Proposed Rule2021-13564
Television Broadcasting Services Staunton, Virginia
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 34695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13564]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 21-248; RM-11910; DA 21-694; FR ID 34410]
Television Broadcasting Services Staunton, Virginia
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: 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.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before July 30, 2021 and reply
comments on or before August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary,
45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments
with the FCC, interested parties should serve counsel for the
Petitioner as follows: Ari Meltzer, Esq., Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K Street
NW, Washington, DC 20006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at
(202) 418-1647; or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4be9b8d9791dab691869a8780919d9ab4929797da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="541e3b2d37317a1631263a2720313d3a143237377a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In support of its channel substitution
request, the Petitioner states that the proposed channel substitution
would resolve significant over the air reception problems in the WVPT
service area. The Petitioner states that the challenges of digital
reception are well-documented, and that the Commission has recognized
the deleterious effects of manmade noise on the reception of digital
VHF signals. The Petitioner also believes that the channel substitution
will allow for more efficient construction of WVPT's post-incentive
auction facilities. The Petitioner explains that it initially planned
to retune WVPT's existing Distributed Transmission System (DTS)
transmitters from channel *11 to channel *12, its repacked channel. The
transmitter and antenna manufacturers, however, were unable to support
the planned retuning effort. Meanwhile, a structural analysis of WVPT's
existing tower revealed that it could not support a replacement antenna
for VHF channel 12. According to the Petitioner, the tower can support
a lighter weight UHF antenna, and thus, allowing WVPT to move to
channel *15 will obviate the need to construct a new tower, saving both
time and money. It further states that the proposed channel *15
facility will result in a net gain of 56,814 people, and while there is
a loss area of 27,033 people, only seven people would lose their only
PBS noncommercial educational service, a number the Commission
considers de minimis.
This is a synopsis of the Commission's Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, MB Docket No. 21-248; RM-11910; DA 21-694, adopted June 15,
2021, and released June 15, 2021. The full text of this document is
available for download at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/edocs">https://www.fcc.gov/edocs</a>. To request
materials in accessible formats (braille, large print, computer
diskettes, or audio recordings), please send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aceaefef999c98eccacfcf82cbc3da"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb8d8888fefbff8bada8a8e5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>
or call the Consumer & Government Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530
(VOICE), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
This document does not contain information collection requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In
addition, therefore, it does not contain any proposed information
collection burden ``for small business concerns with fewer than 25
employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4). Provisions of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to
this proceeding.
Members of the public should note that all ex parte contacts are
prohibited from the time a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is issued to
the time the matter is no longer subject to Commission consideration or
court review, see 47 CFR 1.1208. There are, however, exceptions to this
prohibition, which can be found in Sec. 1.1204(a) of the Commission's
rules, 47 CFR 1.1204(a).
See Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.420 of the Commission's rules for
information regarding the proper filing procedures for comments, 47 CFR
1.415 and 1.420.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Television.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
Proposed Rule
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR part 73 as follows:
PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES
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1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334,
336, 339.
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2. In Sec. 73.622(i), amend the Post-Transition Table of DTV
Allotments under Virginia by revising the entry for Staunton to read as
follows:
Sec. 73.622 Digital television table of allotments.
* * * * *
(i) * * *
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Community Channel No.
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* * * * *
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Virginia
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* * * * *
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Staunton................................................ * 15
* * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2021-13564 Filed 6-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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