Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

In this document, the Commission proposes to update its political programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees. The Commission proposes to update its political programming rules by adding the use of social media and the creation of a campaign website to the existing list of activities that may be considered in determining whether an individual running as a write-in candidate has made a "substantial showing" of his or her bona fide candidacy. The Commission also proposes to update its political recordkeeping rules by incorporating provisions which were adopted in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

On March 10, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to an amended rulemaking petition filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Gray), the licensee of KSNB-TV, channel 4 (NBC/MyNetwork), Superior, Nebraska. Gray requested that the Commission delete channel 4 from Superior and allot it to York, Nebraska in the DTV Table of Allotments and substitute channel 24 for channel 4 at York in the Table consistent with the technical parameters set forth in its Amended Petition. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to delete channel 4 from Superior and allot it to York, and then substitute channel 24 for channel 4 at York consistent with the technical parameters set forth in its amended petition.

On June 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Corridor Television, L.L.P. (Petitioner), the licensee of KCWX (MyNetwork), channel 5, Fredericksburg, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 8 for channel 5 at Fredericksburg 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 8 for channel 5 at Fredericksburg.

In this document, the Commission seeks to update the record in MB Docket No. 98-204, regarding how the Commission can recommence the collection of data on the FCC Form 395-B, as contemplated by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act).

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KPTV (FOX), channel 12, Portland, Oregon. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 21 for channel 12 at in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The Federal Communication Commission proposes to amend the rules applicable to broadcast radio stations to better reflect current requirements and eliminate redundant, outdated, or conflicting technical provisions.

On April 16, 2021, 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), requesting the allotment of channel 26 to Eagle River, Wisconsin in the DTV Table of Allotments as the community's second local service. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to allot channel 26 at Eagle River. The newly allotted channel will be authorized pursuant to the Commission's competitive bidding rules.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by KVVU Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KVVU (FOX), channel 9, Henderson, Nevada. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 24 for channel 9 in the DTV Table of Allotments.

On April 14, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Eugene Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KVAL-TV, channel 13 (CBS), Eugene, Oregon, requesting the substitution of channel 28 for channel 13 at Eugene 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 28 for channel 13 at Eugene.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KECI-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Missoula, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula 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 20 for channel 13 at Missoula.

On May 17, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by WGEM License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WGEM-TV, channel 10 (NBC), Quincy, Illinois, requesting the substitution of channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy 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 19 for channel 10 at Quincy.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KRCR-TV, channel 7 (ABC), Redding, California, requesting the substitution of channel 15 for channel 7 at Redding 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 15 for channel 7 at Redding.

On April 26, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KTVM-TV (NBC), channel 6, Butte, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 6 at Butte 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 20 for channel 6 at Butte.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to 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, requesting the substitution of channel *28 for channel *11 at New Orleans 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 *28 for channel *11 at New Orleans.

The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Media Bureau announce a closed auction of construction permits for new or modified low power television (LPTV) stations and TV translator stations (collectively, LPTV/translator stations). This document seeks comment on the procedures to be used for this auction, which is designated as Auction 111.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Paul Margie, Paul Caritj, and Jason Neal, Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, on behalf of Microsoft Corporation.

On April 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Boise Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KBOI-TV, channel 9 (NBC), Boise, Idaho, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 9 at Boise 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 20 for channel 9 at Boise.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts an Order on Reconsideration (Order) to consider petitions for reconsideration filed in response to revisions of technical rules that primarily affect Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations.

On April 14, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Four Seasons Peoria, LLC (Petitioner), requesting an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete channel 10 at Peoria, Illinois, substitute channel 10 at Oswego, Illinois, and modify the WAOE license to specify Oswego as its community of license. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, channel 10 is deleted from Peoria, Illinois, and allotted to Oswego, Illinois. Further, WAOE's community of license is modified to Oswego, Illinois.

On April 5, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WCYB-TV, channel 5 (NBC), Bristol, Virginia, requesting the substitution of channel 35 for channel 5 at Bristol 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 35 for channel 5 at Bristol.