*Pages 1--8 from Microsoft Word - 10669.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of S+ ection 73.202( b), ) Table of Allotments, ) FM Broadcast Stations. ) (Port St. Joe, Florida) ) MM Docket No. 01- 179 ) RM- 10199 ) (Holdenville, Oklahoma) ) MM Docket No. 01- 180 ) RM- 10200 ) (Wapanucka, Oklahoma) ) MM Docket No. 01- 181 ) RM- 10201 ) (Clarksville, Texas) ) MM Docket No. 01- 182 ) RM- 10202 NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: July 25, 2001 Released: August 3, 2001 Comment Date: September 24, 2001 Reply Date: October 9, 2001 By the Chief, Allocations Branch: 1. Before the Commission for consideration is a multiple docket Notice of Proposed Rule Making setting forth separate proposals to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( b) of t he Rules. Each pet it ioner has st at ed that it will apply for its request ed channel, if allot t ed. We believe that each proposal warrants consideration because it complies with our technical requirements and would serve the public interest. 2. This is a mult iple docket Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued in accordance with the Commission’s Public Notice released October 2, 1998 (DA 98- 1987). We are combining separate FM allotment proposals into a single Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Each proposal has its own docket and rule making number and the Commission’s Reference Center will maintain a separate file for each docket. As discussed in the Public Notice, this procedure will conserve Commission resources and expedite the processing of FM allotment petitions for rule making by avoiding duplicative actions. We request comments and/ or counterproposals to the following proposals: 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 2 A. MM Docket No. 01- 179; RM- 10199 Petitioner: Cecil P. Staton 6316 Peake Road Macon, GA 31210 Proposal: Allot Channel 242A at Port St. Joe, Florida as the community’s second local aural transmission service. Community Present Proposed Port St. Joe, Florida 228C2 228C2, 242A Coordinates: 29- 48- 00 NL and 85- 17- 03 WL Additional Information: Petitioner states that the proposed site is necessary to avoid a shortspacing with WZNS, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida (243C1, with coordinates of 30- 24- 50 NL and 86- 37- 40 WL). The proposed allotment requires a site restriction of 2. 1 km (1. 3 miles) southeast of Port St. Joe at the coordinates indicated above. Port St. Joe is an incorporated community that serves as the county seat of Gulf County. Petitioner states that Port St. Joe has a population of 4,044 persons. In compliance with §1.52 of the Commission’s rules, petitioner is requested to include with his comments verification that the statements contained in the petition are accurate to the best of his knowledge. 1 1 Although the petitioner’s request includes an affidavit verifying that the statements contained in the petition are accurate to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, Section 1. 52 of the Commission’s Rules requires that the original of any document filed with the Commission by a party not represented by counsel be signed and verified by the party and his/ her address stated. In the absence of such verification, the petition may be dismissed. Because the affiant is neither the party in interest nor his attorney, and the petitioning party did not verify the document, the requirements of Section 1. 52 have not been met. See Amendment of Section 73.202( b), Table of Allotments, FM Broadcast Stations (Carmel, Carmel Valley, Hollister and Scotts Valley, California), 7 FCC Recd 3056 (M. M. Bur., Pol. Div. 1992). Section 1.401( b) of the Commission’s Rules concerning rule making proceedings places petitioners on notice that their proposal must conform with the requirements of Section 1. 52 regarding subscription and verification. See also Amendment of Sections 1.420 and 73.3584 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Abuses of the Commission’s Processes, 5 FCC Rcd 3911, 3919, n. 41 (1990). The petitioner is requested to rectify this omission in his comments. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 3 FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 B. MM Docket No. 01- 180; RM- 10200 Petitioner: Katherine Pyeatt 6655 Airtree Circle Dallas, Texas 75214 Proposal: Allot Channel 265A at Holdenville, Oklahoma as the communit y’s first compet ing FM transmission service. Community Present Proposed Holdenville, Oklahoma 293C3 293C3, 265A Coordinates: 35- 04- 53 NL and 96- 31- 00 WL Additional Information: The proposed allot ment requires a sit e rest rict ion of 10. 6 km (6. 6 miles) west of Holdenville at the coordinat es indicat ed above. Holdenville is an incorporated community that serves as the county seat of Hughes County. Petitioner states that Holdenville has a population exceeding 5,470 persons. In compliance with §1.52 of the Commission’s rules, petitioner is requested to include with her comments verification that the statements contained in the petition are accurate to the best of her knowledge. 2 FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 C. MM Docket No. 01- 181; RM- 10201 Petitioner: Katherine Pyeatt 2 Although the petitioner’s request was signed, it failed to include an affidavit verifying that the statements contained in the petition were accurate to the best of the affiant’s knowledge. Section 1. 52 of the Commission’s Rules require that the original of any document filed with the Commission by a party not represented by counsel be signed and verified by the party and his/ her address stated. In the absence of such verification, the petition may be dismissed. Section 1.401( b) of the Commission’s Rules concerning rule making proceedings places petitioners on notice that their proposal must conform with the requirements of Section 1. 52 regarding subscription and verification. See also Amendment of Sections 1.420 and 73.3584 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Abuses of the Commission’s Processes, 5 FCC Rcd 3911, 3919, n. 41 (1990). The petitioner is requested to rectify this omission in her comments. 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 4 6655 Airtree Circle Dallas, Texas 75214 Proposal: Allot Channel 298A at Wapanucka, Oklahoma as the community’s first local aural transmission service. Community Present Proposed Wapanucka, Oklahoma -- 298A Coordinates: 34- 21- 54 NL and 96- 23- 47 WL Additional Information: The proposed allot ment requires a sit e rest rict ion of 2. 9 km (1. 8 miles) west of Wapanucka at the coordinates indicated above. Wapanucka is an incorporated community in Johnston County. Petitioner states that Wapanucka has a population exceeding 450 persons. FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 D. MM Docket No. 01- 182; RM- 10202 Petitioner: Katherine Pyeatt 6655 Airtree Circle Dallas, Texas 75214 Proposal: Allot Channel 294A at Clarksville, Texas as the communit y’s first compet ing FM transmission service. Community Present Proposed Clarksville, Texas 253C 253C, 294A Coordinates: 33- 36- 36 NL and 95- 03- 06 WL Additional Information: The proposed allot ment requires no sit e rest rict ion. Clarksville is an incorporated community that serves as the county seat of Red River County. Petitioner states that Clarksville has a population exceeding 4,320 persons. FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 3. Comments, reply comments, counterproposals and other pleadings filed in response to this multiple docket Notice of Proposed Rule Making should reference only the specific docket to 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 5 which the filing pertains. The Commission’s authority to institute rule making proceedings, showings required, cut- off procedures, and filing requirements are contained in the attached Appendix and are incorporated by reference herein. In particular, we note that a showing of continuing interest is required in paragraph 2 of the Appendix before a channel will be allotted. 4. Interested parties may file comments on or before September 24, 2001, and reply comments on or before October 9, 2001, and are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. Additionally, a copy of any filing should be served on the petitioner listed for the particular docket. 5. The Commission has determined that the relevant provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to a rule making proceeding to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( b) of the Commission’s Rules. See Certification that Section 603 and 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Do Not Apply to Rule Making to Amend Sections 73.202( b), 73.504 and 73.606( b) of the Commission’s Rules, 46 Fed. Reg. 11549 (February 9, 1981). 6. For further information concerning a proceeding listed above, contact the FCC contact listed for that proceeding. 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 in the applicable docket 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 any summary of any new information shall be served by the person making the presentation upon the other parties to the proceeding in the particular docket unless the Commission specifically waives this 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 5 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 6 reply is directed, constitutes an ex parte presentation and shall not be considered in this proceeding. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION John A. Karousos Chief, Allocations Branch Policy and Rules Division Mass Media Bureau 6 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 7 APPENDIX 1. Pursuant to authority contained 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 FM (TV) Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( b) (73.606( 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 attached. Proponent( s) will be expected to 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 station promptly. Failure to file may lead to denial of the request. 3. Cut- off Procedures. 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 initial comments, so that parties may comment on them in reply comments. 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 proposal( s) in this Notice, they will be considered as comments 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, they will not be considered in connection with 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 Regulations, interested parties 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 parties must be made in written comments, reply comments, or other appropriate pleadings. Comments shall be served on the petitioner by the person filing the comments. 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 the Commission's Rules.) Comments should be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D. C. 20554. 7 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 1862 8 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, 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 Information Center (Room CY- A257), at its headquarters, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, D. C. 8