Notice2025-17586
Media Bureau Announces a Phased Resumption of First-Come, First-Served Processing of Applications for Major Changes for Class A, LPTV and TV Translator Stations and Applications for New LPTV and TV Translator Stations
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 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau (Bureau) announces that beginning 11:59 p.m. ET, September 3, 2025, the Commission is initiating a phased process to lift the current freeze on major changes for Class A television, low power television (LPTV), and television (TV) translator stations, in its entirety, and permitting the filing of applications for new LPTV and TV translator stations. Outlined in this document are the dates relating to the phased process and procedures that applicants must follow when filing during these opportunities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 175 (Friday, September 12, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 175 (Friday, September 12, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44189-44191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17586]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[DA 25-792; FR ID 311571]
Media Bureau Announces a Phased Resumption of First-Come, First-
Served Processing of Applications for Major Changes for Class A, LPTV
and TV Translator Stations and Applications for New LPTV and TV
Translator Stations
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's
Media Bureau (Bureau) announces that beginning 11:59 p.m. ET, September
3, 2025, the Commission is initiating a phased process to lift the
current freeze on major changes for Class A television, low power
television (LPTV), and television (TV) translator stations, in its
entirety, and permitting the filing of applications for new LPTV and TV
translator stations. Outlined in this document are the dates relating
to the phased process and procedures that applicants must follow when
filing during these opportunities.
DATES: September 3, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET, October 22, 2025, 12:01 a.m.
ET, December 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m. ET, January 21, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET.
ADDRESSES: Petitions to deny may be filed by any of the following
methods:
<bullet> Electronic Filers. Petitions to Deny may be filed
electronically using the internet through the Commission's Licensing
and Management System (LMS) at <a href="https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/login.html">https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/login.html</a>.
<bullet> Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S.
Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission and to the Attention of the Chief of the
Video Division, Media Bureau. It is also encouraged to submit a
courtesy copy by email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bae9d2dbcfd494f7dbd2dfc8fadcd9d994ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f9aa91988c97d7b498919c8bb99f9a9ad79e968f">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for
the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of
before entering the building.
<bullet> Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive,
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
<bullet> Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail
must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Colombo (technical questions),
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d103c2f36731e323132303f321d3b3e3e733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="642905160f4a270b080b09060b240207074a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 418-7611, or Shaun Maher (legal questions),
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d6e555c485313705c55584f7d5b5e5e135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aaf9c2cbdfc484e7cbc2cfd8eaccc9c984cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 418-2324, of the Video Division, Media
Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Media Bureau's
document, (public notice), DA 25-792, released on September 3, 2025.
The full text of this document is available for download at <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-792A1.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-792A1.pdf</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#44020707717470042227276a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6e0e5e5939692e6c0c5c588c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a> or call the
Consumer & Government Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (VOICE), (202)
418-0432 (TTY).
Synopsis
Phase 1: Temporary Major and Minor Modification Filing Freezes
Effective 11:59 p.m. ET, September 3, 2025, the Bureau is
reinstituting a freeze on all applications for major changes for Class
A, LPTV, and TV translator stations. In addition, at 6:00 p.m. ET,
October 15, 2025, the Bureau will institute a freeze on all minor
change applications for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations and
displacement applications for LPTV and TV translator stations. These
freezes are necessary in order to provide a stable database for
stations to prepare for the filing of major modification applications.
Applicants that file a major or minor modification application during
these temporary freezes will be dismissed without consideration and
will need to re-file once the freezes are lifted.
Phase 2: Expanded Major Modification Filing Opportunity
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET, October 22, 2025, the Bureau will lift
the major modification application filing freeze and accept, on a
first-come, first-served basis, applications for all major changes to
Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations including those that propose
relocations of no more than 121.0 km from the station's antenna
reference coordinates. At 12:01 a.m. ET, October 22, 2025, the Bureau
will also lift the temporary freeze on all minor modification and
displacement applications. We are imposing a distance limit on major
changes in order to ensure that existing stations are able
[[Page 44190]]
to implement facility modifications that maximize service to their
existing viewers and markets before we permit new station applications
or moves by existing stations that practically amount to a new station
(i.e., stations that may seek to forego serving their existing viewers
or markets and relocate to distant locations).
Phase 3: Temporary Reinstitution of Major and Minor Application Filing
Freezes
At 6:00 p.m. ET, December 3, 2025, all applications for major
changes for Class A, LPTV, and TV translator stations will once again
be frozen. At 6:00 p.m. ET, January 14, 2026, the Bureau will also
institute a temporary freeze on all minor change applications for Class
A, LPTV, and TV translator stations and displacement applications for
LPTV and TV translator stations. These freezes are being reinstituted
in order to provide a stable database for stations to prepare for the
complete lifting of the freeze on major modification applications and
for applicants to prepare for the opportunity to seek new stations.
Applicants that file applications during these temporary freezes will
be dismissed and will need to re-file once the freezes are lifted.
Phase 4: Resumption of Minor and Major Modification Filings and
Commencement of Filing for New LPTV and TV Translator Stations
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET, January 21, 2026, we will lift the
freezes and begin accepting, on a first-come, first-served basis, all
major change and minor change applications (including displacement
applications). At the same time, we will lift the freeze and begin
accepting, on a first-come, first-served basis, applications for new
LPTV and TV translator stations. These filings opportunities will
remain available indefinitely unless the Commission determines that a
new freeze is warranted. There will be no geographical restrictions or
any other limitations on applications for minor modification, major
modification or applications for new LPTV and TV translator stations
beyond the operating parameters and enumerated restrictions set forth
in parts 73 and 74 of the Commission's rules.
Application Filing and Processing Procedures
Each applicant should carefully read the instructions to its
application, as well as this public notice, to ensure that each
response, which constitutes a certification or material representation,
is accurate and complete. We also remind applicants that they must
certify that, at the time of filing, they have sufficient finances to
construct and operate the facility, and there is reasonable site
assurance for the site specified in the application.
Applications Filing Instructions and Fees. Class A station major
modification applications must be filed electronically via the
Commission's Licensing and Management System (LMS) on FCC Form 2100--
Schedule E and applicants will be required to pay the requisite fee for
a major change application ($5,000.00). LPTV and TV translator
applications for new stations or major changes to existing stations
must be filed electronically via LMS on FCC Form 2100--Schedule C and
applicants will be required to pay the requisite fee for a major change
application ($910.00). Filing instructions are provided in the Appendix
of the released public notice document.
First-Come, First-Served Processing and Settlements. All major
change and new station applications will be processed on a first-come,
first-served basis and will be ``cut off'' daily for purposes of
determining mutually exclusive (MX) applications. Applications filed
during these opportunities may not propose facilities that would cause
impermissible interference to other authorized full power, Class A, and
LPTV/translator stations, including valid construction permits for
same, and any earlier-filed application for a new or modified facility,
including earlier-filed applications for minor (including displacement)
or major change. Applicants will be given an opportunity to resolve MX
applications through settlement or engineering amendment that may be
submitted either prior or during a settlement window to be announced by
the Bureau by separate public notice. Following the close of the
settlement window, remaining MX applications will be resolved through
competitive bidding.
Acceptability of Applications. Applicants will be permitted to
input information in their applications prior to any filing
opportunities, but should not submit their application prior to the
dates and times set forth above for any given opportunity. Applications
that are submitted before the freezes are lifted will be dismissed
without consideration. The Bureau will conduct an initial review of all
applications filed during these opportunities for compliance with the
filing parameters set forth in the released public notice document and
all relevant technical and legal rules. It will dismiss any application
that is unacceptable for filing. An applicant will have one opportunity
to file a minor curative amendment to a dismissed application and a
petition for reconsideration, requesting reinstatement of the
application nunc pro tunc. Any curative amendment may only propose
minor changes, must comply with all relevant rules, and may not result
in any new MX applications. Bureau staff will not reinstate the
application of an applicant that is unable to cure all defects
(including any defects not previously identified by the Bureau staff).
This process will ensure the timely evaluation of processing of all
applications and issuance of construction permits.
Petitions to Deny. Once a singleton application is found to be
legally and technically acceptable, the application will be accepted
for filing, which will commence the 30-day period for filing petitions
to deny. For MX applications that are subject to competitive bidding,
petitions to deny may be filed against the winning bidder's long-form
application within fifteen (15) days following the issuance of a public
notice announcing that the long-form application has been accepted for
filing. Petitions to deny must be filed in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the Commission's rules. Electronic submissions
are encouraged, though petitions to deny may be filed electronically or
by paper.
Local Requirements. If and when a major modification application or
new station application is accepted for filing, the applicant must
provide a public notice to inform its local community about its
proposal. The initial filing of a major change or new station
application does not trigger the local public notice requirements.
Rather, the acceptance for filing starts an applicant's local public
notice obligations. Specifically, once an application is accepted for
filing, an LPTV/TV translator applicant for a new station or major
modification must give local notice by posting notice online, either
(1) on the station website or a website affiliated with the station,
the applicant, or its parent entity, or (2) on a publicly accessible,
locally targeted website. The online notice must be posted for 30
consecutive days following the acceptance of the application for
filing. A Class A major modification applicant must provide an on-air
public announcement containing the text set forth in Sec.
73.3580(b)(1)(i). The on-air notice must be aired six times between the
hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) over the course of
four consecutive weeks
[[Page 44191]]
following the acceptance of the application for filing.
Amendments to Applications. Each applicant must continue to
maintain the accuracy and completeness of the information in its
application. Each applicant must notify the Commission, by
electronically filing an amendment, of any substantial change that may
be of decisional significance to the application.
This action is taken by the Chief, Media Bureau, pursuant to
authority delegated by Sec. Sec. 0.61 and 0.283 of the Commission's
rules. 47 CFR 0.61 and 0.283.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2025-17586 Filed 9-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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