DA 95-1270 Federal Communications Commission Record 10 FCC Red No. 13 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 MM Docket No. 95-100 In the Matter of Amendment of Section 73.202(b), RM-8635 Table of Allotments, FM Broadcast Stations. (Blackstone and Dillwyn, Virginia) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: June 7,1995; Released: June 23,1995 Comment Date: August 14, 1995 Reply Comment Date: August 29, 1995 By the Chief, Allocations Branch: 1. The Commission has before it the petition for rule making filed by Denbar Communications, Inc. ("petition er"), licensee of Station WBBC(FM), Channel 228A, Black- stone, Virginia, requesting the substitution of Channel 228C3 for Channel 228A at Blackstone and modification of petitioner's license to reflect the higher powered channel. In order to accommodate the upgrade at Blackstone, peti tioner also requests the substitution of Channel 287A for vacant Channel 229A at Dillwyn. Virginia. Petitioner states that it will apply for Channel 228C3 at Blackstone, if allotted. 2. We believe the public interest would be served by proposing the substitution of Channel 228C3 for Channel 228A at Blackstone, since it could provide the community with a wide coverage area FM service. Channel 228C3 can be allotted to Blackstone in compliance with the Commis sion's minimum distance separation requirements, pro vided that Channel 287A is substituted for vacant Channel 229A at Dillwyn, Virginia, with a site restriction of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) northwest. 1 Channel 228C3 can be allotted to Blackstone at the site specified in Station WBBC(FM)'s license.2 As requested, we shall propose to modify the license of Station WBBC(FM) at Blackstone, Virginia, to specify operation on Channel 228C3 in lieu of Channel 228A in accordance with Section 1.420(g) of the Commission's Rules. 3. Accordingly, we seek comments on the proposed amendment of the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules, for the community listed below, to read as follows: Channel No. City Present Blackstone, Virginia 228A Dillwyn, Virginia 229A Proposed 228C3 287A 4. The Commission's authority to institute rule making proceedings, showings required, cut-off procedures, and fil ing 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 by paragraph 2 of the Appendix before a channel will be allotted. 5. Interested parties may file comments on or before August 14, 1995, and reply comments on or before August 29, 1995, and * are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. Comments should be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washing ton, D.C. 20554. Additionally, a copy of such comments should be served on the petitioner, or its counsel or con sultant, as follows: M. Scott Johnson, Esq. Lauren Drake, Esq. Gardner, Carton & Douglas 1301 K Street, N.W. Suite 900E Washington, D.C. 20005 (Counsel for petitioner) 6. The Commission has determined that the relevant provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to rule making proceedings to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules. See Certification That Sections 603 and 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act Do. Not Apply to Rule Making to Amend Sections 73.202(b), 73.504 and 73.606(b) of the Commission's Rules, 46 FR 11549, February 9, 1981. 7. For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Pam. Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, (202)418-2180. For purposes of this restricted notice and comment rule making proceeding, members of the public are advised that no ex pane presentations are permitted from the time the Commission adopts a Notice of Proposed Rule Making until the proceeding has been decided and such decision is no longer subject to reconsideration by the Commission or review by any court. An ex pane presenta tion is not prohibited if specifically requested by the Com mission or staff for the clarification or adduction of evidence or resolution of issues in the proceeding. How ever, any new written information elicited from such a request or a summary of any new oral information shall be served by the person making the presentation upon the other parties to the proceeding unless the Commission specifically waives this service requirement. Any comment which has not been served on the petitioner constitutes an ex pane presentation and shall not be considered in the 1 The coordinates for Channel 287A at Dillwyn are North Latitude 37-35-18 and West Longitude 78-37-01. 2 The coordinates for Channel 228C3 at Blackstone are North Latitude 37-03-14 and West Longitude 78-01-15. 6718 10 FCC Red No. 13 Federal Communications Commission Record DA 95-1270 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 pane presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION John A. Karousos Chief. Allocations Branch Policy and Rules Division Mass Media Bureau APPENDIX 1. Pursuant to authority found in Sections 4(i), 5(c)(l), 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 Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Com mission's Rules and Regulations, as set forth in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is at tached. 2. Showings Required. Comments are invited on the pro posal^) discussed in the Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached. Proponent(s) will be ex pected 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 gov ern the consideration of filings in this proceeding. ments, 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 Com mission's Rules.) Comments should be filed with the Sec retary. 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 Regula tions, an original and four copies of all comments, reply comments, pleadings, briefs, or other documents shall be furnished the Commission. 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 Public Reference Room at its headquarters, 1919 M Street N.W., Washington, D.C. (a) Counterproposals advanced in this proceeding itself will be considered if advanced in initial com ments, so that parties may comment on them in reply comments. They will not be considered if ad vanced 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(s) 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 com ments herein. If they are filed later than that, they will not be considered in connection with the de cision 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 par ties 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 com- 6719