[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15690]



[[Page 38935]]

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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 21-176; RM-11903; DA 21-846; FR ID 39244]


Television Broadcasting Services Missoula, Montana

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) 
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition 
for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee 
of KECI-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Missoula, Montana, requesting the 
substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula in the DTV Table 
of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order 
referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute 
channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula.

DATES: Effective July 23, 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 
22929 on April 30, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of 
the petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel 20. No 
other comments were filed. The Petitioner states that VHF channels have 
certain propagation characteristics which may cause reception issues 
for some viewers. In addition, KECI-TV has received numerous complaints 
from viewers unable to receive the Station's over-the-air signal, 
despite being able to receive signals from other stations. While the 
proposed channel 20 noise limited contour does not completely encompass 
the relevant channel 13 noise limited contour, Petitioner demonstrated 
there would be a loss of service to only 65 people, a number the 
Commission considers de minimis. In addition, KECI-TV's proposed 
channel 20 facility is predicted to serve a total of 252,689 persons, a 
net gain of 38,879 potential viewers over the existing KECI-TV channel 
13 facility. As the Bureau explained in the NPRM, it used the technical 
parameters of KECI-TV's original post-transition digital channel 13 
facility (File No. BPCDT-20080327AFR) in determining any predicted loss 
which may occur.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 21-176; RM-11903; DA 21-846, adopted July 15, 2021, and released 
July 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 SERVICES

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(i), amend the Post-Transition Table of DTV 
Allotments, under Montana, by revising the entry for Missoula to read 
as follows:


Sec.  73.622  Digital television table of allotments.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Community                           Channel No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Missoula..................................................  7, * 11, 17,
                                                                  20, 23
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2021-15690 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P