*Pages 1--6 from Microsoft Word - 15841* Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Section 73.202( b), ) MM Docket No. 02- 56 Table of Allotments, ) RM- 10391 FM Broadcast Stations. ) (De Ridder and Merryville, Louisiana) ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: March 6, 2002 Released: March 15, 2002 Comment Date: May 6, 2002 Reply Comment Date: May 21, 2002 By the Chief, Allocations Branch: 1. The Allocations Branch has before it a petition for rule making filed on behalf of Apex Broadcasting, Inc. (“ Petitioner”), 1 licensee of Station KROK( FM), Channel 221C3, De Ridder, Louisiana. Petitioner seeks to amend the FM Table of Allotments by reallotting Channel 221C3 from De Ridder to Merryville, Louisiana and modifying Station KROK’s authorization accordingly. 2. Petitioner seeks to invoke the provisions of Section 1.420( i) of the Commission’s rules which permits the modification of a station’s authorization to specify a new community of license without affording other interested parties an opportunity to file competing expressions of interest. 2 In support of its proposal, Petitioner explains that the requested reallotment from De Ridder to Merryville is mutually exclusive with Station KROK’s existing authorization. 3. Petitioner asserts that the adoption of its proposal will result in a preferential arrangement of allotments consistent with the Revision of FM Assignment Policies and Procedures, 90 FCC 2d 88 (1982), 3 by providing Merryville (population 1,126) 4 with its first 1 The original petition for rule making was filed by West Central Broadcasting Co., Inc. the previous licensee of Station KROK. After that petition was filed, the Commission granted the proposed assignment of Station’s KROK’s license to Apex Broadcasting, Inc. (BALH- 20010830AAW). 2 See Modification of FM and TV Authorizations to Specify a New Community of License, 4 FCC Rcd 4870 (1989), recon. granted in part, 5 FCC Rcd 7094 (1990). 3 The allotment priorities are: (1) first full- time aural service; (2) second full- time aural service; (3) first local service and (4) other public interest matters [co- equal weight is given to priorities (2) and (3)]. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 2 local aural transmission service. We note that the reallotment of Channel 221C3 to Merryville would not deprive De Ridder (population 9,808) of its sole local transmission outlet, because De Ridder would continue to be served by AM Station KDLA, 1010 kHz, and FM Stations KAOK- FM, Channel 250C2 and KBAN, Channel 216C3. Since Petitioner intends to utilize its present transmitter site for the reallotment of Channel 221C3 to Merryville, there are no gain or loss areas associated with this proposal. 5 4. Since Petitioner’s reallotment request is consistent with the provisions of Section 1.420( i) of the Commission’s Rules, we shall propose to modify the authorization of Station KROK without entertaining competing expressions of interest in the use of Channel 221C3 at Merryville, Louisiana, or requiring Petitioner to demonstrate the availability of an additional equivalent channel for use by other parties. 5. Channel 221C3 can be allotted to Merryville, Louisiana consistent with the technical requirements of the Commission’s Rules, at Petitioner’s specified site, utilizing coordinates 30- 48- 35 NL and 93- 29- 29 WL. The transmitter site is located 8.1 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of Merryville, Louisiana. 6. Accordingly, we seek comments on the proposed amendment to the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( b) of the Commission’s Rules, with respect to the communities listed below, as follows: Channel Nos. City Present Proposed De Ridder, Louisiana 221C3, 250C2 250C2 Merryville, Louisiana ------- 221C3 7. 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. 4 Population figures for Merryville and De Ridder are taken from the 2000 U. S. Census. Merryville is an incorporated city that has its own post office and zip code, its own local government, and numerous businesses churches and residential areas. 5 At the time the initial rulemaking petition was filed, the license for Station KROK was granted pursuant to Section 73.215 of the Commission’s Rules. Nevertheless, Station KROK had a construction permit to use its current transmitter site and had filed a license modification application to delete contour protection for the KROK license (BMLH- 20010921AAF) at the same site authorized by the construction permit. The foregoing license application has been granted. Thus, Station KROK is no longer short- spaced to any other station or allotment. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 3 8. Interested parties may file comments on or before May 6, 2002, and reply comments on or before May 21, 2002, and are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. Comments should be filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 445 Twelfth Street, SW; TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. Additionally, a copy of such comments should be served on Petitioner’s counsel, as follows: Erwin G. Krasnow, Esq. Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand 901 15 th Street, N. W., Suite 700 Washington, D. C. 20005 9. 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 FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( 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), and 73.606( b) of the Commission's Rules, 46 FR 11549, February 9, 1981. 10. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact R. Barthen Gorman, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418- 2180. 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 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 4 considered in the proceeding. Any reply comment that 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 John A. Karousos Chief, Allocations Branch Policy and Rules Division Mass Media Bureau Attachment: Appendix 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 5 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 Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( 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 discussed in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached. Proponent 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 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 who filed comments to which the reply is directed. Such comments and reply comments 5 Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 613 6 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. 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. 6