[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39790-39791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14201]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 21-155; RM-11900; DA 22-660; FR ID 93699]


Television Broadcasting Services Medford, Oregon.

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On April 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) 
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition 
for rulemaking filed by KTVL Licensee, LLC (the Petitioner), the 
licensee of KTVL(TV), channel 10, Medford, Oregon, requesting the 
substitution of channel 16 for channel 10 at Medford in the Table of 
Allotments. The Bureau is now amending FCC regulations to make this 
change.

DATES: Effective July 5, 2022.

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 
25979 on May 12, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the 
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel 16. theDove 
Media, Inc. (theDove), the licensee of low power television station 
KDSO-LP, channel 16, Medford, Oregon, filed comments in opposition to 
the rulemaking petition and a counterproposal. On June 22, 2022, the 
Video Division of the Bureau approved a Joint Request for Approval of 
Settlement Agreement whereby theDove requested dismissal of its 
Opposition with prejudice, and the Petitioner agreed to reimburse 
theDove in an amount not to exceed $23,420 as reimbursement for costs 
related to theDove's acquisition and construction of a displacement 
facility on channel 26 at Medford. The parties also agreed that KTVL 
would not begin operations on channel 16 until KDSO-LP commenced 
operations on channel 26. The Video Division approved the Joint Request 
for Approval of Settlement Agreement and dismissed theDove's opposition 
by letter dated June 22, 2022.
    The Petitioner states that the Commission has recognized that VHF 
channels have certain propagation characteristics which may cause 
reception issues for some viewers, that the reception of VHF signals 
require larger antennas relative to UHF channels, and that studies 
suggest a large variability in the performance of indoor antennas, with 
most performing poorly or not so well receiving VHF channels, compared 
to UHF channels. Petitioner further states that the Station has 
received numerous complaints from viewers unable to receive the 
Station's over-the-air signal, despite being able to receive signals 
from other local stations. In addition, the Petitioner states while the 
proposed channel 16 noise limited contour does not completely encompass 
the channel 10 noise limited contour, KTVL is a CBS affiliate and there 
are two other CBS affiliated stations that serve all but 9,355 persons 
in the noise limited contour loss area.\1\ The Petitioner also 
submitted an analysis, using the Commission's TVStudy software analysis 
program, demonstrating that after taking into account service provided 
by other CBS stations, all of the population located

[[Page 39791]]

within KTVL's channel 10 noise limited contour will continue to receive 
CBS service, resulting in no loss of network service.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 21-155; RM-11900; DA 22-660, adopted June 22, 2022, and released 
June 22, 2022. 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(j), amend the Table of Allotments, under Oregon, by 
revising the entry for Medford to read as follows:


Sec.  73.622  Digital television table of allotments.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *

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                 Community                           Channel No.
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                                * * * * *
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                                 Oregon
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                                * * * * *
Medford...................................  5, *8, 12, 16, 26.
 
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[FR Doc. 2022-14201 Filed 7-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P