*Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 21477.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 2286 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 ) In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Section 73.622( b), ) MB Docket No. 02- 281 Table of Allotments, ) RM- 10563 Digital Television Broadcast Stations. ) (Macon, Georgia) ) ) ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: September 16, 2002 Released: September 23, 2002 Comment Date: November 14, 2002 Reply Comment Date: November 29, 2002 By the Chief, Video Division: 1. The Commission has before it a petition for rule making filed by Macon Urban Ministries, Inc., d/ b/ a Good News Television (“ Good News”), licensee of station WGNM, Macon, Georgia. Good News requests the substitution of DTV channel 45 for station WGNM’s assigned DTV channel 50. 2. Good News states that operation on DTV channel 50 requires the use of a directional antenna to avoid excessive interference to NTSC channel 50 at Opelika, Alabama, to minimize interference to DTV stations on channel 50 at Bainbridge, Georgia, and Birmingham, Alabama, and to limit interference to channel 51 at Cordele, Georgia. Substitution of DTV channel 45 for DTV channel 50, according to Good News, would permit WGNM to operate non- directionally at 1000 kW. Good News contends that adoption of its proposal would permit WGNM to provide service to 713,912 persons, including all of the population within its Grade B contour. Good News states that in addition to the public interest benefits it has advanced, the ability to operate on DTV channel 45 would reduce Good News costs for converting to DTV. 3. We believe Good News' proposal warrants consideration. DTV Channel 45 can be substituted for DTV Channel 50 at Macon, Georgia, as proposed, in compliance with the principle community coverage requirements of Section 73.625( a) at coordinates 32- 45- 51 N. and 83- 33- 32 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 45 for DTV Channel 50 for station WGNM- DT at Macon with the following specifications: 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 2286 2 State & City DTV Channel DTV power (kW) Antenna HAAT (m) GA Macon 45 1000 223 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 Macon, Georgia 4, 1 16, 40, 4, 16, 40, 50 45 5. 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 by paragraph 2 of the Appendix before a channel will be allotted. 6. Interested parties may file comments on or before November 14, 2002, and reply comments on or before November 29, 2002, and are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. Comments should be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D. C. 20554. Additionally, a copy of such comments should be served on the petitioner, or its counsel or consultant, as follows: J. Geoffrey Bentley Bentley Law Office P. O. Box 710207 Herndon, Virginia 20171 (Counsel for Macon Urban Ministries, Inc., d/ b/ a Good News Television) 7. The Commission has determined that the relevant provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility 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 the Regulatory Flexibility Act Do Not Apply to Rule Making to Amend Sections 73.202( b), 73.504 and 73.606( b) of the Commission's Rules, 46 FR 11549, February 9, 1981. The Regulatory Flexibility 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. 1 The DTV Table of Allotments was amended to reflect the substitution of DTV channel 4 for DTV channel 45 at Macon, Georgia, for station WMAZ- TV. See Report and Order, MM Docket No. 01- 01, Macon, Georgia, 17 FCC Rcd 2081 (2002). 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 2286 3 8. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Pam Blumenthal, 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 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 reply is directed, constitutes an ex parte presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Barbara A. Kreisman Chief, Video Division Media Bureau Attachment: Appendix 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 2286 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 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 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 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 proposals 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.). The Commission permits the electronic filing of all pleadings and comments in proceeding involving petitions for rule making (except in broadcast allotment proceedings). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rule Making Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97- 113 (rel. April 6, 1998). Filings by paper can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U. S. Postal 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 2286 5 Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 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, 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