities; Town of Middleburg, Virginia; Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; and Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association.

At the request of ION Media License Company, LLC. (ION), licensee of television station WNPX-TV, channel 36, Cookeville, Tennessee (WNPX), the Commission is proposing to amend the Post- Transition Table of DTV Allotments by changing WNPX's community of license from Cookeville to Franklin, Tennessee, pursuant to section 1.420(i) of the Commission's rules. ION asserts that the proposed reallotment is consistent with the Commission's second allotment priority by providing Franklin with its first local transmission service. ION also asserts that the proposed reallotment will not deprive Cookeville of its sole broadcast station because it will continue to be served by station WCTE(TV), licensed to Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council, on channel *22 at Cookeville.

A Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Donald J. Evans, on behalf of Red Brennan Group.

At the request of ION Media Lexington License, Inc. (ION), licensee of television station WUPX-TV, channel 21, Morehead, Kentucky (WUPX), the Commission amends the DTV Table of Allotments to reallot channel 21 from Morehead, Kentucky, to Richmond, Kentucky.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission eliminates a paper filing requirement for broadcast station contracts and documents and instead requires that these same documents are either uploaded or listed in the online public file within 30 days.