Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

On July 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KPTV Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KPTV, channel 12, Portland, Oregon, requesting the substitution of channel 21 for channel 12 at Portland in the 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 12 at Portland.

The Audio Division, on its own motion, proposes the deletion of seven vacant allotments in various communities in Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming. We tentatively conclude that it is in the public interest to delete seven vacant allotments that have been offered in two FM auctions. No bids were entered for these allotments in the recently completed FM Auction 109. These permits are now considered unsold, and the allotments remain vacant. Deletion of these allotments may create other opportunities in nearby communities for new FM allotments or upgrades of existing stations. Therefore, we believe that the proposed deletion of these vacant allotments may promote a more effective and efficient use of the FM broadcast spectrum.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order to Show Cause seeks comment on a proposal requested by B Plus Broadcasting, LLC (B Plus), to create a new FM allotment for a Class A station on Channel 263 at Hamilton, Texas. It also orders S Content Marketing, LLC (S Content), to show why the license of KNUZ(FM), San Saba, Texas, should not be modified to specify operation on Channel 291A in lieu of Channel 224A at San Saba, Texas.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by WNYT-TV, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WNYT, channel 12, Albany, New York. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 21 for channel 12 at in the Table of Allotments.

On September 20, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by One Ministries, Inc. (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational channel *4 to Fort Bragg, California, in the 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 *4 at Fort Bragg. The newly allotted channel will be authorized pursuant to the Commission's application and selection procedures for reserved noncommercial educational television stations.

On July 28, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KVUU-TV Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KVUU, channel 9, Henderson, Nevada, requesting the substitution of channel 24 for channel 9 at Henderson in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 24 for channel 9 at Henderson.

On September 22, 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), the licensee of KNOE-TV, channel 8, Monroe, Louisiana, requesting the substitution of channel 24 for channel 8 at Monroe in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 24 for channel 8 at Monroe.

In this document, the Commission proposes changes to its Next Gen TV rules designed to preserve over-the-air television viewers' access to the widest possible range of programming while also supporting television broadcasters' transition to the next generation of broadcast digital television (DTV) technology. In response to a Petition filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Commission proposes to allow Next Gen TV stations to include within their license certain of their non-primary video programming streams (multicast streams) that are aired in a different service on ``host'' stations during a transitional period, using the same licensing framework, and to a large extent the same regulatory regime, established for the simulcast of primary video programming streams on ``host'' station facilities.

The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Media Bureau seek comment on the procedures to be used for Auction 112, an auction of construction permits for full power television (FPTV) stations. OEA and MB expect the bidding for Auction 112 to commence in June 2022.

In this document, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in which it sought comment on proposals to change the rules governing verification of FM and Low Power FM (LPFM) directional antennas by broadcast station applicants. These specific rule changes were proposed based on a Petition for Rule Making filed by four antenna manufacturers and one broadcaster.

In this document, the Commission adopts several rule updates to reflect the conclusion of the incentive auction and post-incentive auction transition period. First, the Commission adopts a revised Table of Allotments (Table) to reflect changes to full power television channel allotments contained in the 2018 Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments to codify Commission actions taken over the past several years that modified the DTV channel allotments reflected in the 2018 Table, primarily actions related to the incentive auction and repacking process authorized by the Spectrum Act. The Order also deletes or revises Commission rules that no longer have any practical effect given the conclusion of the incentive auction and post-incentive auction transition period, or that are otherwise obsolete or irrelevant.

This document summarizes the procedures, deadlines, and upfront payment and minimum opening bid amounts for the upcoming auction of construction permits for new or modified low power television and TV translator stations. The Auction 111 Procedures Public Notice summarized here is intended to familiarize potential applicants with details of the procedures, terms, and conditions governing participation in Auction 111, as well as an overview of the post-auction application and payment process.

In this document, the Commission requires that any remaining applications and reports administered by the International Bureau and filed on paper or through an alternative filing process be filed only electronically through the Commission's International Bureau Filing System. Specifically, the Commission modifies its rules to mandate the electronic filings of applications for permits to deliver programs to foreign stations, applications for International High Frequency Broadcast Stations, and quarterly reports filed by U.S.-authorized carriers that are affiliates of foreign carriers with market power on the foreign end of a U.S.-international route, and to remove a duplicate paper filing requirement for satellite cost-recovery declarations.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WYMT-TV (CBS), channel 12, Hazard, Kentucky. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 20 for channel 12 at in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KNOE (CBS), channel 8, Monroe, Louisiana. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 24 for channel 8 at in the DTV Table of Allotments.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by One Ministries, Inc. (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational channel * 4 at Fort Bragg, California, as the community's second local service in the DTV Table of Allotments and its first local NCE television service.

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 KTUL Licensee, LLC (Licensee), the licensee of KTUL, channel 10 (ABC), Tulsa, Oklahoma, requesting the substitution of channel 14 for channel 10 at Tulsa 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 14 for channel 10 at Tulsa.

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.