Federal Communications Commission	DA 22-25


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of

Amendment of Section 73.622(j),
Table of Allotments,
Television Broadcast Stations
(Monroe, Louisiana)
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MB Docket No. 21-126
RM-11893

REPORT AND ORDER

(Proceeding Terminated)

Adopted:  January 11, 2022	Released: January 11, 2022

By the Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau:

1. The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking  Amendment of Section 73.622(i), Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments, Television Stations (Monroe, Louisiana), MB Docket No. 21-126, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, DA 21-1196 (rel. Sept. 22, 2021) (NPRM).
 issued in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed on September 1, 2021 by Gray Television Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KNOE-TV, channel 8, Monroe, Louisiana.   The Petitioner has requested the substitution of UHF channel 24 for VHF channel 8 in the Table of Allotments.  As noted in the NPRM at n.2, on April 13, 2017, the Commission completed the incentive auction and broadcast television spectrum repacking authorized by the Spectrum Act, and the post-incentive auction transition period ended on July 13, 2020.  At the time the NPRM was issued, the Commission had not yet amended its rules to reflect all new full power channel assignments in a revised Table of Allotments.  Accordingly, the NPRM referred to the Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments, 47 CFR § 73.622(i) (2018).  The Commission has now adopted the new Table of Allotments, 47 CFR § 73.622(j), and this Report and  Order amends the new rule.  See Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auction, Gen. Docket No. 12-268, Order, FCC 21-111 (rel. Oct. 25, 2021).  
  The Petitioner filed comments in support of the petition, as required by the Commission’s rules,  47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419; see also Buffalo, Iola, Normangee, and Madisonville, Texas, MB Docket No. 07-729, Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 8192, 8194, para. 9 (Aud. Div. 2009).  
 reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel 24.  No other comments were received.
2. We believe the public interest would be served by substituting channel 24 for channel 8 at Monroe, Louisiana.  In support of its channel substitution request, the Petitioner states that the Commission has recognized the deleterious effects of manmade noise from nearby electrical devices including on the reception of digital VHF signals and that the propagation characteristics of VHF channels allow undesired signals and noise to be receivable at relatively farther distances compared to UHF channels. NPRM at para. 2.
  In addition, no existing viewers will lose service and an additional 12,868 persons would gain service if the channel substitution is granted. Id. 
   
3. As proposed, channel 24 can be substituted for channel 8 at Monroe, Louisiana, in compliance with the principal community coverage requirements of section 73.625(a) of the Commission’s rules (rules), 47 CFR § 73.625(a).
 at coordinates 32-11-51.0 N and 92-04-14.0 W.  In addition, we find that this channel change meets the technical requirements set forth in sections 73.616 and 73.623 of the rules with the following specifications: 47 CFR §§ 73.616, 73.623.

City and State                   DTV Channel   DTV Power (kW)    Antenna  HAAT (m)   DTV Service Pop. 
Monroe, Louisiana                  24                  1000                        578.8                              767,416
4. We also conclude that good cause exists to make this channel change effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, pursuant to section 553(d)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. § 553(d)(3).
  An expedited effective date is necessary in this case to ensure that KNOE-TV can operate with improved service to its viewers as quickly as possible.
5. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 4(i), 5(c)(1), 303(g), (r) and 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 155(c)(1), 303(g), (r), and 307(b), and sections 0.61, 0.204(b) and 0.283 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.61, 0.204(b), and 0.283, IT IS ORDERED, That effective immediately upon the date of publication in the Federal Register, the Table of Allotments, section 73.622(j) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 73.622(j), IS AMENDED, with respect to the community listed below, to read as follows:
City and State		         Channel No.		
Monroe, Louisiana                                        *13, 24  
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That within 30 days of the effective date of this Order, Gray Television Licensee, LLC shall submit to the Commission a minor change application for a construction permit (Form 2100, Schedule A) specifying channel 24 in lieu of channel 8.
7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That pursuant to section 801(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. § 801(a)(1)(A), the Commission SHALL SEND a copy of the Order to Congress and to the Government Accountability Office.
8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That should no petitions for reconsideration or petitions for judicial review be timely filed, MB Docket No. 21-126 and RM-11893 SHALL BE TERMINATED and its docket closed.
9. For further information concerning the proceeding listed above, contact Joyce L. Bernstein, Video Division, Media Bureau, Joyce.Bernstein@fcc.gov.
						FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



						Barbara A. Kreisman
						Chief, Video Division
						Media Bureau
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