[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 72738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20120]



[[Page 72738]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 24-152; RM-11982; DA 24-870; FR ID 242482]


Television Broadcasting Services Boise, Idaho

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On June 24, 2024, the Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), 
issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in response to a Petition for 
Rulemaking filed by King Broadcasting Company (Petitioner or King 
Broadcasting), the licensee of KTVB, channel 7, Boise, Idaho (Station 
or KTVB). The Petitioner requested the substitution of channel 23 for 
channel 7 at Boise, Idaho (Boise), in the Table of TV Allotments. 
TEGNA, Inc., on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, King 
Broadcasting, filed comments in support of the Petition, as required by 
the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming King Broadcasting's 
commitment to apply for channel 23. The Bureau concludes that the 
public interest would be served by substituting channel 23 for channel 
7 at Boise.

DATES: Effective September 6, 2024.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published at 89 FR 
52430 on June 24, 2024. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the 
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel 23. No other 
comments were filed.
    The Bureau concludes that the public interest would be served by 
substituting channel 23 for channel 7 at Boise. According to the 
Petitioner, the channel change will resolve persistent reception 
complaints it has received from viewers, and substantially improve the 
community's access to the Station's local news, emergency information, 
and entertainment programming. The Petitioner states that the 
Commission has recognized that VHF channels have certain 
characteristics that pose challenges for their use in providing digital 
television service, including propagation characteristics that allow 
undesired signals and noise to be receivable at relatively far 
distances. Additionally, the Petitioner notes that the Commission has 
observed the large variability in the performance of indoor antennas 
available to consumers, with most antennas receiving ``fairly well at 
UHF and the substantial majority not so well to very poor at high-
VHF.'' An engineering statement provided by the Petitioner confirms 
that the proposed channel 23 contour would provide full principal 
community coverage to Boise and would not cause impermissible 
interference to any station. In addition, the proposed channel 23 
facility will not result in any loss of service to existing viewers 
within the Station's noise limited service contour.
    As proposed, we find that channel 23 can be substituted for channel 
7 at Boise in compliance with the principal community coverage 
requirements of Sec.  73.618(a) of the rules, at coordinates 43-45'-
15.6'' N and 116-05'-59.4'' W. In addition, we find that this channel 
substitution meets the technical requirements set forth in Sec.  
73.622(a) of the rules.
    We also conclude that good cause exists to make this channel change 
effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, 
pursuant to section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act. An 
expedited effective date is necessary in this case to ensure that KTVB 
can operate with improved service to its viewers as quickly as 
possible.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 24-152; RM-11982; DA 24-870, adopted August 28, 2024, and released 
August 28, 2024. 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 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 the 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(j), amend the Table of TV Allotments, under Idaho by 
revising the entry for Boise 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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                                  Idaho
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Boise...............................................   15, 20, * 21, 23
 
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[FR Doc. 2024-20120 Filed 9-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P