Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

On February 22, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of KCBD, channel 11 (NBC), Lubbock, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 36 for channel 11 at Lubbock in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 36 for channel 11 at Lubbock.

In this document the Commission adopts a limit of 10 applications filed by any party during the upcoming 2021 window for new noncommercial educational (NCE) FM radio stations. The application cap is designed to provide a meaningful opportunity for applicants to file for new NCE FM stations and expand NCE service while, at the same time, deter speculative applications and procedural delays.

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Commission's rules, by reinstating certain vacant FM allotments. These FM allotments are considered vacant because of the cancellation of the associated authorizations and licenses, or the dismissal of long-form auction applications. Theses vacant FM allotments have previously undergone notice and comment rule making. Reinstatement of the vacant allotments is merely a ministerial action to effectuate licensing procedures. Therefore, we find for good cause that further notice and comment are unnecessary.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by The Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation (Petitioner), the licensee of noncommercial educational PBS member station WYES-TV, channel *11, New Orleans, Louisiana. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel *28 for channel *11 at New Orleans, Louisiana in the DTV Table of Allotments.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KECI-TV (NBC), channel 13, Missoula, Montana. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula, Montana in the DTV Table of Allotments.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget has approved a revision to the information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 3060-1034 associated with new or amended rules adopted in the Federal Communications Commission's All-Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order, FCC 20-154, governing the contents of all-digital notifications submitted using the Digital Notification Form, FCC Form 335-AM, and that compliance with these rules is now required. This document is consistent with the All- Digital AM Broadcasting Report and Order, which states that the Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date for these new or amended rule sections and revise the rules accordingly.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of channel 26 at Eagle River, Wisconsin, as the community's second local service in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Boise Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KBOI-TV (NBC), channel 9, Boise, Idaho. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 20 for channel 9 at Boise, Idaho in the DTV Table of Allotments.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Eugene Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KVAL-TV (CBS), channel 13, Eugene, Oregon. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 28 for channel 13 at Eugene, Oregon in the DTV Table of Allotments.

On January 12, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KRCG Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of KRCG, channel 12 (CBS), Jefferson City, Missouri, requesting the substitution of channel 29 for channel 12 at Jefferson City in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 29 for channel 12 at Jefferson City.

The Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Scripps Broadcasting Holding, LLC (Scripps), the licensee of KRIS-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Corpus Christi, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 26 for channel 13 at Corpus Christi in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 26 for channel 13 at Corpus Christi.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by WRGB Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WRGB (CBS), channel 6, Schenectady, New York. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 35 for channel 6 at Schenectady, New York in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WCYB-TV (NBC), channel 5, Bristol, Virginia. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 35 for channel 5 at Bristol, Virginia in the DTV Table of Allotments.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission modifies its rules governing the use of distributed transmission system (DTS) technologies by broadcast television stations by permitting, within certain limits, DTS signals to spill over beyond a station's authorized service area by more than the ``minimal amount'' currently allowed. By affording broadcasters greater flexibility in the placement of DTS transmitters, the rule changes allow broadcasters to enhance their signal capabilities and fill coverage gaps, improve indoor and mobile reception, and increase spectrum efficiency by reducing the need for television translator stations operating on separate channels.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of channel 9 at Freeport, Illinois. The current version of the DTV Table, which reflects the pre-incentive auction allotments, allocates DTV Channel 41 to Freeport, Illinois, but the licensee submitted a winning bid to go off air in the broadcast television incentive auction and subsequently suspended operations. Thus, Petitioner is requesting the allotment of channel 9 at Freeport as that community's first local service in the DTV Table of Allotments, which will be amended later to reflect all the incentive auction channel assignments.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of April 12, 2021, concerning a petition for rulemaking filed by Four Seasons Peoria, LLC (Petitioner), licensee of television station WAOE, channel 10, Peoria, Illinois, requesting an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete channel 10 at Peoria, Illinois, and substitute channel 10 at Oswego, Illinois. The document contained an incomplete address for counsel of petitioner.

This document summarizes the procedures, deadlines, and upfront payment and minimum opening bid amounts for the upcoming auction of certain AM and FM broadcast construction permits. The Auction 109 Procedures Public Notice summarized here is intended to familiarize potential applicants with details of the procedures, terms, and conditions governing participation in Auction 109.

On March 4, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by The Curators of the University of Missouri (University), the licensee of KOMU-TV, channel 8 (NBC/CW), Columbia, Missouri, requesting the substitution of channel 27 for channel 8 at Columbia in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau substitutes channel 27 for channel 8 at Columbia.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking Four Seasons Peoria, LLC (Petitioner), licensee of television station WAOE, channel 10, Peoria, Illinois, requesting an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete channel 10 at Peoria, Illinois, and substitute channel 10 at Oswego, Illinois. Petitioner further requests modification of WAOE's license to specify Oswego as its community of license pursuant to the Commission's rules.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of March 25, 2021, concerning a petition for rulemaking filed by WLUK Licensee, LLC (Licensee) requesting the substitution of channel 18 for channel 12 at Green Bay, Wisconsin in the DTV Table of Allotments. The document contained the incorrect call sign in the summary section.