Federal Communications Commission	DA 19-866


DA 19-866
Released:  September 3, 2019

THE COMPLETION DATE FOR PHASE 5 OF THE POST-INCENTIVE AUCTION TRANSITION IS EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 BECAUSE OF HURRICANE DORIAN

MB Docket No. 16-306
GN Docket No. 12-268

Because of the threat that Hurricane Dorian poses for portions of the southeast coast of the United States, the Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau (Bureau) hereby extend the phase completion date for phase 5 of the Transition Scheduling Plan This is the new date and time by which repacked stations assigned to transition phase 5 must cease operation on their pre-auction channel absent express authority to the contrary from the Commission.  See Incentive Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice the Broadcast Television Incentive Auction Closes; Reverse Auction and Forward Auction Results Announced; Final Television Band Channel Assignments Announced; Post-Auction Deadlines Announced, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 2786 (2017) (Closing and Channel Reassignment PN);  Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau Adopt Post-Incentive Auction Transition Scheduling Plan, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 890 (IATF/MB 2017) (Transition Scheduling Adoption PN).  
 for the post-Incentive Auction transition from September 6 to September 11, 2019, at 11:59 PM. Stations assigned to phase 5 need not take any action to avail themselves of the extended transition deadline or to extend their construction permit expiration date to September 11, 2019.  The dates will not be amended in the Commission’s License Management System (LMS), but by this public notice we will treat the September 6, 2019, phase 5 transition deadlines and associated CP deadlines as September 11, 2019.
  
Commission staff has been monitoring conditions and preparing for the storm in coordination with federal and state partners as Hurricane Dorian approaches the southeast coast.  Our staff has also continued to coordinate with broadcasters to offer assistance, including stations that are subject to the phase 5 completion date.  There remains considerable uncertainty about the future path of the storm and therefore its implications for the completion of construction projects related to the transition, but we are mindful that phase 5 includes a significant number of stations in areas that may be affected by the storm, including North and South Carolina.  In light of the important role broadcast television stations play in providing critical news and information to viewers during a state of emergency, we have determined that the most prudent approach is to extend the phase completion date for all stations in the phase to assure that viewers will not be required to rescan their TVs during this period and risk missing important emergency news and information.  This extension will permit each station to determine the appropriate transition timing for its station and its viewers based on the developing conditions in its market.  
We note that many stations in phase 5 are in markets not implicated by the impending hurricane, including, for instance, areas of western Georgia, Tennessee, California, and Minnesota.  We strongly encourage stations that are not implicated by, and that do not have direct downstream linkages to stations implicated by, Hurricane Dorian Stations can view information concerning their linked-station set and direct linked station neighbors at https://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Current_Transition_Files/.  A station’s upstream and downstream neighbors can also be viewed on each repacked station’s LMS facility page by selecting the ‘transition’ tab. /
 to continue their transitions on their original schedules and transition by September 6 as they have announced to their viewers.  
In addition, the Transition Scheduling Plan incorporates flexibility to adjust the schedule for specific stations on a case-by-case basis as they navigate specific transition problems, while maintaining the overall transition period.  We will continue to work with individual stations, including those impacted by Hurricane Dorian, on a case-by-case basis.  As always, transitioning stations are encouraged to reach out to their assigned Regional Coordinator with specific concerns. See https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/fcc-initiatives/incentive-auctions/transition-schedule (select ‘Regions’ tab).
  
At this time, we do not anticipate amending any other testing period start dates or phase completion dates in the Transition Scheduling Plan but will continue to monitor the storm and will announce any other changes that may be warranted. The testing period start date for Phase 6 will commence as scheduled at 12:01 AM on September 7, 2019.

As always, our Operations Center is open 24 hours a day to assist first responders and communications providers.  To those who could be in the storm’s path, please heed the advice of local officials and stay safe.
For questions about the Commission’s Hurricane Dorian response, please contact the FCC Operations Center, FCCOPS@fcc.gov or (202)418-1122 or visit www.fcc.gov/dorian.  Press contact: Neil Grace, Neil.Grace@fcc.gov or (202) 418-0506.

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