Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Rick Chessen, on behalf of NCTA--The Internet & Television Association (``NCTA'') and Michael Nilsson, on behalf of American Television Alliance (ATVA).

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the request for the information collection requirements contained in the Commission's 2014 Quadrennial Regulatory Review Second Report and Order, FCC 16-107. This document is consistent with the Second Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of these rules.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) proposes to eliminate the rules requiring certain broadcast television and radio stations to file Form 397, the EEO Broadcast Mid-Term Report. This proposal will continue the Commission's efforts to modernize regulations and reduce unnecessary requirements that no longer serve the public interest.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, information collection requirements adopted in the Commission's Third Report and Order, FCC 17-119. This document is consistent with the Third Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the rules.

In this document the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office of Engineering and Technology of the Federal Communications Commission adopt specific language for the consumer disclosures which the Commission adopted in 2015 and which concern the operation of wireless microphone (licensed or unlicensed) or video assist devices capable of operating in the 600 MHz service frequency band. With the close of the incentive auction on April 13, 2017, the 600 MHz service band has been reallocated for new wireless services, and wireless microphones and video assist devices must cease operations in this band no later than July 13, 2020 to avoid harmful interference to new wireless services. This disclosure requirement, including the specific Consumer Alert language, applies to persons who manufacture, sell, lease, or offer for sale or lease, wireless microphones or video assist devices authorized pursuant to and informs consumers of the changes that will affect their use of these devices in the newly established 600 MHz service band.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Promoting Spectrum Access for Wireless Microphone Operations, Order (Order)'s Consumer Disclosure and Labeling rules, adopted in 2017. This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

This document requests comments on a petition for rulemaking filed by L. Topaz Enterprises, Inc. (Petitioner), proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments by allotting Channel 292A at Desert Hills, Arizona, as a second local service. Petitioner states that the proposed allotment will provide additional diversity and an outlet for local residents. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 292A can be allotted to Desert Hills consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules. The reference coordinates are 34-32-58 NL and 114-22-2 WL with no site restriction.

A Petition for Partial Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Dan J. Alpert, on behalf of DA LA HUNT BROADCASTING CORP.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on whether and how to modernize the Commission's rules, which requires each licensee or permittee of a commercial and noncommercial AM, FM, television, or international broadcast station to file certain contracts and other documents with the Commission within 30 days after execution. This document continues the Commission's efforts to modernize its regulations and reduce unnecessary requirements that can impede competition and innovation in the media marketplace.

The Wireless Telecommunications and Media Bureaus (the Bureaus) announce an auction of certain cross-service FM translator construction permits. This document also seeks comment on competitive bidding procedures and proposed minimum opening bids for Auction 99.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) eliminates rules that have been made obsolete by the digital television transition.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) authorizes television broadcasters to use the ``Next Generation'' broadcast television (Next Gen TV) transmission standard, also called ``ATSC 3.0'' or ``3.0,'' on a voluntary, market-driven basis. This authorization is subject to broadcasters continuing to deliver current-generation digital television (DTV) service, using the ATSC 1.0 transmission standard, also called ``ATSC 1.0'' or ``1.0,'' to their viewers.

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications and Media Bureaus (the Bureaus) announce an auction of certain FM translator construction permits. This document also seeks comment on competitive bidding procedures and proposed minimum opening bids for Auction 83.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) initiates a comprehensive review of the national television audience reach cap, including the UHF discount used by broadcasters to determine compliance with the cap. The national cap limits entities from owning or controlling television stations that, together, reach more than 39 percent of the television households in the country. The NPRM asks questions about whether a cap is still needed and what public interest goals it would promote, where the cap should be set if still needed, and how compliance with the cap should be calculated, including the question of whether the UHF discount should be eliminated. The Notice also invites comment on the Commission's legal authority to take such actions.

Petitions for Reconsideration & Clarification (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Jeff Chalmers, on behalf of American Messaging Services, LLC; David Alban, on behalf of Sensus USA Inc. and Sensus Spectrum LLC; Kenneth E. Hardman, on behalf of Critical Messaging Association and Mark E. Crosby, on behalf of Enterprise Wireless Alliance.

This document solicits comment on how to design and implement an incubator program to support the entry of new and diverse voices in the broadcast industry. It seeks comment on the structure, review, and oversight of such a program in order to help create new sources of financial, technical, operational, and managerial support for eligible broadcasters, thereby creating ownership opportunities for new entrants and small businesses and promoting competition and new voices in the broadcast industry.

In this document, an Order on Reconsideration repeals and modifies several of the Commission's broadcast ownership rules. Specifically, this document repeals the Newspaper/Broadcast Cross- Ownership Rule, the Radio/Television Cross-Ownership Rule, and the attribution rule for television joint sales agreements. This document also revises the Local Television Ownership Rule to eliminate the Eight-Voices Test and to modify the Top-Four Prohibition to better reflect the competitive conditions in local markets. This document provides a favorable presumption for waiver of the Local Radio Ownership Rule's market definitions as to transactions in certain embedded markets. Lastly, this document rejects requests to change the definition of Shared Service Agreements (SSAs) and the requirement that commercial television stations disclose SSAs by placing the agreements in each station's online public inspection file. In addition, the document finds that the record supports adoption of an incubator program to promote ownership diversity. The Order on Reconsideration grants in part and denies in part the Petitions for Reconsideration filed separately by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. (Nexstar), and Connoisseur Media LLC (Connoisseur).

The Audio Division dismisses the petition for rulemaking filed by N Content Marketing, LLC (Petitioner), proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by allotting Channel 246C2 at Gaylord, Michigan. Petitioner did not file comments expressing a continuing interest in the proposed Gaylord allotment. It is the Commission's policy to refrain from making an allotment to a community absent an expression of interest. Roy E. Henderson and Great Northern Broadcasting, Inc., jointly (Joint Counterpropsal), as well as Smile FM, separately, submitted counterproposals. The Joint Counterproposal is dismissed and Smile FM is given the opportunity to file its counterproposal as a petition for rulemaking within 60 days for consideration in a new proceeding. We will not allot Channel 246C2 at Gaylord, Michigan.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting an announcement of effective date for a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on December 18, 2017. In the last sentence of the Supplementary Information section of that document, the stated effective date of January 8, 2017 should have been January 8, 2018.

In this document, we seek further comment on issues related to exceptions to and waivers of the local simulcasting requirement, whether we should let full power broadcasters use channels in the television broadcast band that are vacant to facilitate the transition to 3.0, and finally, we tentatively conclude that local simulcasting should not change the significantly viewed status of a Next Gen TV station.