[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 120 (Friday, June 25, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13563]



[[Page 33551]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 21-152; RM-11899; DA 21-701; FR ID 34382]


Television Broadcasting Services Freeport, Illinois

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On April 14, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) 
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition 
for rulemaking filed by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), 
requesting the allotment of channel 9 to Freeport, Illinois in the DTV 
Table of Allotments as the community's first local service. For the 
reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau 
amends FCC regulations to allot channel 9 at Freeport. The newly 
allotted channel will be authorized pursuant to the Commission's 
competitive bidding rules.

DATES: Effective June 25, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at 
(202) 418-1647 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published at 86 FR 
21258 on April 23, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of 
the petition, as required by the Commission's rules, reaffirming its 
commitment to apply for channel 9 and if authorized, to build a station 
promptly. No other comments were filed. We believe the public interest 
would be served by allotting channel 9 at Freeport, Illinois. Freeport 
(pop. 25,638) is the county seat and largest city in Stephenson County, 
and clearly qualifies for community of license status for allotment 
purposes. In addition, the proposal would result in a first local 
service to Freeport; channel 41 at Freeport will be deleted since 
WIFR(TV), which previously occupied the channel, submitted a winning 
bid to go off the air in the broadcast television incentive auction and 
subsequently suspended operations. Moreover, the allotment is 
consistent with the minimum geographic spacing requirements for new DTV 
allotments in the Commission's rules, and the allotment point complies 
with the rules as the entire community of Freeport is encompassed by 
the 43 dB[mu] contour.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 21-152; RM-11899; DA 21-701, adopted June 16, 2021, and released 
June 16, 2021. The full text of this document is available for download 
at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
    This document does not contain information collection requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In 
addition, therefore, it does not contain any proposed information 
collection burden ``for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4). Provisions of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to 
this proceeding.
    The Commission will send a copy of this Report and Order in a 
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Television.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.

Final Rule

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICE

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

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334, 
336, 339.


0
2. In Sec.  73.622, in paragraph (i), amend the Post-Transition Table 
of DTV Allotments, under Illinois, by revising the entry for 
``Freeport'' to read as follows:


Sec.  73.622  Digital television table of allotments.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Community                           Channel No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                ILLINOIS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Freeport...............................................           9, 41
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2021-13563 Filed 6-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P