Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) seeks comment on revising Commission rules to establish processing, licensing, and service rules that will enable full power FM and low power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations to originate programming using FM booster stations. In a concurrently adopted Report and Order (R&O), published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, the Commission found that it would be in the public interest to provide broadcasters flexibility to use program originating boosters, subject to certain safeguards needed to address concerns raised in the record. This further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) seeks comment on the details of implementing these safeguards and on a number of proposed rule changes.

This document requests comments on the proposal to substitute Channel 245B1 for vacant Channel 245B at Mattoon, Illinois. The existing vacant Channel 245B at Mattoon is not in compliance with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules. A staff engineering analysis indicates 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. The reference coordinates are 39-23-17 NL and 88-17- 21 WL.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by reinstating certain channels as a vacant FM allotment in various communities. The FM allotments were previously removed from the FM Table because a construction permit and/or license was granted. These FM allotments are now considered vacant because of the cancellation of the associated FM authorizations or the dismissal of long-form auction FM applications. A staff engineering analysis confirms that all of the vacant FM allotments complies with the Commission's regulations. The window period for filing applications for these vacant FM allotments will not be opened at this time. Instead, the issue of opening these allotments for filing will be addressed by the Commission in subsequent order.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of March 13, 2024, concerning a rulemaking filed by Carolina Christian Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of WGGS-TV, channel 2, Greenville, South Carolina, requesting substitution of channel 29 for channel 2 at Greenville in the Table of TV Allotments. The document contained an incorrect effective date.

On January 11, 2024, the Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking VPM Media Corporation (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational (NCE) television channel * 12 to Waynesboro, Virginia (Waynesboro), in the Table of TV Allotments as the community's first local television service and its first NCE television service. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations by allotting channel * 12 at Waynesboro.

On November 27, 2023, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Carolina Christian Broadcasting, Inc. (Petitioner), the licensee of WGGS-TV (Station or WGGS), channel 2, Greenville, South Carolina (Greenville), requesting the substitution of channel 29 for channel 2 at Greenville 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 29 for channel 2 at Greenville.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting FM Channels 280A at Puhi, Hawaii, and 298C3 at Kekaha, Hawaii, as the communities' first local service. The staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 280A at Puhi can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) west of the community at reference coordinates are 21-58-24 NL and 159-29-45 WL and Channel 298C3 at Kekaha can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with no site restriction at reference coordinates are 22-02-00 NL and 159-38-00 WL.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting FM Channels 264A at Koloa, Hawaii, and 224C3 at Waimea, Hawaii, as the communities' first local service. The staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 264A at Koloa can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles) northwest of the community at reference coordinates are 21-58-24 NL and 159-29-45 WL and Channel 224C3 at Waimea can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with no site restriction at reference coordinates are 22-02-00 NL and 159-38-00 WL.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting FM Channel 296A at Lihue, Hawaii, as the community's sixth local service and FM Channel 236C3 at Princeville, Hawaii, as the community's first local service. The staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 296A at Lihue can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) north of the community at reference coordinates 22-00-00 NL and 159-21-00 WL and Channel 236C3 at Princeville can be allotted consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with no site restriction at reference coordinates 22-12-00 NL and 159-30-00 WL.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements under OMB Control Numbers 3060-1121, 3060-1320, 3060-0009, 3060-0386, 3060-0175, 3060-0178, 3060-0182, 3060-0190, 3060-0320, 3060- 0113, and 3060-1321 associated with the rules adopted in the Report and Order, FCC 23-72, adopting several rule updates for full power and Class A television stations that no longer have any practical effect given the completion of the transition from analog to digital-only operations and the post incentive auction transition to a smaller television band with fewer channels. This document is consistent with the Report and Order, which states that the Media Bureau will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date for these revised rule sections and revising the rules accordingly.

In this document, based on a Petition for Rulemaking Addendum--Request for Clarification filed by the National Association of Broadcasters and Xperi, Inc., the Commission seeks additional public comment in the pending rulemaking proposing to change the methodology to determine whether an FM digital broadcast station can increase its digital power, and to allow asymmetric sideband operation.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) retains the broadcast ownership rules with minor modifications in compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which requires the Commission to review its broadcast ownership rules quadrennially to determine whether they are necessary in the public interest as a result of competition. Specifically, the Commission retains the Dual Network Rule, modifies the Local Radio Ownership Rule to make permanent the interim contour-overlap methodology long used to determine ownership limits in areas outside the boundaries of defined Nielsen Audio Metro markets and in Puerto Rico, and modifies the Local Television Ownership Rule to reflect changes that have occurred in the television marketplace and current industry practices.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to prioritize processing review of certain applications filed by commercial and noncommercial radio and television broadcast stations that provide locally originated programming. The Commission's goal is to provide additional incentive to stations to provide programming that responds to the needs and interests of the communities they are licensed to serve. In 2017, the Commission eliminated the rule that required broadcast stations to maintain a main studio located in or near their community of license, as well as the associated requirement that the main studio have program origination capability. We propose this processing priority in order to further encourage radio and TV stations to serve their community of license with local journalism or other locally originated programming. Such prioritization would be granted to renewal applicants, as well as applicants for assignment or transfer of license, that certify they provide locally originated programming, thereby advancing our efforts to promote localism and serve local communities across the nation.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts several rule updates for full power and Class A television stations that no longer have any practical effect given the completion of the transition from analog to digital-only operations and the post incentive auction transition to a smaller television band with fewer channels. The Commission also adopts a restructuring of its full power television rules, which largely consist of the technical licensing, operating, and interference rules for full power television.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a notice of proposed rulemaking issued in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by TV 49, Inc. (TV-49 or Petitioner), the permittee of an unbuilt television station on channel 31 allotted to Wittenberg, Wisconsin. The Petitioner has requested that the Commission delete channel 31 from Wittenberg and allot it to Shawano, Wisconsin in the Table of TV Allotments and modify its construction permit to specify Shawano as its community of license. TV-49 filed comments in support of the petition, as required by the rules, reaffirming its commitment to file for channel 31 at Shawano.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a petition for rulemaking filed January 9, 2024, by VPM Media Corporation (Petitioner). The Petitioner requests the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational (NCE) television channel *12 to Waynesboro, Virginia (Waynesboro), as the community's first local television service and its first NCE television service.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules to implement the Low Power Protection Act (LPPA or Act), which was 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. With limited exceptions, the rules adopted herein are consistent with the Commission's proposals in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in this proceeding. In this Order, we further the implementation of the LPPA by establishing the period during which eligible stations may file applications for Class A status, eligibility and interference requirements, and the process for submitting applications.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by allotting FM Channel 225A at Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, as a Tribal Allotment. The staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 225A can be allotted to Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 12.1 km (7.5 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 46-01-14 NL and 89-44-54 WL.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements associated with the Commission's rules in a Report and Order which adopts rules to clarify for all stakeholders the status of LPTV FM6 service and codify that these services may be provided by a group of 14 existing FM6 stations, and only by those stations. This document is consistent with the Commission's Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Dove Media, Inc. (Petitioner). The Petitioner requests the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational (NCE) channel *4 to Jacksonville, Oregon (Jacksonville), in the Table of TV Allotments as the community's first local television service and its first NCE television service. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *4 and if authorized, to construct the facility.