01-27346. Digital Television Broadcast Service; Hartford, CT

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The Commission requests comments on a petition filed by Fox Television Stations, Inc., requesting the substitution of DTV channel 31 for DTV channel 5 for Tribune Television Corporation's station WTIC-TV at Hartford, Connecticut. DTV Channel 31 can be allotted to Hartford, Connecticut, in compliance with the principle community coverage requirements of Section 73.625(a) at reference coordinates (41-42-13 N. and 72-49-57 W.). However, since the community of Hartford is located within 400 kilometers of the U.S.-Canadian border, concurrence of the Canadian government must be obtained for this allotment. As requested, we propose to allot DTV Channel to 31 with a power of 500 and a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 492 meters.

DATES:

Comments must be filed on or before December 17, 2001, and reply comments on or before January 2, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments with the FCC, interested parties should serve the petitioner, or its counsel or consultant, as follows: John C. Quale, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 1440 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005 (Counsel for Fox Television Stations, Inc.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Pam Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a synopsis of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No. 01-306, adopted October 25, 2001, and released October 26, 2001. The full text of this document is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone [phone], facsimile 202-863-2898, or via-e-mail [e-mail].

Provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to this proceeding.

Members of the public should note that from the time a Notice of Proposed Rule Making is issued until the matter is no longer subject to Commission consideration or court review, all ex parte contacts are prohibited in Commission proceedings, such as this one, which involve channel allotments. See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules governing permissible ex parte contacts.

For information regarding proper filing procedures for comments, see 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Television, Digital television broadcasting.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73—TELEVISION BROADCAST SERVICES

1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, and 336.

§ 73.622

[Amended]

2. Section 73.622(b), the Table of Digital Television Allotments under Connecticut is amended by removing DTV Channel 5 and adding DTV Channel 31 at Hartford.

Federal Communications Commission.

Barbara A. Kreisman,

Chief, Video Services Division, Mass Media Bureau.