[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76208-76220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21633]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 73

[MB Docket No. 05-210; FCC 06-163]


Revision of Procedures Governing Amendments to FM Table of 
Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio Broadcast 
Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission adopted a number of 
procedures and procedural changes designed to streamline the process of 
allocating new FM channels and modifying the communities of license of 
existing radio stations, and to reduce current backlogs in proceedings 
to amend the FM Table of Allotments. In the R&O, the Commission also 
announced that it would lift a freeze on all new petitions to amend the 
FM Table

[[Page 76209]]

of Allotments, as of the effective date of the R&O.

DATES: Effective January 19, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Doyle, Chief, Media Bureau, 
Audio Division, (202) 418-2700 or [email protected]; Thomas 
Nessinger, Attorney-Advisor, Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-
2700 or [email protected].
    For additional information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act 
information collection requirements contained in this document, contact 
Cathy Williams at 202-418-2918, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    The Report and Order (``R&O'') contains new and modified 
information collection requirements, which were proposed in the NPRM 
and are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA'').\1\ 
These information collection requirements were submitted on July 19, 
2005, to the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') for review under 
Section 3507(d) of the PRA. In addition, the general public and other 
Federal agencies were invited to comment on these information 
collection requirements in the NPRM. The Commission further notes that 
pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, it 
previously sought specific comment on how the Commission might 
``further reduce the information collection burden for small business 
concerns with fewer than 25 employees.'' The Commission received no 
comments concerning these information collection requirements. On 
September 15, 2005, the Commission obtained OMB approval for these 
information collection requirements, encompassed by OMB Control No. 
3060-0027. This R&O adopts the information collection requirements, as 
proposed.
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    \1\ The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), Pub. L. 104-
13, 109 Stat 163 (1995) (codified in Chapter 35 of title 44 U.S.C.).
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    Because, as detailed in the R&O, the Commission extends its new 
community of license minor modification procedures to FM NCE licensees 
and permittees, FCC Form 340 must be modified to accommodate the new 
information collection requirements of those procedures. The procedural 
requirements for FM NCE applicants for change of community of license 
will become effective after approval by OMB. The Commission published a 
separate Federal Register Notice seeking public comment on this new 
information collection requirement on November 22, 2006 (see 71 FR 
67581 (November 22, 2006)). Upon OMB approval, the Commission will 
issue a public notice announcing the effective date of this rule.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order (R&O), FCC 
06-163, adopted November 3, 2006, and released November 29, 2006. The 
full text of the R&O is available for inspection and copying during 
regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 Twelfth Street, 
SW., Room CY-A257, Portals II, Washington, DC 20554, and may also be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, BCPI, Inc., Portals 
II, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. 
Customers may contact BCPI, Inc. via their Web site, http://www.bcpi.com, or call 1-800-378-3160. This document is available in 
alternative formats (computer diskette, large print, audio record, and 
Braille). Persons with disabilities who need documents in these formats 
may contact Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 (voice), (202) 418-7365 
(TTY), or via e-mail at [email protected].

Synopsis of Order

    1. With this Report and Order (``R&O''), the Commission makes 
certain changes to its procedures for allotting and assigning channels, 
classes, and communities of license for AM and FM broadcast stations, 
as proposed in the original Notice of Proposed Rule Making (``NPRM'') 
in this proceeding. Revision of Procedures Governing Amendments to FM 
Table of Allotments and Changes of Community of License in the Radio 
Broadcast Services, Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 20 FCC Rcd 11169 
(2005). Specifically, the Commission makes changes of community of 
license for commercial full-power AM standard band and commercial and 
noncommercial educational (``NCE'') full-power FM broadcast stations a 
minor modification, to be accomplished by first come-first served minor 
modification application, subject to certain procedural requirements 
described below. To accommodate this change, the FM Table of 
Allotments, 47 CFR 73.202, shall henceforth contain only vacant 
allotments, and authorized full-power non-reserved band FM facilities 
already occupying allotments shall be listed only in the Media Bureau's 
Consolidated Data Base System (``CDBS''). As it does now, CDBS shall 
reflect the authorizations granted to those broadcasters operating on 
the listed channels and communities, and which are entitled to 
protection under our current rules. The Commission further adopts the 
proposal that it require allocations proponents simultaneously to file 
Form 301 applications with their allocations proposals, to submit the 
designated Form 301 filing fee, and to certify on Form 301 that they 
intend to apply to participate in auction bidding for the allotment 
should their proposal be adopted. The Commission also adopts the 
proposal to modify its rules to allow electronic filing of allocations 
documents. The Commission also lifts the current freeze on the filing 
of new petitions to amend the FM Table of Allotments, as of the 
effective date of the R&O. At this time, however, the Commission does 
not adopt the proposal to limit the number of proposals to add 
additional allotments or modify vacant allotments within a single rule 
making proposal, although it delegates to staff the discretion to 
return unreasonably large proposals or counter-proposals, if warranted. 
The Commission also declines to change its policy disfavoring the 
removal of a community's sole local transmission service to become 
another community's first local service, instead reiterating the need 
for parties contemplating such moves to seek waiver of the policy using 
existing law, and to demonstrate clearly the public interest benefits 
of such moves that would outweigh application of the policy in 
particular cases.
    2. The Commission adopts the proposal to allow AM and FM full-power 
stations to change community of license by first come-first served 
minor modification application. Most commenters favored this proposal, 
and some opponents would mute their objections if the Commission 
adopted certain procedural safeguards. As the Commission tentatively 
concluded in the NPRM, and upon examination of the record in this 
proceeding, the Commission finds that the public interest would be 
served by streamlining current city of license modification procedures 
and employing certain safeguards to ensure that Section 307(b) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 307(b)) (``Section 
307(b)'') and other concerns are accommodated. The Commission also 
concludes that, given the maturity of the FM service, there is no need 
to continue utilizing rule making procedures to modify FM stations' 
communities of license merely because such procedures provide an 
opportunity to counter-propose allotments. The use of first come-first 
served procedures is consistent with the doctrine enunciated in 
Ashbacker v. U.S., 326 U.S. 327 (1945), and the Commission believes

[[Page 76210]]

that there have been ample opportunities for potential counter-
proponents to propose new FM station allotments during the 43 years 
that the Commission has relied on the current Table of Allotments. 
Further, all parties will continue to have reasonable opportunities to 
make such proposals. Moreover, to the extent that commenters object to 
the lack of opportunity to file competing applications, because the 
Commission proposes to limit such applications to those mutually 
exclusive with the applicant's existing facilities, foreclosing 
competing applications does not, as a practical matter, deprive 
potential applicants of opportunities for comparative consideration. 
Finally, the Commission is convinced that adopting the proposed new 
procedure will preserve limited agency resources, reduce the time 
needed to process community of license changes and, accordingly, 
expedite the provision of enhanced broadcast service to the public.
    3. Community of license changes for commercial and NCE full-power 
AM standard band and FM broadcast licensees may be filed as minor 
modification applications. These minor modification applications 
processed on a first come-first served basis will be limited to those 
applications where the proposed daytime facilities are mutually 
exclusive with the applicant's existing daytime facilities. Related 
minor change applications must be submitted concurrently, and will be 
subject to the requirements and restrictions that apply to contingent 
minor modification application filings. See 47 CFR 73.3517(e). Required 
reference coordinate changes (which are not set out in the Table of 
Allotments) will not count against the current limit of four contingent 
minor modification applications that may be filed simultaneously. 
Parties seeking to employ this procedure must file, with their 
applications, a detailed exhibit demonstrating that the proposed change 
constitutes a preferential arrangement of allotments under Section 
307(b) of the Act as compared to the existing allotment(s). The 
Commission will require a narrative showing that the proposed community 
of license change represents a net service benefit, under the Section 
307(b) priorities and policies used since 1982. See Revision of FM 
Assignment Polices and Procedures, 90 FCC 2d 88 (1982). Applicants also 
will be required to confirm the community status of the proposed new 
community of license, demonstrating that it constitutes a community 
suitable for allotment purposes. Between our body of Section 307(b) 
precedent and the procedural safeguards discussed herein, these 
procedures will ensure that grant of such applications comports with 
the Commission's statutory mission under Section 307(b) to distribute 
radio service fairly, efficiently, and equitably. Additionally, as 
noted in the NPRM, our minimum distance separation standards and 
spectrum congestion will limit substantial urban migration. The new 
procedure will also address the concerns that led the Commission in 
1999 to decline to treat such applications as minor changes as well as 
most commenters' Section 307(b) concerns. See 1998 Biennial Regulatory 
Review--Streamlining of Radio Technical Rules in Parts 73 and 74 of the 
Commission's Rules, First Report and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 5272, 5278 
(1999).
    4. The Commission adopts certain additional safeguards to ensure 
that the public interest is served by the new procedures introduced 
herein. In performing Section 307(b) analyses under the new procedures 
adopted herein, the Commission will carefully consider whether an 
application would promote the fair, efficient, and equitable 
distribution of radio service. Under this analysis, a new permittee 
that obtained its permit after being awarded a dispositive Section 
307(b) preference in an AM auction filing window should not be allowed 
to change communities prior to the commencement of broadcast operations 
in the originally authorized community unless the new community would 
compare equally or more favorably to the communities specified by the 
other mutually exclusive applicants in the auction Section 307(b) 
analysis. For example, an AM auction applicant that received a Priority 
(3) preference by proposing first local service to a larger community 
than that specified in a competing applicant's first local service 
proposal could not seek to modify the initial construction permit by 
later specifying a community with a smaller population than the 
competitor's proposed community. Otherwise, AM auction applicants could 
initially select their communities solely on the basis of providing the 
greatest Section 307(b) advantage and avoiding an auction, without 
actually serving those communities. Likewise, the Commission will not 
award rapid, successive community changes that sidestep the mutual 
exclusivity requirement of the new procedure. Accordingly, any 
application proposing a community of license change filed by a 
permittee that has not built its current permitted facilities and that 
is not mutually exclusive with either the applicant's built and 
operating facilities or its original allotment shall be returned as 
unacceptable for filing. The analysis set forth in Faye and Richard 
Tuck, Inc., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 3 FCC Rcd 5374 (1988), will 
be carefully applied in considering Section 307(b) showings submitted 
in support of first come-first served applications to change 
communities of license, and that a first local service preference will 
not be awarded to a community that is largely interdependent with the 
Urbanized Area or surrounding communities. The Commission declines to 
adopt a service floor requirement such as that suggested in the NPRM, 
believing that existing Section 307(b) priorities and policies are 
sufficient to safeguard existing service. The Commission finds that 
existing procedural requirements, along with local public notice 
requirements (see 47 CFR 73.3580(c)(3), (d)(3), and (f)), will provide 
reasonable notice and opportunity for interested parties to comment 
under the new procedures introduced in the R&O. Broadcasters and 
members of the public may participate in the process of evaluating the 
grantability of a minor modification application to change community of 
license by filing informal objections. Arguments, evidence, and 
precedent may be presented in an informal objection as readily as in a 
more formal petition to deny, and are subject to the same evidentiary 
and legal standards. Moreover, the statutory right to file a petition 
for reconsideration, enumerated in Section 405 of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 405), provides a safety net for both 
relevant public interest considerations and participation by interested 
parties. Further, with regard to notice of applications, such minor 
modification applications will be listed in the Media Bureau's CDBS-
generated ``Broadcast Applications'' public notices, much as AM major 
change applications are listed now. Due to the importance of local 
broadcast service to communities, however, the Commission believes it 
is vital that residents are provided adequate notice to enable them to 
file informal objections to, or comments in support of, a particular 
move. Thus, the Commission adopts its proposal to require the proponent 
to give local public notice in connection with such applications, 
notwithstanding that minor modification applicants generally need not 
provide local public notice. See 47 CFR 73.3580(a). Specifically, 
applicants under this new procedure

[[Page 76211]]

shall provide local public notice as set forth in Sections 
73.3580(c)(3), (d)(3), and (f) of the Commission's rules (47 CFR 
73.3580(c)(3), (d)(3), and (f)), and shall certify such compliance in 
Form 301. The Media Bureau shall also provide notice in the Federal 
Register that an application to modify an AM or FM station's community 
of license has been filed. Moreover, the Bureau will not act upon such 
an application until at least 60 days after publication in the Federal 
Register. The combination of local public notice under 47 CFR 73.3580, 
publication in the Federal Register, and the 60-day prohibition on 
Commission action will provide interested parties with ample notice and 
opportunity to comment on proposed community of license changes under 
our new procedures. Applicants themselves need only comply with the 
local public notice procedures, which are well known to licensees and 
permittees. The newspaper publication requirements of 47 CFR 
73.3580(c)(3) will require the applicant to publish both in the current 
community of license and the proposed community, so as to give maximum 
notice to all residents potentially affected by grant of the 
application.
    5. This new procedure will apply both to commercial full-service 
broadcast stations and also to full-power NCE stations. NCE FM 
allotments in the reserved band are not included in the Table of 
Allotments (see 47 CFR 73.201, 73.202(a), and 73.501(a)), and as non-
tabled facilities such licensees must undergo a process similar to that 
undergone by AM licensees if they wish to change their communities of 
license, in that they must wait for an NCE filing window before 
applying to change communities. However, while reserved band NCE FM 
stations are non-tabled, the reserved band resembles the non-reserved 
FM band in most other respects, including maturity of the service, 
application of spacing rules, and spectrum congestion near larger 
cities. Because of these similarities, the Commission finds that the 
rationales for adopting the new procedure, such as streamlining of the 
current two-step process and maturity of the FM service, apply equally 
to NCE stations, and thus the new procedure will apply to NCE stations. 
However, the new procedures will not apply to expanded band AM 
stations, as allowing community of license changes by minor 
modification application for such stations could jeopardize the 
Commission's ability to develop a comprehensive plan for additional 
expanded band AM licensing.
    6. There are currently fewer than 25 pending community change rule 
making proceedings for which a Report and Order has not been released. 
These parties will not be required to dismiss their rule making 
petitions and refile their proposals in the form of an application. 
However, a rule making petitioner that has submitted a community of 
license change proposal that could, under the new procedures, be filed 
as a minor modification application will be permitted to withdraw its 
rule making petition and to resubmit its proposal as an application on 
the effective date of the new procedure. A party choosing to dismiss a 
rule making petition and refile as an application may adversely affect 
its position with respect to earlier filed petitions for rule making or 
earlier or simultaneously filed applications. Parties opting to dismiss 
and refile should carefully consider whether doing so would be 
advantageous to their cut-off rights.
    7. In order to accommodate the new procedure, the Commission will 
remove the allotments of currently authorized and awarded FM facilities 
from the Table of Allotments (47 CFR 73.202). Currently, all vacant FM 
allotments as well as FM assignments (that is, channels and communities 
occupied by authorized facilities) are listed in the Table of 
Allotments. All of these represent allotments and assignments added to 
the Table of Allotments through notice-and-comment rule making 
procedures over more than 40 years of the Table of Allotments' 
existence. Vacant allotments, which must be protected by all subsequent 
filings, serve as placeholders for future facilities. The same cut-off 
principles will apply to implementing applications filed under our 
comparative commercial and NCE procedures. Once an assignment is made, 
i.e., upon ``reservation,'' this record supersedes the vacant 
allotment. Thus, it is unnecessary for ``occupied'' allotments (that 
is, those that are licensed, permitted, or reserved) to be listed in 
the Table of Allotments--the authorizations and reserved assignments, 
reflected in CDBS, protect those facilities and govern their technical 
facilities and communities of license. Once a station is authorized, 
application procedures provide reasonable opportunities to interested 
parties to comment on or object to further modifications of authorized 
facilities. For this reason, as well as the maturity of the FM service 
discussed above, it is no longer necessary to change authorized non-
reserved band FM stations' attributes through notice-and-comment rule 
making. Thus, the Commission shall amend the Table of Allotments to 
reflect only vacant allotments that do not correspond to an authorized 
station or reserved assignment. Assignments for licensed, permitted, 
and reserved facilities (those for which applications are pending) will 
be reflected solely in CDBS. In CDBS, channel/frequency and community 
assignments for currently authorized stations are represented as ``FA 
USE.'' ``FA RSV'' is used to designate assignments for winning auction 
bidders, NCE tentative selectees, and proposed assignments for stations 
that have filed, or have been directed to file, modification 
applications for authorized stations. These designations will continue 
to be used in CDBS to indicate the status and cut-off rights of 
assignments. Changes to the channel, class, or community of existing 
facilities will constitute changes to the individual authorizations or 
applications, rather than to 47 CFR 73.202, and therefore may be made 
through minor modification application procedures (as adjacent channel 
and class modifications have been made under the Commission's ``one-
step'' procedures). However, the Commission will permit an FM non-
reserved band permittee or licensee to use notice and comment 
procedures to modify its current assignment to specify a non-adjacent 
class upgrade or downgrade in the same community of license. This 
action is taken to preserve the facility improvement options now set 
forth at Section 1.420(g)(1) and (2). The Commission will retain the 
Table for vacant allotments and will continue to use rule making 
procedures to establish new channel allotments, as the procedures for 
new allotments allow for efficient consideration of all proposals and 
counterproposals in keeping with the Commission's Section 307(b) 
obligations. While Section 307(b) considerations enter into community 
of license changes to authorized facilities as well, the same detailed 
rule making procedures are not as essential when dealing with changes 
to authorized stations not subject to competing applications. Thus, new 
allotments and changes to vacant allotments will continue to be made 
via notice-and-comment rule making procedures. To the extent that a 
proposal or counter-proposal is contingent upon one or more such 
changes to vacant allotments, such proposals will also continue to be 
made via rule making proceedings. However, as discussed below, the 
Media Bureau will return any rule making proposals or

[[Page 76212]]

counterproposals that do not propose changes to vacant allotments, 
except for notice and comment filings submitted pursuant to Section 
1.420(g)(1) or (2).
    8. A common aspect of FM allotment petitions and counterproposals, 
including city of license modifications, are proposed channel 
substitutions for both vacant allotments and authorized facilities. 
Rule making proponents are limited to two ``involuntary'' channel 
substitutions for authorized stations. See Columbus, Central City, 
Crookston, Kearney, Lexington, McCook, and Valentine, Nebraska; and 
Hill City, Kansas, Report and Order, FCC 86-59, 59 RR 2d 1184 (MMB 
1984) (``Columbus, Nebraska''). Current procedures impose no limit on 
voluntary, i.e., consensual, channel substitutions. The bifurcated 
procedures adopted in the R&O for allotments and assignments require 
new procedures for these city of license application and rule making 
components. Channel substitutions for authorized facilities will be 
treated as ``minor'' changes. Voluntary channel changes must be 
proposed in the Form 301 applications as set forth below. Involuntary 
channel changes for authorized stations must be specified in the Form 
301 application, but will continue to be limited to two under the 
Columbus, Nebraska policy. The staff will issue an order to show cause 
with regard to an involuntary channel change if it determines that the 
entire city of license modification proposal is acceptable for filing. 
These procedures accord with our current procedures, under which an 
order to show cause is issued when a rule making proponent seeks an 
involuntary change to another facility. Proposals to substitute 
channels for vacant allotments will be filed in accordance with 
established rule making procedures.
    9. Under these revised procedures, certain FM city of license 
modification proposals may consist of several contingent applications. 
Some ``hybrid'' filings will consist of both applications and rule 
making filings. Both the ``pure'' and ``hybrid'' proposals will be 
subject to the requirements and restrictions that apply to contingent 
coordinated FM minor change filings. See 47 CFR 73.3517(c). It is not 
necessary to prohibit contingent city of license modification 
proposals. The staff currently and regularly handles rule making 
proposals involving several different allotments and communities. All 
contingent applications filed pursuant to the procedures adopted here 
will be subject to identical Section 307(b) analysis. The Commission is 
satisfied that this analysis will function effectively in the 
application context, just as it does in the rule making context, to 
safeguard the goals and principals of Section 307(b). All related 
proposals must be simultaneously filed and clearly cross-reference each 
of the other component filings. The dismissal, denial or return of any 
component filing will result in the dismissal or return of all the 
related filings. Both ``pure'' application and ``hybrid'' filings will 
be subject to the four-application limit. Both voluntary and 
involuntary channel changes for authorized stations will count toward 
the four-application limit. Those components filed pursuant to rule 
making procedures will not count toward the four-application limit.
    10. In the NPRM, the Commission showed that a small percentage of 
petitioners seeking new allotments in the FM Table of Allotments (also 
known as ``drop-in'' petitions) were responsible for an inordinate 
percentage of the drop-in petitions filed. To date, those drop-in 
proponents have not actively participated in the auctions process. 
Thus, there appears to be a fundamental disconnect between those adding 
new allotments and those seeking to obtain authorizations pursuant to 
the Commission's competitive bidding procedures. Accordingly, in the 
NPRM the Commission proposed a mechanism to encourage only bona fide 
proponents to seek to add channels to the Table. The mechanism proposed 
was to require an allocations proponent simultaneously to file a Form 
301 application, and pay the appropriate fee, with its petition for 
rule making. The applicant would also certify in the application that, 
if its allotment was adopted, it intended to apply to participate in 
the auction for the new channel. That form would then become the 
proponent's application for construction permit, should the channel be 
allotted and the petitioner be the winning bidder. Previously, rule 
making proponents for new FM allotments needed only to state that they 
were interested in applying for the station if allotted, and paid no 
filing fee until and unless the allotment was made and an application 
filed. The Commission believes that requiring Form 301 and the 
concurrent filing fee with a petition for rule making, which is 
currently not required, would discourage insincere proponents, and 
further believes, as stated in the NPRM, that the public interest is 
best served by processing only those proposals for new allotments filed 
by bona fide potential applicants, rather than devoting scarce staff 
resources to processing allotment proposals that may represent less-
than-optimal choices to actual auction participants. Accordingly, the 
Commission adopts this proposal. A party filing a petition for rule 
making to add a new allotment to the Table, whether as an original 
proposal or as a counterproposal, must simultaneously file a Form 301 
application specifying the proposed facilities. A separate Form 301 and 
fee must be filed for each proposed new allotment. The application 
shall include a certification that, if the FM channel allotment 
requested is adopted, petitioner/counter-proponent intends to apply to 
participate in the auction of the channel allotment requested and 
specified in this application. In the event the petitioner or counter-
proponent is the high bidder for the allotment, it need only file an 
amendment to its Form 301 application, if necessary, and will not pay a 
further filing fee. However, while the Commission need not refund 
application filing fees paid by applicants whose applications are not 
granted (see Establishment of a Fee Collection Program to Implement the 
Provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989, Memorandum 
Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 5919, 5925 n.40 (1991), citing Conference 
Report, 1989 U.S. Code Cong. & Ad. News at 3036), the Commission 
recognizes the inequity in retaining filing fees from parties whose 
rule making proposals are not granted, as the unfavorable disposition 
of their proposals would render their Form 301 applications a nullity. 
See 47 CFR 1.1113(a)(4). Refunding the filing fee of a successful rule 
making proponent that loses at auction places the proponent in the same 
position as competing bidders who were not required to file Form 301 
pre-auction. Accordingly, the Commission will entertain waiver 
requests, pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1117, filed by a petitioner for a new 
allotment that files a Form 301 for the allotment, and that either has 
its allotment proposal denied in favor of another proposal or 
counterproposal, or that applies for the allotment and qualifies to bid 
for the allotment at auction, if the allotment is awarded to another 
higher-bidding applicant. A rule making proponent whose proposal is 
rejected may file its waiver request only after the proceeding is 
terminated and has become final. A successful rule making proponent who 
is not the winning bidder for the allotment may file its waiver request 
only after release of a public notice announcing the winning bidders in 
the auction. Provided that the waiver applicant has acted in good faith 
and in accordance with our Rules and

[[Page 76213]]

statutes, the Commission will normally grant such waiver requests and 
issue refunds under 47 CFR 1.1113(a)(4) or 1.1113(a)(5), as applicable. 
However, such a waiver request will not be viewed favorably if, for 
example, the rule making petition for a new allotment is returned due 
to patent legal or engineering defects. Similarly, a successful 
petitioner that fails to apply to participate in the auction or qualify 
to bid on the new allotment will not receive a waiver, nor will a 
petitioner that is the high bidder but either withdraws its high bid or 
is found unqualified to be the permittee.
    11. In the NPRM, the Commission proposed to supplement the policy 
announced in Columbus, Nebraska, which limited to two the number of 
proposals for involuntary channel substitution changes to the Table of 
Allotments. The Commission specifically proposed to limit the number of 
changes to the Table that a party might propose or counter-propose to 
five, absent waiver based on a showing of significant public interest 
benefits. It was noted that parties sometimes file proposals 
(frequently, counterproposals) involving large numbers of changes to 
facilities, which frequently consumed large amounts of staff resources, 
and the Commission tentatively concluded that the staff could more 
efficiently dispose of these proceedings if proponents were required to 
break them apart into several discrete components. After reviewing 
comments and upon further consideration, the Commission has determined 
that it should defer acting on this proposal while it determines the 
effects on the efficiency of our allocations procedures of the other 
proposals adopted in the R&O. However, due to concern about the effects 
of complex proposals and counterproposals on the staff's ability 
efficiently to process changes to the Table of Allotments, the 
Commission instructs the staff carefully to review all proposals of 
five or more changes to the Table of Allotments, including those that 
may contain fewer than five proposals per party but that are 
interrelated, such that one party's proposal is dependent on others. 
The staff may, in its discretion, break such proceedings into smaller 
ones, return those proposals or counterproposals that do not require 
changes to vacant allotments and may be filed as minor modification 
applications, or in extreme cases return proposals or counterproposals 
in their entirety. The Commission reserves the right to revisit this 
proposal if deemed necessary in the public interest and to preserve the 
integrity of the FM allotment and assignment plan.
    12. In the NPRM, the Commission proposed to eliminate the existing 
prohibition against electronic filing of petitions filed in broadcast 
allotment proceedings, set forth in 47 CFR 1.401(b). Electronic filing 
has brought substantial benefits in other application contexts, 
specifically by streamlining processes and enhancing the accuracy and 
reliability of Commission databases, and those benefits should be 
extended to the allocations process. Therefore, the Commission adopts 
the proposal to eliminate from 47 CFR 1.401(b) the prohibition against 
electronic submission of petitions for rule making in broadcast 
allocations proceedings. The Media Bureau and Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau will announce, by public notice, such procedures as they 
will devise for submission of broadcast allocations petitions and other 
documents. It should be noted that, as these are restricted 
proceedings, such procedures must provide for service on all interested 
parties, as defined in the Commission's Rules (see 47 CFR 1.1202(d)), 
by electronic or other appropriate means.
    13. In the NPRM, the Commission sought comment on First 
Broadcasting Investment Partners, LLC's (``First Broadcasting'') 
proposal to abandon the Commission's existing policy against removing 
the sole local transmission service at a community in order to allow it 
to become the first local transmission service at another community. 
First Broadcasting contended that this policy undermines the goal of 
spectrum efficiency which, in its opinion, should favor provision of 
first local transmission service to the greatest population. First 
Broadcasting proposed a presumption that it is in the public interest 
to permit a station providing a community's sole local service to move 
to another community provided that (a) at least two other stations 
provide principal community service to the entirety of the current 
community, (b) the station would be the first local transmission 
service in the proposed community, (c) the station moving would provide 
70 dB[mu] service to a larger population in the proposed community of 
license, and (d) the move would not cause any short spacing and/or 
would fully or partially resolve existing short spacing. First 
Broadcasting stated that its proposal would enable the staff to 
consider multiple public interest benefits of such proposed community 
of license changes, rather than ending its analysis at preservation of 
local service, and would ensure that the staff's Section 307(b) 
analysis will be conducted in an objective manner. After careful 
consideration and review of comments, the Commission declines to adopt 
this proposal. The Commission rejects the suggestion that objectivity 
in decision making can only be achieved by application of a defined 
multi-part test. Moreover, the Commission's experience shows that the 
reasons given by applicants for wanting to move the sole local service 
at a community are varied, and are better suited to a case-by-case 
waiver analysis than to a ``one size fits all'' test. Thus, the 
Commission retains its policy disfavoring removal of the sole local 
transmission service at a community, subject to waiver upon a detailed 
showing that retention of local service at a station's current 
community is contrary to the public interest, convenience, and 
necessity. For example, a showing that circumstances have changed to 
the extent that the current community of license is no longer a 
licensable community (due, perhaps, to a precipitous decline in 
population or significant loss of industry), or is no longer 
independent of a larger urban area, in the appropriate case might 
support a waiver to allow move of the station to serve a larger or more 
independent community. An AM licensee that has lost its transmitter 
site, and due to terrain or lack of available land cannot find a 
substitute site that would provide adequate community coverage, might 
also be able to present a compelling case for waiver. The foregoing 
examples are offered by way of illustration only, and are neither meant 
to be exhaustive nor are they meant to imply that a bare allegation of 
any of these circumstances will result in automatic waiver. All waiver 
requests are reviewed with an eye toward the particular facts as well 
as the context in which those facts are presented. Applicants are 
reminded that the waiver standard requires a detailed recitation of 
facts and circumstances, including documentary or testimonial 
(affidavit) evidence where appropriate, demonstrating special 
circumstances that warrant deviation from the policy, and showing that 
such deviation serves the public interest. See Northeast Cellular 
Telephone Co. v. F.C.C., 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990), citing 
WAIT Radio v. F.C.C., 418 F.2d 1153, 1157-59 (D.C. Cir. 1969). For 
example, the bare assertion that a station has lost its site, absent 
evidence showing an exhaustive but fruitless search for sites from 
which a sole local transmission service could comply with our technical 
rules, would not suffice to justify grant of a waiver to allow the 
station to move

[[Page 76214]]

to another community. The standard for waiver of a Commission policy is 
high for a reason. The Commission's rules and policies impose ongoing 
community service obligations on broadcasters. Moreover, the Commission 
has concluded that Section 307(b) policies must take into account the 
public's legitimate expectation that existing broadcast services will 
be maintained. These considerations will necessarily limit the ability 
of licensees to move to larger or more lucrative markets. Thus, a 
broadcaster that sought to locate in a community is expected to serve 
that community, as is a broadcaster that purchased the sole local 
transmission service in a particular community. In the latter case, no 
broadcaster should invest in a station with the expectation that the 
Commission will routinely approve a request to move to a different 
community. However, in the rare but appropriate case, Commission policy 
permits the sole local broadcaster in a community to show that the 
public interest supports a move to a new community.
    14. In the NPRM, the Commission announced a freeze on the filing of 
new petitions to amend the Table of Allotments, to enable it to 
complete this proceeding without adding new rule making proceedings 
that might better be filed under new procedures, and to help eliminate 
allocations backlogs. The freeze on filing new petitions to amend the 
Table of Allotments will be lifted on the effective date of this R&O. 
Because the procedural changes in this R&O will not become effective 
until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, at that time 
applicants may file minor modification applications for changes to 
community of license of full-power FM, noncommercial educational FM, 
and standard-band AM stations. Similarly, applicants wishing to file 
coordinated, contingent minor change applications and petitions for 
rule making as discussed herein must wait until the new community of 
license application procedures become effective before filing either 
minor change applications or rule making petitions.
    15. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. As required by the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (``RFA'') \2\ an Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``IRFA'') was incorporated in the 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (``NPRM'') to this proceeding.\3\ The 
Commission sought written public comment on the proposals in the NPRM, 
including comment on the IRFA. The Commission received no comments on 
the IRFA. This present Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (``FRFA'') 
conforms to the RFA.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601-612, has been 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (``SBREFA''), Pub. L. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 847 (1996). 
The SBREFA was enacted as Title II of the Contract With America 
Advancement Act of 1996 (``CWAAA'').
    \3\ NPRM, 20 FCC Rcd 11169, 11190, 11192.
    \4\ See 5 U.S.C. 604.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    16. Need for, and Objectives of, the Report and Order. This Report 
and Order (``R&O'') adopts rule changes and procedures to streamline 
the Commission's procedures for adding and modifying certain broadcast 
station allotments, and to streamline the Commission's FM commercial 
allotment procedures by allowing electronic filing of rule making 
petitions to change the FM Table of Allotments. In particular, the 
rules adopted by this R&O, as required by statute, will permit 
broadcast permittees and licensees of all full-service AM and FM 
broadcast stations (except for AM stations in the expanded band) to 
change their stations' communities of license by filing a minor 
modification application rather than through rule making proceedings. 
The new rules also will require parties seeking to add new allotments 
to the FM Table of Allotments simultaneously to file Form 301 for the 
new facilities at the time of filing a petition for rule making, rather 
than after auction. Finally, the new rules eliminate a rule-based 
prohibition against proponents of new channels in the FM Table of 
Allotments filing petitions for rule making electronically.
    17. Summary of Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in 
Response to the IRFA. There were no comments filed that specifically 
addressed the rules and policies proposed in the IRFA.
    18. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to 
Which the Proposed Rules Will Apply. The RFA directs the Commission to 
provide a description of and, where feasible, an estimate of the number 
of small entities that will be affected by the rules adopted herein.\5\ 
The RFA generally defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same 
meaning as the terms ``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and 
``small government jurisdiction.'' \6\ In addition, the term ``small 
business'' has the same meaning as the term ``small business concern'' 
under the Small Business Act.\7\ A small business concern is one which: 
(1) Is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its 
field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria 
established by the Small Business Administration (SBA).\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 5 U.S.C. 603(b)(3).
    \6\ Id. Sec. 601(6).
    \7\ Id. Sec. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the definition 
of ``small business concern'' in 15 U.S.C. 632). Pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 601(3), the statutory definition of a small business applies 
``unless an agency, after consultation with the Office of Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration and after opportunity for 
public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term 
which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes 
such definition(s) in the Federal Register.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(3).
    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 632. Application of the statutory criteria of 
dominance in its field of operation and independence are sometimes 
difficult to apply in the context of broadcast television. 
Accordingly, the Commission's statistical account of television 
stations may be over-inclusive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. The subject rules and policies potentially will apply to all AM 
and commercial FM radio broadcasting licensees and potential licensees. 
The SBA defines a radio broadcasting station that has $6.5 million or 
less in annual receipts as a small business.\9\ A radio broadcasting 
station is an establishment primarily engaged in broadcasting aural 
programs by radio to the public.\10\ Included in this industry are 
commercial, religious, educational, and other radio stations.\11\ Radio 
broadcasting stations which primarily are engaged in radio broadcasting 
and which produce radio program materials are similarly included.\12\ 
However, radio stations that are separate establishments and are 
primarily engaged in producing radio program material are classified 
under another NAICS number.\13\ According to Commission staff review of 
BIA Publications, Inc. Master Access Radio Analyzer Database on 
November 2, 2006, about 10,449 (95%) of 10,979 commercial radio 
stations have revenue of $6.5 million or less. First Broadcasting, 
which filed the Petition for Rule Making in this proceeding, is 
included in the definition of ``small business.'' We note, however, 
that many radio stations are affiliated with much larger corporations 
having much higher revenue. Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates 
the number of small entities that might be affected by any ultimate 
changes to the allocation rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS Code 515112.
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. Description of Projected Reporting, Record Keeping and other 
Compliance Requirements. As described, certain rules and procedures 
will change, but at most will only minimally increase the reporting 
requirements on existing and potential radio licensees and permittees, 
insofar as some of the proposed changes require the filing of 
application forms rather

[[Page 76215]]

than rule making petitions. However, the forms to be filed are existing 
FCC application forms with which broadcasters are already familiar, so 
any additional burdens are minimal. Applicants seeking to modify a 
station community of license will need to include, with their Form 301 
applications, an exhibit detailing how the proposed community change 
comports with the policies underlying Section 307(b) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. However, current practice 
requires that rule making proponents demonstrate that the proposed new 
community of license represents a superior arrangement of allotments 
under Section 307(b), so any new burdens are minimal. The new rule will 
also require that applicants for a new community of license provide 
local public notice in local newspapers and on air. These will impose 
additional burdens upon applicants. These burdens are identical to 
those imposed upon applicants for new broadcast facilities and 
applicants seeking to assign or transfer broadcast licenses. As such, 
any new burdens are familiar to broadcast licensees, are already set 
forth in our rules, and are necessary to ensure that members of the 
public are notified of proposed changes and are afforded the 
opportunity to comment.
    21. Additionally, parties seeking to add new allotments to the FM 
Table of Allotments must simultaneously file FCC Form 301 with their 
petitions to add new allotments, and pay the Form 301 filing fee at 
that time. This requires petitioners for new allotments to file Form 
301 earlier in the process than is the case now. However, it is the 
same Form 301 as is currently filed by successful auction bidders. The 
only difference from Form 301 currently filed by applicants consists of 
a certification that the proponent of the new FM allotment will 
participate in the auction for the new channel if allotted. To the 
extent that the proponent/applicant is not the winning bidder for the 
new allotment, the applicant may apply for waiver and refund of the 
fee; however, the burden will be increased to the extent that such an 
unsuccessful bidder would not currently be required to file Form 301.
    22. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Impact of Small Entities, 
and Significant Alternatives Considered. The RFA requires an agency to 
describe any significant alternatives that it has considered in 
reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four 
alternatives (among others): (1) The establishment of differing 
compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into 
account the resources available to small entities; (2) the 
clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance or 
reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; (3) the use 
of performance, rather than design, standards; and (4) an exemption 
from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small entities.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 5 U.S.C. 603(c)(1)-(c)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. The procedural changes adopted in the R&O for adding FM channel 
allotments and changing stations' communities of license are designed 
to make the process faster and more efficient, reducing delays to 
broadcasters in implementing new radio service. The procedure for 
changing a station's community of license will move from the current 
two-step process to a one-step minor application process, thus saving 
applicants time and resources. The Commission will require that 
petitioners for new FM channel allotments simultaneously file Form 301, 
and pay the prescribed filing fee for Form 301. Although this requires 
payment of the filing fee earlier than is the case in current practice, 
to the extent that petitioners ultimately obtain construction permits 
for these allotments, it is a fee they would be required to pay in any 
event, therefore this requirement should impose a minimal burden on 
petitioners. The Commission also eliminates the current prohibition on 
electronic filing of petitions to amend the FM Table of Allotments and 
comments on such proposals. Electronic filing, when implemented, will 
reduce burdens on all broadcasters, including small entities, by 
reducing the time and effort spent in preparing and submitting such 
documents in hard copy, as is the current practice.
    24. Report to Congress. The Commission will send a copy of the R&O, 
including this FRFA, in a report to be sent to Congress and the 
Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.\15\ In addition, the 
Commission will send a copy of the R&O, including the FRFA, to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A copy 
of the R&O and FRFA (or summaries thereof) will also be published in 
the Federal Register.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See id. Sec. 801(a)(1)(A).
    \16\ See id. Sec. 604(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ordering Clauses

    25. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to the authority contained 
in Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 303(r), and 307 of the Communications Act of 
1934, 47 U.S.C 151, 152, 154(i), 303(r), and 307, this Report and Order 
is hereby adopted and the Commission's Rules are hereby amended as set 
forth in the Rule Changes.
    26. It is further ordered that the rule amendments set forth in the 
Rule Changes will become effective 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register.
    27. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this Report and Order, including the Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 1

    Practice and procedure.

47 CFR Part 73

    Radio broadcast services.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.

Rule Changes

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission amends 47 CFR parts 1 and 73 as follows:

PART 1--PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

0
1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79 et seq.; 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 
155, 157, 225, 303(r), and 309.


0
2. Section 1.401 is amended by revising paragraph (b) and the last 
sentence of paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  1.401  Petitions for rulemaking.

* * * * *
    (b) The petition for rule making shall conform to the requirements 
of Sec. Sec.  1.49, 1.52, and 1.419(b) (or Sec.  1.420(e), if 
applicable), and shall be submitted or addressed to the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554, or may be 
submitted electronically.
* * * * *
    (d) * * * Petitions to amend the FM Table of Allotments must be 
accompanied by the appropriate construction permit application and 
payment of the appropriate application filing fee.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 1.420 is amended by revising the section heading, revising

[[Page 76216]]

paragraph (g) and adding new Note to Sec.  1.420 following paragraph 
(j); the revisions set forth below are to read as follows:


Sec.  1.420  Additional procedures in proceedings for amendment of the 
FM or TV Tables of Allotments, or for amendment of certain FM 
assignments.

* * * * *
    (g) The Commission may modify the license or permit of a UHF TV 
station to a VHF channel in the same community in the course of the 
rule making proceeding to amend Sec.  73.606(b), or it may modify the 
license or permit of an FM station to another class of channel through 
notice and comment procedures, if any of the following conditions are 
met:
    (1) There is no other timely filed expression of interest, or
    (2) If another interest in the proposed channel is timely filed, an 
additional equivalent class of channel is also allotted, assigned or 
available for application.

    Note to Paragraph (g): In certain situations, a licensee or 
permittee may seek an adjacent, intermediate frequency or co-channel 
upgrade by application. See Sec.  73.203(b) of this chapter.

* * * * *

    Note to Sec.  1.420: The reclassification of a Class C station 
in accordance with the procedure set forth in Note 4 to Sec.  
73.3573 may be initiated through the filing of an original petition 
for amendment of the FM Table of Allotments. The Commission will 
notify the affected Class C station licensee of the proposed 
reclassification by issuing a notice of proposed rule making, except 
that where a triggering petition proposes an amendment or amendments 
to the FM Table of Allotments in addition to the proposed 
reclassification, the Commission will issue an order to show cause 
as set forth in Note 4 to Sec.  73.3573, and a notice of proposed 
rule making will be issued only after the reclassification issue is 
resolved. Triggering petitions will be dismissed upon the filing, 
rather than the grant, of an acceptable construction permit 
application to increase antenna height to at least 451 meters HAAT 
by a subject Class C station.

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES

0
4. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

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


0
5. Section 73.202 is amended by revising paragraph (a) introductory 
text, paragraph (a)(2) and paragraph (b), the Note following paragraph 
(a)(2) remains unchanged, the following revisions are to read as 
follows:


Sec.  73.202  Table of Allotments.

    (a) General. The following Table of Allotments contains the 
channels (other than noncommercial educational Channels 201-220) 
designated for use in communities in the United States, its 
territories, and possessions, and not currently assigned to a licensee 
or permittee or subject to a pending application for construction 
permit or license. All listed channels are for Class B stations in 
Zones I and I-A and for Class C stations in Zone II unless otherwise 
specifically designated. Channels to which licensed, permitted, and 
``reserved'' facilities have been assigned are reflected in the Media 
Bureau's publicly available Consolidated Data Base System.
* * * * *
    (2) Each channel listed in the Table of Allotments reflects the 
class of station that is authorized to use it based on the minimum and 
maximum facility requirements for each class contained in Sec.  73.211.
* * * * *
    (b) Table of FM Allotments.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Channel No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ALABAMA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anniston.............................................             *261C3
Boligee..............................................               297A
Coosada..............................................               226A
Frisco City..........................................               278A
Livingston...........................................               242A
Maplesville..........................................               292A
New Hope.............................................               278A
Pine Level...........................................               248A
Rockford.............................................               286A
Saint Florian........................................               274A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ALASKA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Palmer...............................................              238C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ARIZONA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aguila...............................................              297C3
Ajo..................................................               295A
Ash Fork.............................................               267A
Bagdad...............................................              269C3
Chino Valley.........................................               223A
Ehrenberg............................................              286C2
First Mesa...........................................               247C
Fredonia.............................................              278C1
Grand Canyon Village.................................              273C1
Heber................................................              288C2
Huachuca City........................................               232A
Leupp................................................              255C2
Overgaard............................................              232C3
Parker...............................................              247C3
Patagonia............................................               251A
Paulden..............................................              263C3
Peach Springs........................................              285C3
Pima.................................................              *296A
Pinetop..............................................              294C1
Quartzsite...........................................       275C3, 290C2
Rio Rico.............................................               300A
Sells................................................               285A
Snowflake............................................              258C2
Somerton.............................................             *260C3
Taylor...............................................              278C3
Wickenburg...........................................              229C3
Willcox..............................................             *223C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                ARKANSAS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Altheimer............................................              251C3
Arkadelphia..........................................               228A
Bearden..............................................               224A
Clarendon............................................               281A
Cove.................................................               232A
Daisy................................................              293C3
Gassville............................................               224A
Greenwood............................................               268A
Hermitage............................................               300A
Paragould............................................               257A
Rison................................................               255A
Sparkman.............................................               259A
Strong...............................................              296C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               CALIFORNIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alturas..............................................        268C1, 277C
Amboy................................................               237A
Barstow..............................................               267A
Big Sur..............................................               240A
Blythe...............................................               239B
Burney...............................................               225A
Buttonwillow.........................................               265A
Cambria..............................................         287A, 293A
Cedarville...........................................               260A
Cloverdale...........................................               274A
Coachella............................................               278A
Covelo...............................................               245A
Desert Center........................................               288A
Essex................................................               280B
Greenfield...........................................               254A
Hemet................................................               273A
Kerman...............................................               224A
Kernville............................................               289A
King City............................................               275A
Lake Isabella........................................               239A
Lamont...............................................               247A
McKinleyville........................................       236C3, 277C3
Mecca................................................               274A
Mojave...............................................               255A
Murrieta.............................................               281A
Nevada City..........................................               297A
Portola..............................................               269A
Randsburg............................................               271A
Ridgecrest...........................................         229A, 252A
San Joaquin..........................................               299A
Susanville...........................................               262A
Sutter Creek.........................................              *298A
Tecopa...............................................               291A
Trona................................................               247A
Twentynine Palms.....................................               270A
Wasco................................................               224A
Waterford............................................               294A
Westley..............................................              *238A
Willow Creek.........................................               253A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                COLORADO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arriba...............................................               240A
Aspen................................................               228A
Cheyenne Wells.......................................              224C1
Crawford.............................................              274C3
Crested Butte........................................              246C3
De Beque.............................................              275C3
Durango..............................................               287A
Flagler..............................................              283C3
Fruita...............................................              255C3

[[Page 76217]]

 
Genoa................................................              291C3
Gunnison.............................................       265C2, 299C3
Hotchkiss............................................              258C3
Hugo.................................................               222A
Lake City............................................               247A
Olathe...............................................      *270C2, *293C
Orchard Mesa.........................................              249C3
Steamboat Springs....................................         255A, 289A
Strasburg............................................              249C3
Stratton.............................................              246C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               CONNECTICUT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                DELAWARE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FLORIDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Pine Key.........................................              *239A
Cedar Key............................................               261A
Cross City...........................................              249C3
Daytona Beach Shores.................................               258A
Eastpoint............................................               283A
Horseshoe Beach......................................             *234C3
Islamorada...........................................              283C2
Jasper...............................................               298A
Key Largo............................................              237C3
Key West.............................................               244A
Lake Park............................................               262A
Live Oak.............................................              *259A
Okeechobee...........................................               291A
Otter Creek..........................................              *240A
Palm Coast...........................................               254A
Perry................................................               228A
Port St. Joe.........................................              270C3
Silver Springs Shore.................................               259A
Sugarloaf Key........................................               289A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 GEORGIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alamo................................................              287C3
Americus.............................................               295A
Calhoun..............................................               233A
Crawfordville........................................               234A
Cusseta..............................................               279A
Dexter...............................................               276A
Homerville...........................................               246A
Lincolnton...........................................               254A
Milner...............................................               290A
Morgan...............................................               228A
Patterson............................................               296A
Pineview.............................................               226A
Plains...............................................               290A
Plainville...........................................               285A
Reynolds.............................................              *245A
St. Simons Island....................................              229C3
Tallapoosa...........................................               255A
Tignall..............................................               244A
Ty Ty................................................               249A
Wadley...............................................               227A
Woodbury.............................................               233A
Young Harris.........................................               236A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 HAWAII
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kailua-Kona..........................................               244A
Kihei................................................              298C2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IDAHO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
McCall...............................................      228C3, 238C3,
                                                            275C3, 293C3
Weiser...............................................             *280C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                ILLINOIS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abingdon.............................................               252A
Altamont.............................................               288A
Augusta..............................................               253A
Canton...............................................              *277A
Cedarville...........................................              *258A
Clifton..............................................              *297A
Cuba.................................................               292A
Freeport.............................................              *295A
Grayville............................................               229A
Pinckneyville........................................              *282A
West Salem...........................................               266A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 INDIANA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bloomfield...........................................               266A
Farmersburg..........................................              *242A
Fowler...............................................               291A
Madison..............................................              *265A
Terre Haute..........................................               298B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  IOWA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asbury...............................................              *238A
Keosauqua............................................             *271C3
Moville..............................................              *246A
North English........................................               246A
Rudd.................................................              *268A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 KANSAS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Americus.............................................               240A
Atwood...............................................              292C0
Council Grove........................................             *281C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                KENTUCKY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burgin...............................................               290A
Morgantown...........................................               256A
Science Hill.........................................               291A
Smith Mills..........................................              *233A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                LOUISIANA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anacoco..............................................              276C3
Bordelonville........................................               280A
Cameron..............................................              296C3
Clayton..............................................               266A
Colfax...............................................               267A
Dulac................................................               242A
Florien..............................................               242A
Franklin.............................................              295C3
Golden Meadow........................................             *289C2
Harrisonburg.........................................               232A
Haynesville..........................................               288A
Homer................................................              *272A
Hornbeck.............................................               269A
Lake Providence......................................               224A
Leesville............................................               224A
New Llano............................................              252C3
Oak Grove............................................               289A
Oil City.............................................               285A
Opelousas............................................               279A
Ringgold.............................................             *253C3
Rosepine.............................................               281A
St. Joseph...........................................              257C3
Wisner...............................................              300C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  MAINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monticello...........................................               234A
                                MARYLAND
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              MASSACHUSETTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adams................................................               255A
East Harwich.........................................               254A
Nantucket............................................               249A
West Tisbury.........................................              *282A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                MICHIGAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alpena...............................................               289A
Crystal Falls........................................              280C2
Custer...............................................               263A
Ferrysburg...........................................               226A
Fife Lake............................................              240C2
Frederic.............................................               237A
Glen Arbor...........................................               227A
Harrison.............................................               280A
Hubbardston..........................................              *279A
Houghton.............................................              242C1
Ludington............................................               242A
McBain...............................................               300A
Onaway...............................................              292C2
Paradise.............................................               234A
Pentwater............................................               280A
Traverse City........................................               283A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                MINNESOTA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baudette.............................................              233C1
Grand Portage........................................  224C, 245C0, 274C
Red Lake.............................................              231C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               MISSISSIPPI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calhoun City.........................................               272A
Greenwood............................................               277A
Holly Springs........................................               243A
Marietta.............................................               250A
Oxford...............................................               286A
Vaiden...............................................               271A
Vardaman.............................................               258A
Walnut Grove.........................................              244C2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                MISSOURI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alton................................................               290A
Bourbon..............................................               231A
Columbia.............................................              252C2
Doolittle............................................               283A
Eminence.............................................               281A
Grandin..............................................               283A
Huntsville...........................................             *278C2
Laurie...............................................             *265C3
Lowry City...........................................               285A
Madison..............................................              247C3
Marceline............................................               256A
Marquand.............................................               295A
Moberly..............................................               223A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 MONTANA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bozeman..............................................             *240C3
Cut Bank.............................................              274C1
Lewistown............................................              300C1
Montana City.........................................               293A
Outlook..............................................               289C
Roundup..............................................               248A
Whitehall............................................               274A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                NEBRASKA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur...............................................              300C1

[[Page 76218]]

 
Firth................................................               229A
Hartington...........................................              232C2
Hyannis..............................................              250C1
Pierce...............................................              248C2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 NEVADA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battle Mountain......................................               253A
Fallon Station.......................................               287C
Fernley..............................................              231C3
Pahrump..............................................              272C3
Silver Springs.......................................               273C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              NEW HAMPSHIRE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enfield..............................................               282A
Groveton.............................................               268A
Pittsburg............................................               246A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               NEW JERSEY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               NEW MEXICO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alamo Community......................................              *298A
Alamogordo...........................................              240C2
Carrizozo............................................              261C2
Clayton..............................................              248C1
Grants...............................................              244C3
Las Vegas............................................        283C2, 296A
Milan................................................               270A
Roswell..............................................              237C0
Taos.................................................         228A, 288A
Taos Pueblo..........................................              292C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amherst..............................................               221A
Celoron..............................................               237A
Indian Lake..........................................               290A
Keeseville...........................................               231A
Montauk..............................................               235A
Morrisonville........................................               231A
Rhinebeck............................................              *273A
Rosendale............................................         255A, 273A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             NORTH CAROLINA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dillsboro............................................               237A
Garysburg............................................               276A
Ocracoke.............................................              224C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              NORTH DAKOTA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berthold.............................................               264C
Tioga................................................              281C1
Williston............................................              253C1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  OHIO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashtabula............................................               241A
Cridersville.........................................               257A
McConnelsville.......................................               279A
North Madison........................................               229A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                OKLAHOMA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arnett...............................................              285C2
Boswell..............................................              282C3
Broken Bow...........................................               285A
Buffalo..............................................              224C2
Cheyenne.............................................              247C3
Clayton..............................................               241A
Coalgate.............................................               242A
Cordell..............................................              *229A
Covington............................................               290A
Erick................................................              259C2
Haileyville..........................................               290A
Haworth..............................................               294A
Holdenville..........................................               265A
Hollis...............................................              274C2
Kiowa................................................               254A
Leedey...............................................               297A
Lone Wolf............................................               224A
Mooreland............................................        254A, 300C2
Muldrow..............................................               286A
Okeene...............................................              268C3
Pawhuska.............................................               233A
Pittsburg............................................               232A
Red Oak..............................................               227A
Reydon...............................................              264C2
Ringwood.............................................               285A
Savanna..............................................               275A
Sayre................................................              269C2
Stuart...............................................               228A
Taloga...............................................               226A
Thomas...............................................               288A
Tipton...............................................              233C3
Tishomingo...........................................              259C3
Valliant.............................................              234C3
Vici.................................................               249A
Wapanucka............................................               298A
Waynoka..............................................              231C2
Weatherford..........................................              *286A
Wright City..........................................               226A
Wynnewood............................................              *283A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 OREGON
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clatskanie...........................................              225C3
Dallas...............................................             *252C3
Diamond Lake.........................................               299A
Ione.................................................               258A
Keno.................................................               253A
Madras...............................................             *251C1
Merrill..............................................               289A
Monument.............................................              280C1
Powers...............................................              293C2
Prairie City.........................................               260C
Prineville...........................................              267C1
Terrebonne...........................................              293C2
The Dalles...........................................             *268C3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              PENNSYLVANIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Erie.................................................               240A
Lawrence Park........................................               224A
Liberty..............................................              *298A
Meyersdale...........................................               253A
Sheffield............................................               286A
Susquehanna..........................................               227A
Sykesville...........................................               240A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              RHODE ISLAND
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             SOUTH CAROLINA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pendleton............................................               240A
Quinby...............................................               237A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              SOUTH DAKOTA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edgemont.............................................              289C1
Lead.................................................               232C
Rosebud..............................................               257C
Sisseton.............................................              258C2
Wall.................................................               299C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                TENNESSEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linden...............................................               267A
Lynchburg............................................               296A
Oliver Springs.......................................               291A
Pigeon Forge.........................................               292A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annona...............................................               263A
Asherton.............................................               284A
Aspermont............................................              226C2
Austwell.............................................               290A
Baird................................................              243C3
Ballinger............................................               238A
Balmorhea............................................               283C
Bangs................................................              250C3
Benavides............................................               282A
Benjamin.............................................              237C3
Big Lake.............................................        246A, 296C2
Big Spring...........................................              265C3
Big Wells............................................               271A
Blanket..............................................               284A
Blossom..............................................              224C2
Brackettville........................................               234A
Bruni................................................               293A
Buffalo Gap..........................................               227A
Burnet...............................................              *240A
Camp Wood............................................               271A
Canadian.............................................              235C1
Carbon...............................................               238A
Carrizo Springs......................................               295A
Centerville..........................................               274A
Channing.............................................               284C
Childress............................................              281C2
Colorado City........................................               257A
Comanche.............................................               280A
Cotulla..............................................   242A, 264A, 289A
Crosbyton............................................              264C3
Crowell..............................................              293C3
Cuney................................................               259A
Dalhart..............................................               261C
Denver City..........................................             *248C2
Detroit..............................................              282C2
Dickens..............................................         240A, 294A
Dilley...............................................               229A
Eagle Lake...........................................              237C3
El Indio.............................................               236A
Eldorado.............................................  258C1, 285A, 293A
Elkhart..............................................               265A
Encinal..............................................   259A, 273A, 286A
Encino...............................................         250A, 283A
Estelline............................................              263C3
Floydada.............................................               255A
Fort Stockton........................................               263C
Freer................................................               288A
Garwood..............................................               247A
George West..........................................         250A, 292A
Goliad...............................................               282A
Goree................................................               275A
Grapeland............................................              232C3
Groom................................................               223A
Guthrie..............................................               252A
Hamilton.............................................               299A
Hamlin...............................................              283C2
Hawley...............................................               269A
Hebbronville.........................................         232A, 254A
Hewitt...............................................               294A
Hico.................................................               285A
Hooks................................................               231A
Idalou...............................................               299A
Iraan................................................              269C2
Jacksonville.........................................               236A
Jayton...............................................              231C2
Junction.............................................       277C3, 284A,
                                                              292A, 297A

[[Page 76219]]

 
Kermit...............................................               229A
Knox City............................................               291A
La Pryor.............................................               278A
Leakey...............................................   257A, 275A, 299A
Llano................................................              293C3
Lockney..............................................              271C3
Lometa...............................................               253A
Longview.............................................              300C2
Lovelady.............................................               288A
Marathon.............................................               278C
Mason................................................       269C3, 281C2
Matador..............................................       221C2, 227C3
Matagorda............................................               252A
McCamey..............................................              233C3
McLean...............................................              267C3
Memphis..............................................         283A, 292A
Menard...............................................       242A, 265C2,
                                                                   287C3
Mertzon..............................................              278C2
Meyersville..........................................               261A
Moody................................................               256A
Mount Enterprise.....................................               231A
Muleshoe.............................................              227C1
Mullin...............................................              224C3
Munday...............................................              270C1
Newcastle............................................               263A
O'Brien..............................................               261A
Ozona................................................       275C3, 289C1
Paducah..............................................              234C3
Paint Rock...........................................              296C3
Palacios.............................................               264A
Pampa................................................              277C2
Panhandle............................................              291C3
Pearsall.............................................               227A
Pineland.............................................               256A
Port Isabel..........................................               288A
Premont..............................................               287A
Presidio.............................................              292C1
Quanah...............................................              255C3
Rankin...............................................              229C3
Richland Springs.....................................         235A, 299A
Rising Star..........................................              290C3
Roaring Springs......................................              276C3
Robert Lee...........................................               289A
Roby.................................................               249A
Rocksprings..........................................              235C3
Rotan................................................               290A
Rule.................................................        239C2, 253A
Sabinal..............................................               296A
San Diego............................................               273A
San Isidro...........................................               247A
Sanderson............................................       274C1, 286C2
Santa Anna...........................................               282A
Savoy................................................               297A
Shamrock.............................................               271A
Sheffield............................................              224C2
Silverton............................................               252A
Smiley...............................................               280A
Snyder...............................................              235C3
Sonora...............................................        237C3, 272A
Spur.................................................        254A, 260C3
Stamford.............................................               233A
Sweetwater...........................................              221C3
Teague...............................................              237C3
Turkey...............................................        244C2, 269A
Van Alstyne..........................................              *260A
Weinert..............................................              266C3
Wellington...........................................               248A
Wells................................................               254A
Westbrook............................................               272A
Wheeler..............................................              280C2
Zapata...............................................               292A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  UTAH
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beaver...............................................               259A
Fountain Green.......................................              *260A
Manila...............................................               228A
Mona.................................................               225A
Parowan..............................................              300C2
Salina...............................................               233C
Toquerville..........................................               280C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 VERMONT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albany...............................................               233A
Canaan...............................................              231C3
Poultney.............................................               223A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                VIRGINIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alberta..............................................               299A
Belle Haven..........................................               252A
Iron Gate............................................               270A
Lynchburg............................................               229A
Shawsville...........................................               273A
Shenandoah...........................................              *296A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               WASHINGTON
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chewelah.............................................             *274C3
Coupeville...........................................               266A
Goldendale...........................................               240A
Oak Harbor...........................................        *233A, 277A
Port Angeles.........................................               229A
Sedro-Woolley........................................               289A
Sequim...............................................               237A
Union Gap............................................               285A
Waitsburg............................................               272A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              WEST VIRGINIA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenville............................................               299A
Marlinton............................................               292A
St Marys.............................................              *287A
White Sulphur Springs................................               227A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                WISCONSIN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashland..............................................              *275A
Augusta..............................................             *268C3
Boscobel.............................................              244C3
Crandon..............................................              276C3
Ephraim..............................................               295A
Hayward..............................................             *232C2
Laona................................................              272C3
New Holstein.........................................               225A
Owen.................................................              242C3
Rhinelander..........................................              243C3
Rosholt..............................................               263A
Tigerton.............................................               295A
Tomahawk.............................................              265C3
Two Rivers...........................................               255A
Washburn.............................................              *284A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 WYOMING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bairoil..............................................               235A
Centennial...........................................               248A
Meeteetse............................................               273C
Pine Bluffs..........................................              238C3
Reliance.............................................              254C3
Sinclair.............................................               267C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             AMERICAN SAMOA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            CENTRAL MARIANAS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 GARAPAN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  GUAM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               PUERTO RICO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Santa Isabel.........................................               251A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             VIRGIN ISLANDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charlotte Amalie.....................................               257A
Frederiksted.........................................               258A
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
6. Section 73.203 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  73.203  Availability of channels.

    (a) Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section and 
Sec.  1.401(d) of this chapter and 73.3573(a)(1), applications may be 
filed to construct new FM broadcast stations only at the communities 
and on the channels contained in the Table of Allotments (Sec.  
73.202(b)).
    (b) Applications filed on a first come, first served basis for the 
minor modification of an existing FM broadcast station may propose any 
change in channel and/or class and/or community not defined as major in 
Sec.  73.3573(a). Applications for a change in community of license 
must comply with the requirements set forth in Sec.  73.3573(g).

    Note to Sec.  73.203: This section is limited to non-reserved 
band changes in channel and/or class and/or community. Applications 
requesting such changes must meet either the minimum spacing 
requirements of Sec.  73.207 at the site specified in the 
application, without resort to the provisions of the Commission's 
rules permitting short spaced stations as set forth in Sec. Sec.  
73.213 through 73.215, or demonstrate by a separate exhibit attached 
to the application the existence of a suitable allotment site that 
fully complies with Sec. Sec.  73.207 and 73.315 without resort to 
Sec. Sec.  73.213 through 73.215.


0
7. Section 73.1690 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(9) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  73.1690  Modification of transmission systems.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (9) Any change in the community of license, where the proposed new 
facilities are the same as, or would be mutually exclusive with, the 
licensee's or permittee's present assignment.
* * * * *

0
8. Section 73.3571 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1), and adding 
new paragraph (j) to read as follows:

[[Page 76220]]

Sec.  73.3571  Processing of AM broadcast station applications.

    (a) * * *
    (1) In the first group are applications for new stations or for 
major changes in the facilities of authorized stations. A major change 
for an AM station authorized under this part is any change in 
frequency, except frequency changes to non-expanded band first, second 
or third adjacent channels. A major change in ownership is a situation 
where the original party or parties to the application do not retain 
more than 50% ownership interest in the application as originally 
filed. A major change in community of license is one in which the 
applicant's daytime facilities at the proposed community are not 
mutually exclusive, as defined in Sec.  73.37, with the applicant's 
current daytime facilities, or any change in community of license of an 
AM station in the 1605-1705 kHz band. All other changes will be 
considered minor.
* * * * *
    (j) Applications proposing to change the community of license of an 
AM station, except for an AM station in the 1605-1705 kHz band, are 
considered to be minor modifications under paragraphs (a)(2) and (f) of 
this section, and are subject to the following requirements:
    (1) The applicant must attach an exhibit to its application 
containing information demonstrating that the proposed community of 
license change constitutes a preferential arrangement of assignments 
under Section 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 
U.S.C. 307(b));
    (2) The daytime facilities specified by the applicant at the 
proposed community of license must be mutually exclusive, as defined in 
Sec.  73.37, with the applicant's current daytime facilities; and
    (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sec.  73.3580(a), the 
applicant must comply with the local public notice provisions of 
Sec. Sec.  73.3580(c)(3), 73.3580(d)(3), and 73.3580(f). The exception 
contained in Sec.  73.3580(e) shall not apply to an application 
proposing to change the community of license of an AM station.

0
9. Section 73.3573 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1), adding new 
paragraph (g), and revising Note 1 to Sec.  73.3573 (Notes 2, 3, and 4 
to Sec.  73.3573 remain unchanged), the revisions are to read as 
follows:


Sec.  73.3573  Processing of FM broadcast station applications.

    (a) * * *
    (1) In the first group are applications for new stations or for 
major changes of authorized stations. A major change in ownership is 
any change where the original party or parties to the application do 
not retain more than 50 percent ownership interest in the application 
as originally filed. In the case of a Class D or an NCE FM reserved 
band channel station, a major facility change is any change in antenna 
location which would not continue to provide a 1 mV/m service to some 
portion of its previously authorized 1 mV/m service area. In the case 
of a Class D station, a major facility change is any change in 
community of license or any change in frequency other than to a first-, 
second-, or third-adjacent channel. A major facility change for a 
commercial or a noncommercial educational full service FM station, a 
winning auction bidder, or a tentative selectee authorized or 
determined under this part is any change in frequency or community of 
license which is not in accord with its current assignment, except for 
the following:
    (i) A change in community of license which complies with the 
requirements of paragraph (g) of this section;
    (ii) A change to a higher or lower class co-channel, first-, 
second-, or third-adjacent channel, or intermediate frequency;
    (iii) A change to a same-class first-, second-, or third-adjacent 
channel, or intermediate frequency;
    (iv) A channel substitution, subject to the provisions of Section 
316 of the Communications Act for involuntary channel substitutions.
* * * * *
    (g) Applications proposing to change the community of license of an 
FM station or assignment are considered to be minor modifications under 
paragraphs (a)(2), (e)(1), and (f)(1) of this section, and are subject 
to the following requirements:
    (1) The applicant must attach an exhibit to its application 
containing information demonstrating that the proposed community of 
license change constitutes a preferential arrangement of allotments or 
assignments under Section 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended (47 U.S.C. 307(b));
    (2) The facilities specified by the applicant at the proposed 
community of license must be mutually exclusive, as defined in Sec.  
73.207 or 73.509, with the applicant's current facilities or its 
current assignment, in the case of a winning auction bidder or 
tentative selectee; and
    (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sec.  73.3580(a), the 
applicant must comply with the local public notice provisions of 
Sec. Sec.  73.3580(c)(3), 73.3580(d)(3), and 73.3580(f). The exception 
contained in Sec.  73.3580(e) shall not apply to an application 
proposing to change the community of license of an FM station.
    (4) Non-reserved band applications must demonstrate the existence 
of a suitable assignment or allotment site that fully complies with 
Sec. Sec.  73.207 and 73.315 without resort to Sec.  73.213 or 73.215.

    Note 1 to Sec.  73.3573: Applications to modify the channel and/
or class to an adjacent channel, intermediate frequency (IF) 
channel, or co-channel may utilize the provisions of the 
Commission's Rules permitting short spaced stations as set forth in 
Sec.  73.215 as long as the applicant shows by separate exhibit 
attached to the application the existence of an allotment reference 
site which meets the allotment standards, the minimum spacing 
requirements of Sec.  73.207 and the city grade coverage 
requirements of Sec.  73.315. This exhibit must include a site map 
or, in the alternative, a statement that the transmitter will be 
located on an existing tower. Examples of unsuitable allotment 
reference sites include those which are offshore, in a national or 
state park in which tower construction is prohibited, on an airport, 
or otherwise in an area which would necessarily present a hazard to 
air navigation.

* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E6-21633 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P