Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

In this document, the Commission aims to enhance the spectral efficiency of wireless microphones by permitting a recently developed type of wireless microphone system, termed herein as a Wireless Multi- Channel Audio System (WMAS), to operate in certain frequency bands. This emerging technology would enable more wireless microphones to operate in the spectrum available for wireless microphone operations, and thus advances an important Commission goal of promoting efficient spectrum use. The Commission proposes to revise the applicable technical rules for operation of low-power auxiliary station (LPAS) devices to permit WMAS to operate in the broadcast television (TV) bands and other LPAS frequency bands on a licensed basis. The Commission also proposes to update the existing LPAS and wireless microphone rules to reflect the end of the post-Incentive auction transition period and update references to international wireless microphone standards.

In this document, consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project, the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission reinstates the rule changes that were previously adopted by the Commission in its media ownership proceedings but then vacated and remanded by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019. As such, the Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership Rule, the Radio/Television Cross-Ownership Rule, and the Television Joint Sales Agreement Attribution Rule are eliminated, and the Local Television Ownership Rule and Local Radio Ownership Rule are reinstated as adopted in the Commission's 2017 Order on Reconsideration. In addition, the eligible entity standard and its application to regulatory measures as set forth in the Commission's 2016 Second Report and Order are reinstated. Finally, the regulatory measures adopted in the Commission's 2018 Incubator Order are reinstated.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by VPM Media Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of noncommercial educational television station WVPT (PBS), channel *11, Staunton, Virginia. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton in the DTV Table of Allotments.

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 WRGB Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WRGB, channel 6 (CBS), Schenectady, New York, requesting the substitution of channel 35 for channel 6 at Schenectady 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 6 at Schenectady.

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 Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of channel 9 to Freeport, Illinois in the DTV Table of Allotments as the community's first local service. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to allot channel 9 at Freeport. The newly allotted channel will be authorized pursuant to the Commission's competitive bidding rules.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of June 16, 2021, concerning a petition for rulemaking filed by KHQA Licensee, LLC, licensee of KHQA-TV, channel 7, Hannibal, Missouri, requesting the substitution of UHF channel 22 for VHF channel 7 in the DTV Table of Allotments. The document contained the incorrect call sign of the licensee. The document also contained an incomplete email address of the contact person.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Corridor Television, L.L.P. (Petitioner), the licensee of KCWX (MyNetwork), channel 5, Fredericksburg, Texas. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 8 for channel 5 at Fredericksburg in the DTV Table of Allotments.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) modifies its rules to adopt specific disclosure requirements for broadcast programming that is sponsored, paid for, or provided by a foreign government or its representative pursuant to leasing agreements.

On March 7, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KHQA Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of KMYU, channel 7 (CBS), Hannibal, Missouri, requesting the substitution of channel 22 for channel 7 at Hannibal 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 22 for channel 7 at Hannibal.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Scripps Broadcasting Holdings, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KTNV-TV (ABC), channel 13, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 26 for channel 13 at Las Vegas in the DTV Table of Allotments.

On February 12, 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 KAIT, channel 8 (ABC), Jonesboro, Arkansas, requesting the substitution of channel 27 for channel 8 at Jonesboro 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 27 for channel 8 at Jonesboro.

On February 12, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KUTV Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of KMYU, channel 9 (MyNetwork/CBS), St. George, Utah, requesting the substitution of channel 21 for channel 9 at St. George 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 21 for channel 9 at St. George.

On February 12, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KVII Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of KVII, channel 7 (ABC), Amarillo, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 7 at Amarillo 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 7 at Amarillo.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by WGEM License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WGEM-TV (NBC), channel 10, Quincy, Illinois. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy in the DTV Table of Allotments.

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 WLUK Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of WLUK-TV, channel 12 (FOX), Green Bay, Wisconsin, requesting the substitution of channel 18 for channel 12 at Green Bay in the DTV Table of Allotments. As a result of the Commission's Incentive Auction and repacking process, WLUK-TV was repacked from channel 11 to channel 12. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 18 for channel 12 at Green Bay.

On February 12, 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 (Petitioner), the licensee of KCRG-TV, channel 9 (ABC), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, requesting the substitution of channel 32 for channel 9 at Cedar Rapids 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 32 for channel 9 at Cedar Rapids.

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 WFXL Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of WFXL, channel 12 (FOX), Albany, Georgia, requesting the substitution of channel 29 for channel 12 at Albany 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 Albany.

On February 12, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of WRDW-TV, channel 12 (CBS), Augusta, Georgia, requesting the substitution of channel 27 for channel 12 at Augusta 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 27 for channel 12 at Augusta.

On February 12, 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 (Petitioner), the licensee of KFVS-TV, channel 11 (CBS), Cape Girardeau, Missouri, requesting the substitution of channel 32 for channel 11 at Cape Girardeau in the DTV Table of Allotments. As a result of the Commission's Incentive Auction and repacking process, KFVS was repacked from channel 12 to channel 11. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 32 for channel 11 at Cape Girardeau.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KRCR-TV (ABC), channel 7, Redding, California. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 15 for channel 7 at Redding, California in the DTV Table of Allotments.