Federal Register: FCC (Broadcasting)

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved two information collections associated with rules governing sponsorship identification requirements for foreign government-provided programming in the 2021 Report and Order, FCC 21-42, in MB Docket No. 20-299. The Commission also announces that compliance with the rules is now required. It removes a paragraph in the adopted rules advising that compliance was not required until OMB approval was obtained. This document is consistent with the 2021 Report and Order, which states the Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing a compliance date for the rule sections and revise the rules accordingly.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KSCW-DT, channel 12, Wichita, Kansas. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 28 for channel 12 at in the Table of Allotments.

On March 22, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Dominion Broadcasting, Inc. (Petitioner), the licensee of WLMB, channel 5, Toledo, Ohio, requesting the substitution of channel 35 for channel 5 at Toledo in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) regulations to substitute channel 35 for channel 5 at Toledo.

This document summarizes the procedures, deadlines, and upfront payment and minimum opening bid amounts for the upcoming auction of construction permits for full power television (TV) stations. The Auction 112 Procedures Public Notice summarized here is intended to familiarize potential applicants with details of the procedures, terms, and conditions governing participation in Auction 112, as well as an overview of the post-auction application and payment processes.

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by designating as unreserved the FM allotment channels that are reserved for noncommercial educational ("NCE") use in various communities. The FM allotments are vacant as a result of the dismissal of an application or cancellation of the authorization or license. We classify as unreserved these NCE channels that are in the commercial band (Channels 221 to 300) by operation of law. These FM allotment channels have previously undergone notice and comment rulemaking. This action constitutes an editorial change in the FM Table of Allotments. Therefore, we find for good cause that further notice and comment are unnecessary.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of February 4, 2022, concerning a petition for rulemaking filed by Scripps Broadcasting Holdings LLC, licensee of KTVQ(TV), channel 10, Billings, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 10 in the Table of Allotments. The document contained the incorrect call sign of the licensee. The document also contained an incorrect licensee name.

In this document, the Commission updates the political programming and recordkeeping rules for broadcast licensees, cable television system operators, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service providers, and Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees. The revisions conform the political programming and recordkeeping rules with statutory requirements, reflect modern campaign practices, and increase transparency.

This document amends the FM Table of Allotments, of the Commission's rules, by removing certain vacant FM allotment channels that were auctioned through our FM competitive bidding process or undergone FM noncommercial filing window, and are no longer considered vacant FM allotments. The FM allotments are currently authorized licensed stations. FM assignments for authorized stations and reserved facilities will be reflected solely in Media Bureau's Licensing Management System (LMS). These FM allotment channels have previously undergone notice and comment rulemaking. This action constitutes an editorial change in the FM Table of Allotments. Therefore, we find for good cause that further notice and comment are unnecessary.

The Federal Communication Commission (Commission) has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Scripps Broadcasting Holdings LCC (Petitioner), the licensee of WTVQ-TV, channel 10, Billings, Montana. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 20 for channel 10 at in the Table of Allotments.

On September 22, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WYMT, channel 12, Hazard, Kentucky, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 12 at Hazard in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations to substitute channel 20 for channel 12 at Hazard.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Alabama Educational Television Commission (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational channel *4 at Vernon, Alabama, as the community's first local service.

On July 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KPTV Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KPTV, channel 12, Portland, Oregon, requesting the substitution of channel 21 for channel 12 at Portland in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 21 for channel 12 at Portland.

The Audio Division, on its own motion, proposes the deletion of seven vacant allotments in various communities in Arizona, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming. We tentatively conclude that it is in the public interest to delete seven vacant allotments that have been offered in two FM auctions. No bids were entered for these allotments in the recently completed FM Auction 109. These permits are now considered unsold, and the allotments remain vacant. Deletion of these allotments may create other opportunities in nearby communities for new FM allotments or upgrades of existing stations. Therefore, we believe that the proposed deletion of these vacant allotments may promote a more effective and efficient use of the FM broadcast spectrum.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order to Show Cause seeks comment on a proposal requested by B Plus Broadcasting, LLC (B Plus), to create a new FM allotment for a Class A station on Channel 263 at Hamilton, Texas. It also orders S Content Marketing, LLC (S Content), to show why the license of KNUZ(FM), San Saba, Texas, should not be modified to specify operation on Channel 291A in lieu of Channel 224A at San Saba, Texas.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by WNYT-TV, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WNYT, channel 12, Albany, New York. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 21 for channel 12 at in the Table of Allotments.

On September 20, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by One Ministries, Inc. (Petitioner), requesting the allotment of reserved noncommercial educational channel *4 to Fort Bragg, California, in the Table of Allotments as the community's second local service. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to allot channel *4 at Fort Bragg. The newly allotted channel will be authorized pursuant to the Commission's application and selection procedures for reserved noncommercial educational television stations.

On July 28, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by KVUU-TV Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of KVUU, channel 9, Henderson, Nevada, requesting the substitution of channel 24 for channel 9 at Henderson in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 24 for channel 9 at Henderson.

On September 22, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KNOE-TV, channel 8, Monroe, Louisiana, requesting the substitution of channel 24 for channel 8 at Monroe in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 24 for channel 8 at Monroe.

In this document, the Commission proposes changes to its Next Gen TV rules designed to preserve over-the-air television viewers' access to the widest possible range of programming while also supporting television broadcasters' transition to the next generation of broadcast digital television (DTV) technology. In response to a Petition filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the Commission proposes to allow Next Gen TV stations to include within their license certain of their non-primary video programming streams (multicast streams) that are aired in a different service on ``host'' stations during a transitional period, using the same licensing framework, and to a large extent the same regulatory regime, established for the simulcast of primary video programming streams on ``host'' station facilities.

The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Media Bureau seek comment on the procedures to be used for Auction 112, an auction of construction permits for full power television (FPTV) stations. OEA and MB expect the bidding for Auction 112 to commence in June 2022.