2021-15690. Television Broadcasting Services Missoula, Montana

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KECI-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Missoula, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula.

DATES:

Effective July 23, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The proposed rule was published at 86 FR 22929 on April 30, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel 20. No other comments were filed. The Petitioner states that VHF channels have certain propagation characteristics which may cause reception issues for some viewers. In addition, KECI-TV has received numerous complaints from viewers unable to receive the Station's over-the-air signal, despite being able to receive signals from other stations. While the proposed channel 20 noise limited contour does not completely encompass the relevant channel 13 noise limited contour, Petitioner demonstrated there would be a loss of service to only 65 people, a number the Commission considers de minimis. In addition, KECI-TV's proposed channel 20 facility is predicted to serve a total of 252,689 persons, a net gain of 38,879 potential viewers over the existing KECI-TV channel 13 facility. As the Bureau explained in the NPRM, it used the technical parameters of KECI-TV's original post-transition digital channel 13 facility (File No. BPCDT-20080327AFR) in determining any predicted loss which may occur.

This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket No. 21-176; RM-11903; DA 21-846, adopted July 15, 2021, and released July 16, 2021. The full text of this document is available for download at https://www.fcc.gov/​edocs. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to [e-mail] 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 SERVICES

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.

2. In § 73.622(i), amend the Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments, under Montana, by revising the entry for Missoula to read as follows:

§ 73.622

Digital television table of allotments.

* * * * *

(i) * * *

Community	Channel No.
*    *    *    *    *
Montana
*    *    *    *    *
Missoula	7, * 11, 17, 20, 23
*    *    *    *    *