PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 10-2070
Released: October 28, 2010
FREEZE ON THE FILING OF APPLICATIONS FOR NEW DIGITAL LOW POWER 
TELEVISION AND TV TRANSLATOR STATIONS
Effective immediately, the Media Bureau announces a freeze on the filing of applications for new 
digital low power television (LPTV) and TV translator stations and major changes to existing analog and 
digital LPTV and TV translator facilities in so-called “rural areas.”  On August 25, 2009, the Media 
Bureau began accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis for new digital LPTV and TV 
translator stations and for major changes to existing analog and digital LPTV and TV translator facilities 
in so-called “rural areas.”1 Applications have been accepted since that date.  
Subsequent to the Media Bureau beginning to accept LPTV and TV translator applications in 
rural areas, the National Broadband Plan was released. 2  The Broadband Plan announced an effort to 
identify 500 megahertz of spectrum that can be reallocated from existing uses to enable the expansion of 
new mobile broadband service.3 To aid in this endeavor, the Broadband Plan recommended, among other 
things, that the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to reallocate 120 megahertz from the 
broadcast television bands, and also to consider methodologies for repacking full-power television 
channels to increase the efficiency of channel use.4
To permit the Commission to evaluate its reallocation and repacking proposals and their impact 
on future licensing of low power television facilities, the Media Bureau deems it appropriate to freeze the 
acceptance of additional applications for new digital LPTV and TV translator facilities, as well as 
applications for major changes to existing analog and digital LPTV and TV translator facilities, in rural 
areas.  Furthermore, the Media Bureau has been accepting these applications since August 25, 2009, and 
believes that those parties interested in seeking to construct new digital low power television facilities in 
rural areas have had sufficient time to submit their applications.  Following the conclusion of the 
Commission’s broadband rule-making proceedings, the Media Bureau will consider an appropriate date to 
  
1  See “Commencement of Rural, First-Come, First-Served Digital Licensing,” Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 8911 
(MB 2009).  Commencement of nationwide, first-come, first-served digital licensing was set to commence on 
January 25, 2010, was later postponed to July 26, 2010, and then postponed indefinitely.  See “Initiation of 
Nationwide First-Come, First-Served Digital Licensing for Low Power Television and TV Translators Postponed to 
July 26, 2010,” Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 14614 (MB 2009); see also “Initiation of Nationwide First-Come, First-
Served Digital Licensing for Low Power Television and TV Translators Postponed Until Further Notice,” Public 
Notice, 25 FCC Rcd 8179 (MB 2010).
2 See Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 
(March 2010); available at http://www.broadband.gov/plan (Broadband Plan). 
3 Broadband Plan at 84. 
4 Broadband Plan at 88. 
2
once again begin accepting these applications.
 Applications that are currently permitted under our rules, such as applications for flash cut and 
digital companion channels filed by existing stations in the low power television service, will continue to 
be accepted.  Furthermore, displacement applications will continue to be accepted where the applicant 
demonstrates actual interference from existing full-power television stations, as well as displacement 
applications filed by stations operating on channels 52 through 69. 
For additional information or questions, please contact Hossein Hashemzadeh (technical) or 
Shaun Maher (legal) of the Video Division, Media Bureau at (202) 418-1600.
-- FCC --