[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 65350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26064]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 74

[FCC 14-150]


Commission Suspends Expiration Dates and Construction Deadlines 
for New Digital Low Power Television and TV Translator Stations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; suspension of expiration dates.

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SUMMARY: The Commission announced that, effective immediately, it is 
suspending the expiration dates and construction deadlines for all 
outstanding construction permits for new digital low power television 
(LPTV) and TV translator stations. The Commission will decide on a new 
construction deadline for these permittees in the rulemaking proceeding 
in MB Docket No. 03-185. Until a decision is reached in the rulemaking 
decision and the Commission can determine the effect of the future 
incentive auction and repacking, permittees of new digital LPTV and TV 
translator stations may delay completing construction of their digital 
facilities.

DATES: The suspension became effective on October 10, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shaun Maher, Video Division, Media 
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, [email protected], (202) 
418-2324.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective immediately, the expiration dates 
and construction deadlines for all outstanding unexpired construction 
permits for new digital low power television (LPTV) and TV translator 
stations set forth in 47 CFR 74.788 are hereby suspended pending final 
action in the rulemaking proceeding in MB Docket No. 03-185 initiated 
today by the Commission. In a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
released October 10, 2014 in MB Docket No. 03-185 (FCC 14-151) the 
Commission recognized that the incentive auction and repacking process 
will impact existing analog LPTV and TV translator stations 
transitioning to digital and, because of this, it tentatively concluded 
to postpone the September 1, 2015 digital transition date. For similar 
reasons, the Commission also tentatively concluded to extend the 
construction deadlines of permits for new digital LPTV and TV 
translator stations and proposed that these permits be subject to 
whatever new transition date is adopted. This proposed action would 
also have the effect of treating these permittees similarly to the 
permittees of transitioning LPTV and TV translator stations.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-26064 Filed 11-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P