*Pages 1--6 from Microsoft Word - 25857.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Section 73.202( b), ) Table of Allotments, ) FM Broadcast Stations, ) (Carrizozo, New Mexico) ) MB Docket No. 03- 69 ) RM- 10664 ) (Knoxville, Illinois) ) MB Docket No. 03- 70 ) RM- 10670 ) (Nantucket, Massachusetts) ) MB Docket No. 03- 71 ) RM- 10665 NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: March 12, 2003 Released: March 14, 2003 Comment Date: May 5, 2003 Reply Date: May 20, 2003 By the Assistant Chief, Audio Division: 1. The Audio Division has before it a multiple docket Notice of Proposed Rule Making setting forth three separate proposals to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202( b) of the Rules. In each instance, the petitioner has promised to apply for the requested channel, if allotted. Each proposal warrants consideration because it complies with our technical requirements and would serve the public interest. 2. This is a multiple 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: A. MB Docket No. 03- 69; RM- 10664 Petitioner: Douglas Bennett 13238 Regency Forest San Antonio, Texas 78249 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 2 Proposal: Allot Channel 261C2 at Carrizozo, New Mexico as the community’s first local aural service. Community Present Proposed Carrizozo, New Mexico -- 261C2 Coordinates: 33- 28- 30 NL and 105- 46- 18 WL Additional Information: Channel 261C2 can be allotted to Carrizozo with a site restriction of 20.9 km (13 miles) southeast of Carrizozo at the reference coordinates indicated above. The proposed allotment will require concurrence by Mexico because it is located within 320 kilometers (199 miles) of the Mexican border. Petitioner states that the town of Carrizozo is the county seat of Lincoln County, New Mexico, and has a population of 1,036 persons. Petitioner further states that Carrizozo has its own city hall, chamber of commerce, sheriff’s office, county courthouse, mayor, town clerk and elected trustees, and 51 local businesses. FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 B. MB Docket No. 03- 70; RM- 10670 Petitioner: Paul B. Christensen Law Offices of Paul B. Christensen, P. A. 3749 Southern Hills Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32225 Proposal: Allot Channel 291A at Knoxville, Illinois as the community’s second local FM transmission service. Community Present Proposed Knoxville, Illinois 287A 291A, 287A Coordinates: 40- 54- 23 NL and 90- 17- 08 WL Additional Information: Channel 291A can be allotted to Knoxville at center city reference coordinates without site restriction. Petitioner states that Knoxville is an incorporated city with a population of 3,183 persons. Petitioner further states that Knoxville supports its own city government, police department, fire department, post office, school district, local churches, weekly newspaper, and a full range of local businesses. 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 3 FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 C. MB Docket No. 03- 71; RM- 10665 Petitioner: Paul B. Christensen Law Offices of Paul B. Christensen, P. A. 3749 Southern Hills Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32225 Proposal: Allot Channel 249A at Nantucket, Massachusetts, as the community’s second local FM service. 1 Community Present Proposed Nantucket, Massachusetts 242B 249A, 242B Coordinates: 41- 16- 54 NL and 70- 06- 06 WL Additional Information: Channel 249A can be allotted to Nantucket at center city reference coordinates without site restriction. Petitioner states that Nantucket is an incorporated city with a population of 9,520 persons. Petitioner further states that Nantucket supports its own city government, police department, fire department, post office, public schools, local churches, weekly newspaper, and a full range of local businesses. FCC Contact: Deborah A. Dupont (202) 418- 7072 3. Comments, reply comments, counterproposals and other pleadings filed in response to this Notice of Proposed Rule Making should reference the docket to 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. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and1.419 of the Commission’s Rules, interested parties may file comments on or before May 5, 2003, and reply comments on or before May 20, 2003, 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, S. W., TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. 5. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight 1 There is also a pending rulemaking to consider the addition of Channel 254B1 at Nantucket. Nantucket, Massachusetts, 17 FCC Rcd 5944 (M. Bur. 2002). 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 4 U. S. Postal 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 or 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. 6. 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. 2 7. 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 reply is directed, constitutes an ex parte presentation and shall not be considered in this proceeding. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION John A. Karousos Assistant Chief, Audio Division Media Bureau 2 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). 4 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 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 (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 discussed in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached. The 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( 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. 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. 5 Federal Communications Commission DA 03- 776 6 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