Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by reinstating Channel 290A at Hardwick, Vermont, in response to the Commission's grant of the Petition for Reconsideration filed by Shire and Shore Communications. The window period for filing applications for Channel 290A at Hardwick, Vermont, will be announced by the Commission in the near future.

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 collections adopted in Report and Order in MB Docket No. 20-74, FCC 21-21, Rules Governing the Use of Distributed Transmission System Technologies, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) implements the Low Power Protection Act (LPPA or Act), as enacted on January 5, 2023. The LPPA provides certain low power television (LPTV) stations with a limited window of opportunity to apply for primary spectrum use status as Class A television stations. The LPPA sets forth eligibility criteria for stations seeking Class A designation that are similar to the eligibility criteria under the Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 (CBPA), which permitted certain LPTV stations to convert to Class A status. This document seeks comment on how to implement the LPPA consistent with Congressional direction, including, inter alia, which stations are eligible to apply for Class A status under the LPPA, the application period and application filing requirements, and ongoing eligibility requirements.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission or FCC) takes action to modernize and streamline its operations by making changes to its International Bureau as well as certain parts of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) and Office of Managing Director (OMD). In addition, we make other non- substantive rule revisions to reflect changes in Commission procedures and to modernize certain references to the Chairperson of the FCC.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission") announces that it has temporarily stayed the March 6, 2023 sunset of the requirement for broadcaster primary streams to comply with the ATSC A/322 standard.

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Commission's rules, by adding Channel 288A at South Padre Island, Texas. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 288A can be allotted to South Padre Island, Texas, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules (Rules), with a site restriction of 11 km (7 miles) south of the community. The reference coordinates are 26-01-30 NL and 97-09-15 WL.

On December 9, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner or Gray), the licensee of KTRE (Station or KTRE), channel 9, Lufkin, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 24 for channel 9 at Lufkin in the Table of TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations to substitute channel 24 for channel 9 at Lufkin.

On December 9, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner or Gray), the licensee of KOSA-TV (Station or KOSA-TV), channel 7, Odessa, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 31 for channel 7 at Odessa in the Table of TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations to substitute channel 31 for channel 7 at Odessa.

On April 13, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by WVEC Television, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WVEC (Station or WVEC), channel 11, Hampton, Virginia, requesting the substitution of channel 35 for channel 11at Hampton in the Table of TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations to substitute channel 35 for channel 11 at Hampton.

On January 11, 2023, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Blue Ridge Public Television, Inc. (Petitioner or Blue Ridge PBS), the licensee of noncommercial educational television PBS member station WBRA-TV (WBRA-TV or Station), channel *3, Roanoke, Virginia, requesting the substitution of channel *13 in place of channel *3 at Roanoke in the Table of TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel *13 for channel *3 at Roanoke.

This document requests comments on a petition for rule making filed by Shamrock Communications, Inc., proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by substituting Channel 256A for vacant Channel 288A at Tecopa, California to accommodate the hybrid modification application for Station KRZQ(FM) that proposes to upgrade from Channel 290C1 to Channel 291C at Amargosa Valley, Nevada. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 256A can be allotted to Tecopa, California, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 2.3 km (1.4 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 35-50-48 NL and 116-13-27 WL.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) published a document in the Federal Register of March 3, 2023, regarding a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding. The document contained the incorrect deadline for filing replies to an opposition to the Petition. This document corrects the deadline for replies to an opposition to the Petition.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Reno (KENV-TV) Licensee, Inc. (Petitioner), the licensee of KENV-DT, channel 10, Elko, Nevada. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 20 for channel 10 at Elko in the Table of Allotments.

This document requests comments on a petition for rule making filed by ITM, LLC, proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by substituting Channel 287A for vacant Channel 280A at Peach Springs, Arizona to accommodate the hybrid modification application for Station KIDD(FM) that proposes to upgrade from Channel 280A to Channel 280C2 at Fort Mohave, Arizona. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 287A can be allotted to Peach Springs, Arizona, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 12.6 km (7.8 miles) northeast of the community. The reference coordinates are 35-33-18 NL and 113-18-02 WL.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KCFW-TV, channel 9, Kalispell, Montana. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 17 for channel 9 at Kalispell in the Table of Allotments.

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Commission's rules, by adding Channel 233C at Ralston, Wyoming. Channel 233C would provide a first local service at Ralston, Wyoming. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 233C can be allotted to Ralston, Wyoming, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 32.1 km (19.9 miles) southwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 44-29-42 NL and 109-09-12 WL.

This document requests comments on a petition for rule making filed by 7430 Technologies LLC, proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by allotting Channel 277C2 at Wharton, Texas, as the community's second local service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 277C2 can be allotted to Wharton, Texas, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 2.1 km (1.3 miles) west of the community. The reference coordinates are 29-18-26 NL and 96-07- 50 WL.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Eugene License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KCBY-TV, channel 11, Coos Bay, Oregon. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 34 for channel 11 at Coos Bay in the Table of Allotments.

On December 12, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner or Gray), which holds a construction permit for channel 11 at Yuma, Arizona as the winning bidder in Auction 112. Gray requests the substitution of channel 27 for channel 11 at Yuma in the Table of TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 27 for channel 11 at Yuma.

Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Matthew Butler, on behalf Shire & Shore Communications.