*Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 10484.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1771 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 ) In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Section 73.622( b), ) MM Docket No. 01- 164 Table of Allotments, ) RM- 10135 Digital Television Broadcast Stations. ) (New Orleans, Louisiana) ) ) ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: July 26, 2001 Released: July 31, 2001 Comment Date: September 21, 2001 Reply Comment Date: October 9, 2001 By the Chief, Video Services Division: 1. The Commission has before it a petition for rule making filed by LeSEA Broadcasting Corporation (" LeSEA"), licensee of station WHNO( TV), NTSC channel 20, New Orleans, Louisiana. LeSEA requests the substitution of DTV channel 21 for station WHNO( TV) 's assigned DTV channel 14. 2. LeSEA states that the adoption of its proposal would eliminate the potential for interference to the Land Mobile Radio operators licensed to adjacent channels, while enabling station WHNO- DT to maximize its proposed facilit ies. LeSEA assert s that eliminat ing int erference t o t he land mobile service, and operat ing on DTV channel 14 would be prohibit ively expensive, ranging from $100,000 to $200,000, to arrange the proper filters for Land Mobile low- powered transmitters. This is because high- gain antenna technology eliminating the need for filter is not readily available. LeSEA states that it believes the more cost- effective approach would be to move to DTV channel 21. 3. We believe petitioner's proposal warrants consideration. DTV Channel 21 can be substituted for DTV Channel 14 at New Orleans, Louisiana, as proposed, in compliance with the principle community coverage requirements of Section 73.625( a) at coordinates (29- 55- 11 N. and 90- 01- 29 W.). In addition, we find that this channel change is acceptable under the 2 percent criterion for de minimis impact that is applied in evaluating requests for modification of initial DTV allotments under Section 73.623( c)( 2). We propose to substitute DTV Channel 21 for DTV Channel 14 for station WHNO( TV) at New Orleans with the following specifications: 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1771 2 State & City DTV Channel DTV power (kW) Antenna HAAT (m) LA New Orleans 21 300 254 4. Accordingly, we seek comments on the proposed amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments, Section 73.622( b) of the Commission's Rules, for the community listed below, to read as follows: Channel No. City Present Proposed New Orleans, Louisiana *11, 14, 15, *11, 15, 21 29, 30, *31, 29, 30, *31, 40, 43, 50c 40, 43, 50c 5. The Commission's authority to institute rule making proceedings, showings required, cut- off procedures, and filing requirement s are cont ained in the at t ached Appendix and are incorporat ed by reference herein. In particular, we note that a showing of continuing interest is required by paragraph 2 of the Appendix before a channel will be allotted. 6. Interested parties may file comments on or before September 21, 2001, and reply comments on or before October 9, 2001, and are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. Comment s should be filed wit h the Secret ary, Federal Communicat ions Commission, Washingt on, D. C. 20554. Additionally, a copy of such comments should be served on the petitioner, or its counsel or consultant, as follows: John E. Fiorini III Lee G. Petro Gardner, Carton & Douglas 1301 K Street, NW Suite 900, East Tower Washington, DC 20005 (Counsel for LeSEA Broadcasting Corporation) 7. The Commission has det ermined that the relevant provisions of the Regulat ory Flexibilit y Act of 1980 do not apply to rule making proceedings to amend the TV Table of Allotments, Section 73.606( b) and 73.622( b) of the Commission's Rules. See Certification That Sections 603 and 604 of t he Regulat ory Flexibilit y Act Do Not Apply to Rule Making to Amend Sect ions 73. 202( b), 73.504 and 73.606( b) of the Commission's Rules, 46 FR 11549, February 9, 1981. The Regulatory Flexibilit y Act of 1980 would also not apply to rule making proceedings to amend the DTV Table of Allotments, Section 73.622( b) of the Commission's Rules. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1771 3 8. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Pam Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418- 1600. For purposes of this restricted notice and comment rule making proceeding, members of the public are advised that no ex parte presentations are permitted from the time the Commission adopts a Notice of Proposed Rule Making until the proceeding has been decided and such decision is no longer subject to reconsideration by the Commission or review by any court. An ex parte presentation is not prohibited if specifically requested by the Commission or staff for the clarification or adduction of evidence or resolution of issues in the proceeding. However, any new written information elicited from such a request or a summary of any new oral information shall be served by the person making the presentation upon the other parties to the proceeding unless the Commission specifically waives t his service requirement . Any comment which has not been served on the petitioner constitutes an ex parte presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding. Any reply comment which has not been served on the person( s) who filed the comment, to which the reply is directed, constitutes an ex parte presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Barbara A. Kreisman Chief, Video Services Division Mass Media Bureau Attachment: Appendix 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1771 4 APPENDIX 1. Pursuant to authority found in Sections 4( i), 5( c)( 1), 303( g) and (r), and 307( b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.61, 0.204( b) and 0.283 of the Commission's Rules, IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND the DTV Table of Allotments, Section 73.622( b) of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, as set forth in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached. 2. Showings Required. Comments are invited on the proposal( s) discussed in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is at t ached. Proponent (s) will be expect ed t o answer whatever questions are presented in initial comments. The proponent of a proposed allotment is also expected to file comments even if it only resubmits or incorporates by reference its former pleadings. It should also restate its present intention to apply for the channel if it is allotted and, if authorized, to build a st at ion prompt ly. Failure to file may lead to denial of the request . 3. Cut- off protection. The following procedures will govern the consideration of filings in this proceeding. (a) Counterproposals advanced in this proceeding itself will be considered, if advanced in init ial comment s, so that part ies may comment on them in reply comment s. They will not be considered if advanced in reply comments. (See Section 1.420( d) of the Commission's Rules). (b) With respect to petitions for rule making which conflict with the proposals in this Notice, t hey will be considered as comment s in the proceeding, and Public Notice to this effect will be given as long as they are filed before the date for filing initial comments herein. If they are filed later than that, t hey will not be considered in connect ion wit h the decision in this docket . (c) The filing of a counterproposal may lead the Commission to allot a different channel than was requested for any of the communities involved. 4. Comments and Reply Comments; Service. Pursuant to applicable procedures set out in Sections 1.415 and 1.420 of the Commission's Rules and Regulat ions, int erest ed part ies may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates set forth in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached. All submissions by parties to this proceeding or by persons acting on behalf of such part ies must be made in writ t en comment s, reply comment s, or ot her appropriat e pleadings. Comment s shall be served on the pet it ioner by the person filing the comment s. Reply comments shall be served on the person( s) who filed comments to which the reply is directed. Such comments and reply comments shall be accompanied by a certificate of service. (See Section 1.420( a), (b) and (c) of t he Commission's Rules.) Comment s should be filed wit h the Secret ary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D. C. 20554. 5. Number of Copies. In accordance with the provisions of Section 1.420 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, an original and four copies of all comments, reply comments, pleadings, briefs, 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1771 5 or other documents shall be furnished the Commission. 6. Public Inspection of Filings. All filings made in this proceeding will be available for examination by interested parties during regular business hours in the Commission's Reference Center (Room CY- A257) at its headquarters, 445 12th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 5