*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 7258.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 531 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Section 73.622( b), ) MM Docket No. 00- 243 Table of Allotments, ) RM- 9981 Digit al Television Broadcast St at ions. ) (Orono, Maine) ) REPORT AND ORDER (Proceeding Terminated) Adopted: March 5, 2001 Released: March 6, 2001 By the Chief, Video Services Division: 1. At the request of Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (" MPBC"), licensee of noncommercial educational station WMEB- TV, NTSC channel *12, Orono, Maine, the Commission has before it the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 23793 (2000), proposing the substitution of DTV *9 for station WMEB- TV's assigned DTV channel *22. MPBC filed comments reiterating its expression of interest in applying for DTV channel *9, if allotted. 2. We believe the public interest would be served by adopting MPBC's channel substitution proposal since it would enable st at ion WMEB- TV to preserve its limited financial resources and replicate the station's existing coverage area without substantial cost investment. DTV channel *9 can be allotted to Orono, Maine, as proposed, in compliance with the principle community coverage requirements of Section 73.625( a) at coordinates (44- 42- 13 N. and 69- 04- 47 W.). Since Orono is located within 400 kilometers of the U. S.- Canadian border, concurrence by the Canadian government has been obtained for this allotment. In addition, we find that this channel 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) for Station WMEB- TV with the following specifications: DTV DTV power Antenna DTV Service State & City Channel (kW) HAAT (m) Pop. (thous.) ME Orono *9 1. 50 375 448 3. Accordingly, pursuant to the 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 ORDERED, That effective April 20, 2001, the DTV Table of Allotments, Section 73.622( b) of the Commission's Rules, IS AMENDED, with respect to the community listed below, to read as follows: 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 531 2 City Channel No. Orono, Maine *9 4. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That within 45 days of the effective date of this Order, Maine Public Broadcast ing Corporat ion shall submit to the Commission a minor change applicat ion for a construction permit (FCC Form 301) specifying DTV Channel *9 in lieu of DTV Channel *22 for station WMEB- TV. 5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this proceeding IS TERMINATED. 6. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Pam Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418- 1600. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Barbara A. Kreisman Chief, Video Services Division Mass Media Bureau 2