Proposed Rule2023-26676
Television Broadcasting Services Greenville, South Carolina
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
December 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a petition for rulemaking filed September 27, 2023, by Carolina Christian Broadcasting, Inc. (Petitioner), the licensee of WGGS-TV, channel 2, Greenville, South Carolina (Station or WGGS). The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 29 for channel 2 at Greenville, South Carolina (Greenville) in the Table of TV Allotments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 84771-84772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26676]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 23-406; RM-11969; DA 23-1107; FR ID 188092]
Television Broadcasting Services Greenville, South Carolina
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a
petition for rulemaking filed September 27, 2023, by Carolina Christian
Broadcasting, Inc. (Petitioner), the licensee of WGGS-TV, channel 2,
Greenville, South Carolina (Station or WGGS). The Petitioner requests
the substitution of channel 29 for channel 2 at Greenville, South
Carolina (Greenville) in the Table of TV Allotments.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before January 5, 2024 and reply
comments on or before January 22, 2024.
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: Joseph C. Chautin, III, Esq., Hardy, Carey,
Chautin & Balkin, LLP, 1080 West Causeway Approach, Mandeville,
Louisiana 70471.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at
(202) 418-1647; or Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbf1d4c2d8de95f9dec9d5c8cfded2d5fbddd8d895dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5bf9a8c9690dbb790879b8681909c9bb5939696db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In support of its channel substitution
request, the Petitioner states that its proposed channel substitution
would serve the public interest by resolving reception challenges
currently experienced by viewers in the WGGS service area, and
substantially improving access to the Station's programming. According
to the Petition, the Station regularly receives phone calls and email
from viewers no longer able to receive the Station's signal. The
Petitioner notes that the Commission has recognized that VHF channels
have certain characteristics that pose challenges for their use in
providing digital television service, including a large variability in
the performance of indoor antennas available to viewers, with most
antennas performing very poorly on VHF channels. The Petitioner
proposes to operate the Station on channel 29 with a 3-node Distributed
Transmission System (DTS) facility. While an analysis using the
Commission's TVStudy software indicates that the Station's move to
channel 29 would create a predicted population loss area of 946,964
persons, mostly located around the edge of the channel 2 noise limited
contour, almost all of the population would remain ``well-served'' by
five or more full power or Class A television signals. According to the
Petitioner, only 417 persons predicted to live in the loss area would
no longer be considered ``well-served,'' and none of those persons
would receive over-the-air television service from fewer than four
stations. All viewers within the Station's community of license will
continue to be served by the Station.
We believe that the Petitioner's channel substitution proposal for
WGGS warrants consideration. Channel 29 can be substituted for channel
2 at Greenville, South Carolina, as proposed, in compliance with the
principal community coverage requirements of section 73.625(a) of the
Commission's Rules (rules), at coordinates 34-56'-26.4'' N and 82-24'-
40.4'' W. In addition, we find that this channel change meets the
technical requirements set forth in sections 73.616 and 73.623 of the
rules. Although the proposal would result in a loss of service to
946,964 persons, all but 417
[[Page 84772]]
persons would remain ``well-served'' by continuing to receive at least
five full power or Class A stations. The 417 persons that would no
longer be considered to be ``well-served'' would continue to receive
service from at least four such stations. This is also a number of
persons that the Commission has found to be de minimis.
This is a synopsis of the Commission's Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, MB Docket No. 23-406; RM-11969; DA 23-1107, adopted
November 27, 2023, and released November 27, 2023. 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#bbfdf8f88e8b8ffbddd8d895dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="20666363151014604643430e474f56">[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 Section 1.1204(a) of the
Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1204(a).
See Sections 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.
Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act: The Providing
Accountability Through Transparency Act, Public Law 118-9, requires
each agency, in providing notice of a rulemaking, to post online a
brief plain-language summary of the proposed rule. The required summary
of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking/Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking is available at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/proposed-rulemakings">https://www.fcc.gov/proposed-rulemakings</a>.
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 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, in the table in paragraph (j), under South
Carolina, by revising the entry for Greenville to read as follows:
Sec. 73.622 Digital television table of allotments.
* * * * *
(j) * * *
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Community Channel No.
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South Carolina
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* * * * *
Greenville................................ * 8, 17, 29, 30.
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[FR Doc. 2023-26676 Filed 12-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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