[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60281-60282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23926]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[GN Docket No. 12-268; DA 13-1954]


Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Catalog of Eligible Expenses and 
Other Issues Related to the Reimbursement of Broadcaster Channel 
Reassignment Costs Following the Incentive Auction

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) seeks comment on a Catalog of Eligible Expenses that 
includes costs broadcasters may incur as a result of channel 
reassignment following the Incentive Auction. In order to disburse 
money from the Fund within the limitations of the Spectrum Act, the 
Commission seeks comment on the types of expenses broadcasters might 
incur, the price of the equipment and services broadcasters will 
require, and how broadcasters and the Commission can mitigate costs. 
The record obtained in response to this Notice will help the Commission 
establish expense reimbursement provisions that govern disbursement 
from the Fund to broadcasters reassigned to a new channel following the 
Incentive Auction.

DATES: Comments are due on October 31, 2013. Reply Comments are due on 
November 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Commercial overnight mail (other than 
U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 
9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service 
first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th 
Street SW., Washington DC 20554. Parties shall also serve one copy with 
the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 
Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, 
(202) 488-5300, or via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Gallant, 202-418-0614, Mary 
Margaret Jackson, 202-418-3641 or Kim Matthews, 202-418-2154.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Synopsis of the Public Notice

    With the assistance of a third-party contractor, and based on the 
record to date, the Media Bureau has developed a Catalog of Eligible 
Expenses that lists specific types of expenses within cost categories 
that broadcasters might incur following channel relocation. The Catalog 
of Eligible Expenses includes both ``hard'' costs, such as new 
equipment, and ``soft'' costs, such as legal and engineering services. 
The Notice seeks comment not only on the types of expenses listed in 
the Catalog of Eligible Expenses, but also on the prices of the 
equipment and services. Because the Spectrum Act limits the Broadcaster 
Relocation Fund to $1.75 billion, the Commission also seeks comments on 
ways to mitigate costs. Specifically, the Notice seeks comment

[[Page 60282]]

on whether bulk purchasing or services agreements, competitive bidding 
and other methods designed to control costs could be employed to 
mitigate the overall cost of channel reassignment. The Notice also 
requests comment on the extent to which broadcasters could save costs 
by sharing facilities and reusing equipment purchased for interim use 
during the transition.
    1. Procedural Matters: The proceeding will be treated as a 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding subject to the ``permit-but-
disclose'' requirements under Sec.  1.1206(b) of the Commission's 
rules.\1\ Ex parte presentations are permissible if disclosed in 
accordance with Commission rules, except during the Sunshine Agenda 
period when presentations, ex parte or otherwise, are generally 
prohibited. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded 
that a memorandum summarizing a presentation must contain a summary of 
the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the 
subjects discussed. More than a one- or two-sentence description of the 
views and arguments presented is generally required.\2\ Additional 
rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in 
Sec.  1.1206(b).
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    \1\ 47 CFR 1.1206(b), as revised.
    \2\ Id. Sec.  1.1206(b)(2).
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    12. Comment Information: Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of 
the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1415, 1.419, interested parties may file 
comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the 
first page of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal 
Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See 
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 
(1998).
    [ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    [ssquf] For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers 
appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit 
an electronic comment by Internet email. To get filing instructions, 
filers should send an email to [email protected], and include the following 
words in the body of the message ``get form.'' A Sample form and 
directions will be sent in response.
    [ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file 
an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [ssquf] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 
12th Street SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of 
before entering the building.
    [ssquf] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
    [ssquf] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington DC 20554.
    [ssquf] People with Disabilities: To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 
(voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-23926 Filed 9-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P