[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12652-12653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6274]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 74

[DA 03-622; RM-10666]


National Translation Association's Petition for Rulemaking To 
Establish a Rural Translator Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; petition for rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Media Bureau (``Bureau'') seeks comment on a proposal to 
establish a ``Rural Translator Service.'' The National Translator 
Association asserts that implementation of this service will help to 
ensure the delivery of broadcast services to rural areas. According to 
National Translator Association, the Commission's goals of 
transitioning broadcast television from analog to digital service, 
providing for availability and attendant benefits of high definition 
television, and providing for free over-the-air broadcast television, 
both commercial and non-commercial, can only be accomplished in rural 
areas by the use of translator stations.

DATES: Comments due on or before May 16, 2003. Reply comments due on or 
before June 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for filing 
instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Lerner (202) 418-7066, Video 
Division, Media Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's 
Public Notice, RM-10666, released March 6, 2003. The full text of this 
Public Notice is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Reference Room, Room CY-A257, Portals II, 445 
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 
12th Street, SW., Room CY B402, Washington, DC 20554.

Synopsis of Public Notice

    The National Translator Association (``NTA'') seeks to establish a 
``Rural Translator Service.'' Among other things, NTA proposes that in 
order for an applicant to apply in this ``Rural Translator Service,'' 
it must propose a translator that can provide a signal to an area in 
which its residents are unable to receive at least four ``free'' 
primary over-the-air television signals, based on a combination of 
predictive methods. For areas outside the predicted Grade B contour of 
a television station, the NTA would presume that no service is 
received. For areas within a predicted Grade B contour, applicants 
would be permitted to use the ``Longley Rice Terrain Dependant 
Population Count'' and the methods prescribed in the FCC Office of 
Engineering and Technology Bulletin 69 (``OET 69'') to show that actual 
service is not available. NTA also proposes to limit the effective 
radiated power of these stations to 1 kilowatt for UHF Translators and 
100 watts for VHF Translators. The NTA proposes that applications for 
stations in the Rural Translator Service be processed on an expedited 
basis using a ``one-day rolling window or day-by-day cutoff procedures 
for mutually exclusive applications'' in lieu of the Commission's 
filing window procedures for the Low Power Television Service.
    Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 
CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before May 
16, 2003, and reply comments on or before June 16, 2003. Comments may 
be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) 
or by filing paper

[[Page 12653]]

copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 
63 FR 24121 (1998).
    Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file 
via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one 
copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or 
rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, 
commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each 
docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing 
the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. 
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking 
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-
mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should 
send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include the following words 
in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and directions 
will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an 
original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appear in the caption of this proceeding, commenters 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. 
Postal Service mail).
    The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand-
delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's 
Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 
20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand 
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any 
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial 
overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and 
Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol 
Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, 
and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

Federal Communications Commission.
Barbara A. Kreisman,
Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 03-6274 Filed 3-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P