Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-132


DA 21-132
Released:  February 8, 2021

AUCTION 109 FREEZE ANNOUNCED FOR CERTAIN FM APPLICATIONS AND RULEMAKING FILINGS

AU Docket No. 21-39

The Media Bureau announces a freeze, effective immediately, on the following filings (collectively, Filings):
· Applications proposing to modify any of the vacant non-reserved band FM allotments scheduled for Auction 109 (Auction 109 FM Allotments); 
· Petitions and counterproposals that propose a change in channel, class, community, or reference coordinates for any of the vacant non-reserved band FM allotments scheduled for Auction 109; and 
· Applications, petitions and counterproposals that fail to fully protect any Auction 109 FM Allotment. 
Auction 109 FM Allotments are listed in Attachment A of the Auction 109 Comment Public Notice. Auction of AM and FM Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for July 27, 2021; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 109, Public Notice, DA 21-131 (OEA/MB rel. Feb. 8, 2021) (Auction 109 Comment Public Notice).  Bidders are also cautioned that currently pending petitions for rulemaking and open rulemaking proceedings may affect the 136 FM construction permits and four AM construction permits scheduled for Auction 109.    
  All Filings submitted after the release of this Public Notice will be dismissed. 47 CFR § 1.401(e).  The Media Bureau previously announced, on March 20, 2020, a temporary freeze on the acceptance of AM minor change applications that would conflict with any of the expired licenses of the four AM facilities that are also scheduled for Auction 109, and are listed in Attachment A of the Auction 109 Comment Public Notice.  Media Bureau Announces Requirement to Protect Four Former St. Louis Area AM Stations and Implements an Associated Filing Freeze, MB Docket No. 19-156, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2781 (MB 2020).  This temporary freeze remains in effect.
  This freeze will automatically terminate the day after the filing deadline for post-Auction 109 long form applications.  This temporary freeze is designed to promote a more certain and speedy auction process.  
In Auction 109, the Office of Economics and Analytics and the Media Bureau will make available through competitive bidding procedures 136 vacant non-reserved band allotments in the FM broadcast service, and four AM facilities, the licenses of which have expired and their call signs deleted. Auction 109 Comment Public Notice, supra note 1, at paras. 2-9, Attachment A.
  FM minor change applications, which can now be filed on a first-come first-served basis, must protect the reference coordinates of each of these allotments.  
For additional information, contact James Bradshaw or Rudy Bonacci, Audio Division, Media Bureau at (202) 418-2700.  
This action is taken by the Chief, Media Bureau, pursuant to authority delegated by sections 0.61 and 0.283 of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 0.61 and 0.283.

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