[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57148-57149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19883]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 21-248; RM-11910-; DA 22-919; FR ID 103525]


Television Broadcasting Services Staunton, Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On June 15, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) 
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for 
rulemaking filed by VPM Media Corporation (VPM or Petitioner), the 
licensee of WVPT, channel *11, Staunton, Virginia, requesting the 
substitution of channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton in the Table of 
TV Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order 
referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute 
channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton.

DATES: Effective September 19, 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 
34695 on June 30, 2021. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the 
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *15. No other 
comments were filed.
    We find that the public interest would be served by substituting 
channel *15 for channel *11 at Staunton, Virginia . We believe the 
public interest would be served by substituting channel *15 for channel 
*11 at Staunton, Virginia. As the Petitioner notes, the challenges of 
digital reception are well-documented and the Commission has recognized 
the deleterious effects of manmade noise on the reception of digital 
VHF signals, including VHF channel propagation characteristics that 
allow undesired signals and noise to be receivable at relatively far 
distances and nearby electrical devices to cause interference are 
exacerbated by rugged terrain. The proposed channel *15 facilities will 
result in a small loss area when compared to WVPT's existing service 
area, largely due to the deep null required for the proposed WVPT-1 
site on channel *15 to protect the NRAO and SGRS (formerly NRRO). 
However, the Station will continue to serve this area by operating from 
its current WVPT-3 site as a translator on either channel *11 (its 
current licensed channel) or channel *12 (its current

[[Page 57149]]

temporary channel). Furthermore, a staff analysis confirms that the 
change in channel will result in a gain of 34,790 new viewers that 
previously did not have access to WVPT, and a loss of noncommercial 
educational service to 477 persons, which is de minimis.
    WVPT is located within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), an 
area of approximately 13,000 square miles created to minimize possible 
harmful interference at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) 
site located at Green Bank, West Virginia, and the Naval Radio Research 
Observatory (NRRO) site at Sugar Grove, West Virginia. The Commission's 
rules requires that the NRAO be notified, in writing, of any proposed 
construction and operation of a new or modified station at a permanent 
fixed location in the Quiet Zone, including the technical details of 
the proposed operation. Petitioner amended its Petition for Rulemaking 
on August 29, 2022 to provide a Letter of Concurrence, dated August 12, 
2022, from the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) confirming that neither 
the NRAO or the Sugar Grove Research Station (SGRS, formerly the NRRO) 
object to this frequency assignment subject to continued coordination.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 21-248; RM-11910; DA 22-919, adopted September 1, 2022, and 
released September 1, 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 Virginia, 
by revising the entry for Staunton 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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                                VIRGINIA
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                                * * * * *
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Staunton................................................            * 15
 
                                * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2022-19883 Filed 9-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P