Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting Channel 284A at Huntley, Montana, as the community's first local service. To accommodate the allotment, we modify the license of KYSX, Billings, Montana to specify operation on Channel 286A in lieu of Channel 283C1. A staff engineering analysis reveals that Channel 284A can be allotted to Huntley, Montana, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 13.9 km (8.6 miles) north of the community.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules to allow digital FM broadcast radio stations to operate with different power levels on the upper and lower digital sidebands, by notification to the Commission. The rule changes will facilitate greater digital FM radio coverage without interfering with adjacent-channel FM broadcast stations. The intended effect is to advance the broader adoption of digital FM broadcasting by authorizing digital FM broadcasters to implement such asymmetric sideband operation by simple notification to the Commission, rather than by requesting experimental authorization as is the current practice.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) revises the technical rules for low-power auxiliary station (LPAS) devices to permit a recently developed type of wireless microphone system, termed herein as a Wireless Multichannel Audio System (WMAS), to operate in the broadcast television (TV) bands and other LPAS frequency bands on a licensed basis. The Commission adopts technical rules for licensed WMAS operations in specific frequency bands under our LPAS rules and also permits WMAS to operate on an unlicensed basis under the rules in the TV bands and 600 MHz duplex gap. The Commission updates its existing LPAS and technical rules for wireless microphones, which already rely on certain European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standards, to incorporate the latest version of that standard where appropriate. Finally, the Commission updates the wireless microphone rules to reflect the end of the post-Incentive Auction transition period. The Commission's goal in the FCC document is to increase wireless microphone spectral efficiency and enable more intensive use in the spectrum available for such operations.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of KFVS-TV (Station or KFVS-TV), Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Cape Girardeau). Gray requests amendment of the Table of TV Allotments to substitute channel 11 for channel 32. Gray filed comments in support of the Petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming its interest in the proposed channel substitution and that it will promptly file an application seeking authorization on channel 11.

On June 24, 2024, the Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of WRDW-TV (Station or WRDW-TV), Augusta, Georgia (Augusta). Gray requested amendment of the Table of TV Allotments to substitute channel 12 for channel 27. Gray filed comments in support of the Petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming its interest in the proposed channel substitution and that it will promptly file an application seeking authorization on channel 12. The Bureau concludes that the public interest would be served by substituting channel 12 for channel 27 at Augusta.

On June 24, 2024, the Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by King Broadcasting Company (Petitioner or King Broadcasting), the licensee of KTVB, channel 7, Boise, Idaho (Station or KTVB). The Petitioner requested the substitution of channel 23 for channel 7 at Boise, Idaho (Boise), in the Table of TV Allotments. TEGNA, Inc., on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, King Broadcasting, filed comments in support of the Petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming King Broadcasting's commitment to apply for channel 23. The Bureau concludes that the public interest would be served by substituting channel 23 for channel 7 at Boise.

Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Larry Walke on behalf of National Association of Broadcasters.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by substituting Channel 285C1 for vacant Channel 235C1 at Canadian, Texas to accommodate the grant of the hybrid modification application for Station KPQP that modifies the station's license to specify operation on Channel 235C3 in lieu of Channel 291C3 at Panhandle, Texas. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 285C1 can be allotted to Canadian, Texas, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 6.1 km (3.8 miles) north of the community. The reference coordinates are 35-57-35 NL and 100-24-24 WL.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Joint Petition for Rulemaking filed May 21, 2024, by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of KCBD, Lubbock, Texas (KCBD), which is operating on channel 11 but previously held a construction permit for channel 36, and SagamoreHill of Lubbock, LLC (SagamoreHill), the licensee of KJTV-TV, channel 35, Lubbock, Texas (KJTV-TV). As discussed below, Gray and SagamoreHill request that the Bureau amend the Table of TV Allotments to permit the stations to "swap" channels and authorize KCBD to operate on channel 35 and KJTV-TV to operate on channel 11. Accordingly, we seek comment on substituting channel 11 for channel 35 and channel 35 for channel 36 at Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock).

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) initiates a proceeding to provide greater transparency regarding the use of artificial intelligence-generated content in political advertising. Specifically, the Commission proposes to require radio and television broadcast stations; cable operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees engaged in origination programming; and permit holders transmitting programming pursuant to section 325(c) of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), to provide an on-air announcement for all political ads (including both candidate ads and issue ads) that contain artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content disclosing the use of such content in the ad. The Commission also propose to require these licensees and regulatees to include a notice in their online political files for all political ads that include AI-generated content disclosing that the ad contains such content.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Multimedia Holdings Corporation (Petitioner or Multimedia), the licensee of WTLV (Station or WTLV), channel 13, Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville). The Petitioner has requested the substitution of UHF channel 33 for VHF channel 13 in the Table of TV Allotments. TEGNA Inc., on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Multimedia, filed comments in support of the Petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming Multimedia's commitment to apply for channel 33 and, if authorized, to promptly implement the facilities modifications necessary for the Station to operate on channel 33.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes steps to ensure clear and reasonable foreign sponsorship identification rules, which require radio and television broadcast stations to inform audiences when programming aired pursuant to a lease of airtime on the station is sponsored by a foreign governmental entity. The document replaces a previous requirement of the rules with a new approach that provides licensees with two options for demonstrating that they have sought to obtain the information needed to determine whether the programming being provided by a lessee is sponsored by a foreign governmental entity. The revised approach addresses concerns broadcasters had regarding the burdens and complexity of the rule and clarifies when the rule applies.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a petition for rulemaking filed June 7, 2024, by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of KFVS-TV, channel 11, Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Station or KFVS-TV). Gray held a construction permit to construct a facility on channel 32 at Cape Girardeau. Gray now requests that the Bureau substitute channel 11 for channel 32 at Cape Girardeau in the Table of TV Allotments, with the technical parameters as set forth in KFVS-TV's current license.

This document requests comments on a Petition for Rulemaking filed by SSR Communications, Inc., proposing to amend the Table of FM Allotments, by adding Channel 284A at Huntley, Montana, as the community's first local service. To accommodate the proposed allotment, we issue Order to Show Cause to BMG Billings, LLC, licensee of KYSX, Billings, Montana to show cause why the station license should not be modified to specify operation on Channel 286A in lieu of reserved Channel 283C1 at Billings, Montana. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 284A can be allotted to Huntley, Montana, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, with a site restriction of 13.9 km (8.6 miles) north of the community. The reference coordinates are 46-01-30 NL and 108-18-00 WL.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted an Order on Reconsideration that responds to a petition requesting reinstatement of the prohibition on the duplication of commercial FM programming beyond a 25% threshold.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on revisions to our rules relating to the Low Power Television service (LPTV Service). The LPTV Service includes low power television (LPTV) stations as well as television translator (TV translator) stations and Class A TV stations (Class A). The Commission created the LPTV Service in 1982 to bring local television service to viewers "otherwise unserved or underserved" by existing full power service providers. Today, these stations are an established component of the nation's television system, delivering free over-the- air TV service, including locally produced programming, to millions of viewers in rural and discrete urban communities. In light of changes to the LPTV Service over the last forty years, we invite comment on changes to our rules and policies to ensure that LPTV Service continues to flourish and serve the public interest.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a petition for rulemaking filed May 10, 2024, by King Broadcasting Company (Petitioner), the licensee of KTVB, channel 7, Boise, Idaho (Station or KTVB). The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 23 for channel 7 at Boise, Idaho (Boise), in the Table of TV Allotments.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a petition for rulemaking filed June 7, 2024, by Gray Television Licensee, LLC, the licensee of WRDW-TV, channel 12, Augusta, Georgia. Gray also holds a construction permit to construct a facility on channel 27 at Augusta. Gray now requests that the Bureau substitute channel 12 for channel 27 at Augusta in the Table of TV Allotments, with the technical parameters as set forth in WRDW-TV's current license.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by substituting Channel 245B1 for vacant Channel 245B at Mattoon, Illinois to resolve the distance spacing conflict with Station WHMS-FM and maintain a second local FM service. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 245B1 can be allotted to Mattoon, Illinois consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 12.2 kilometers (7.6 miles) southeast of the community at reference coordinates 39-23-17 NL and 88-17-21 WL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Robert McAllan, on behalf of Press Communications, LLC and Michelle Bradley, on behalf of REC Networks.