Rule2022-19883
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
September 19, 2022
Effective
September 19, 2022
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
On June 15, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by VPM Media Corporation (VPM or Petitioner), the licensee of WVPT, channel *11, Staunton, Virginia, requesting the substitution of channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton 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 *15 for channel *11 at Staunton.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 180 (Monday, September 19, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57148-57149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19883]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 21-248; RM-11910-; DA 22-919; FR ID 103525]
Television Broadcasting Services Staunton, Virginia
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: On June 15, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau)
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for
rulemaking filed by VPM Media Corporation (VPM or Petitioner), the
licensee of WVPT, channel *11, Staunton, Virginia, requesting the
substitution of channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton 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 *15 for channel *11 at Staunton.
DATES: Effective September 19, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at
(202) 418-1647 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#713b1e0812145f3314031f020514181f311712125f161e07"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="470d283e242269052235293433222e290721242469202831">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published at 86 FR
34695 on June 30, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *15. No other
comments were filed.
We find that the public interest would be served by substituting
channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton, Virginia . We believe the
public interest would be served by substituting channel *15 for channel
*11 at Staunton, Virginia. As the Petitioner notes, the challenges of
digital reception are well-documented and the Commission has recognized
the deleterious effects of manmade noise on the reception of digital
VHF signals, including VHF channel propagation characteristics that
allow undesired signals and noise to be receivable at relatively far
distances and nearby electrical devices to cause interference are
exacerbated by rugged terrain. The proposed channel *15 facilities will
result in a small loss area when compared to WVPT's existing service
area, largely due to the deep null required for the proposed WVPT-1
site on channel *15 to protect the NRAO and SGRS (formerly NRRO).
However, the Station will continue to serve this area by operating from
its current WVPT-3 site as a translator on either channel *11 (its
current licensed channel) or channel *12 (its current
[[Page 57149]]
temporary channel). Furthermore, a staff analysis confirms that the
change in channel will result in a gain of 34,790 new viewers that
previously did not have access to WVPT, and a loss of noncommercial
educational service to 477 persons, which is de minimis.
WVPT is located within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), an
area of approximately 13,000 square miles created to minimize possible
harmful interference at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)
site located at Green Bank, West Virginia, and the Naval Radio Research
Observatory (NRRO) site at Sugar Grove, West Virginia. The Commission's
rules requires that the NRAO be notified, in writing, of any proposed
construction and operation of a new or modified station at a permanent
fixed location in the Quiet Zone, including the technical details of
the proposed operation. Petitioner amended its Petition for Rulemaking
on August 29, 2022 to provide a Letter of Concurrence, dated August 12,
2022, from the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) confirming that neither
the NRAO or the Sugar Grove Research Station (SGRS, formerly the NRRO)
object to this frequency assignment subject to continued coordination.
This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket
No. 21-248; RM-11910; DA 22-919, adopted September 1, 2022, and
released September 1, 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#bfd9dcdc8a8f8bffd9dcdc91d8d0c9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bede8e8bebbbfcbede8e8a5ece4fd">[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 this 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 SERVICE
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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 Virginia,
by revising the entry for Staunton 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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VIRGINIA
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* * * * *
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Staunton................................................ * 15
* * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2022-19883 Filed 9-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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