Rule2022-19175
Television Broadcasting Services Orono, Maine
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
September 6, 2022
Effective
September 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
On May 25, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of WMEB-TV, channel *9, Orono, Maine, requesting the substitution of channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) regulations to substitute channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19175]
[[Page 54412]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 22-215; RM-11929; DA 22-899; FR ID 102896]
Television Broadcasting Services Orono, Maine
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: On May 25, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau)
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for
rulemaking filed by Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner),
the licensee of WMEB-TV, channel *9, Orono, Maine, requesting the
substitution of channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono in the Table of
Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order
referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission
(FCC or Commission) regulations to substitute channel *22 for channel
*9 at Orono.
DATES: Effective September 6, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at
(202) 418-1647 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#db91b4a2b8bef599bea9b5a8afbeb2b59bbdb8b8f5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ed4f1e7fdfbb0dcfbecf0edeafbf7f0def8fdfdb0f9f1e8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published at 87 FR
34624 on June 7, 2022. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *22. No other
comments were filed.
We believe the public interest would be served by substituting
channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono, Maine, since it would improve
access to WMEB-TV's PBS and other public television programming by
improving indoor reception. Although the proposed channel *20
facilities will result in a predicted loss of service, much of the
predicted loss area is served by the Petitioner's other commonly owned
stations WCBB(TV), Augusta, Maine (WCCB), and WMED-TV, Calais, Maine,
which largely air the same programming as WMEB-TV. Once these other
sources of PBS programing and terrain limitations are factored into the
loss analysis, the new loss area created by the proposed channel
substitution would contain only 523 persons, which is within the level
the Commission considers de minimis in the context of determining
whether there would be an impermissible loss of service. Moreover, the
proposed channel change would result in first service to a substantial
number of persons. As set forth in the Engineering Statement submitted
with the Petition, the proposed facilities would reach 25,238 persons
that do not currently receive WMEB-TV and of those persons, 5,558 would
receive their first television service and 10,681 would receive their
first noncommercial educational (NCE) television service. Since the
proposed facility is located within the Canadian coordination zone,
concurrence from the Canadian government was required and has
subsequently been obtained.
This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket
No. 22-215; RM-11929; DA 22-899, adopted August 29, 2022, and released
August 29, 2022. 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 for people with disabilities (braille, large print,
electronic files, audio format), send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdabaeaef8fdf98dabaeaee3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="781e1b1b4d484c381e1b1b561f170e">[email protected]</span></a> or
call the Consumer & Governmental 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.
The Commission will send a copy of the Report and Order in a report
to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Television.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
Final Rule
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends 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(j), amend the Table of Allotments, under Maine, by
revising the entry for ``Orono'' to read as follows:
Sec. 73.622 Digital television table of allotments.
* * * * *
(j) * * *
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Community Channel No.
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* * * * *
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MAINE
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* * * * *
Orono................................................... *22
* * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2022-19175 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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