PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554
News meda illormalion 2021418·0500 Recorded"ling 01 releases and texts 202/418·2222.
60192
Released: October 16, 1995
LOW POWER TELEVISION LICENSEES
NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FOUR· LETTER CALL SIGNS
Pursuant to the First Report and Order in MM Docket No. 93-114,
9 FCC Rcd 2555 (1994), low power television stations (LPTV) are
eligible to apply for four-letter call signs, thereby modifying
their initially assigned five-character alpha-numeric call signs.
In that Order, the Commission stated that such modifications 'may
be competitively beneficial to the low power television industry
by promoting viewer recognition of LPTV stations and by enabling
LPTV operators to more effectively market their stations.
In the Order, the Commission stated that a phased implementation
of the new call sign policy would be necessary to handle
expeditiously the potentially large number of requests for
modified call signs, and that a schedule would be established by
public notice whereby licensees and permittees could apply at the
appropriate time, with the oldest stations having the first
opportunity.
Accordingly, notice is hereby given that, effective October 30,
1995, the eligibility schedule will be extended such that a
modified call sign in the form of a four-letter call sign may be
requested for any low power television station, which was granted
a license by the Commission at any time. No call signs may be
reserved. Subsequent public notices will be issued setting dates
for when call sign requests from low power television station
permittees can be filed. Television translator stations are not
eligible for four-letter call signs.
Call sign requests will be processed in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 73.3550 of the Commission's
Rules. Requests for four-letter call signs must be made by
letter to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919
M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554. An original and one copy
of the letter must be submitted. A filing fee is presently not
required for LPTV call sign modifications. As many as five call
sign choices, listed in descending order of preference, may be
included in a single request. Requesters must also submit the
drug certification statement required by Section 1.2002 of the
Commission's Rules. Incomplete or otherwise defective filings
will be returned by the FCC.
Call signs are assigned on a "first-come-first-served" basis.
Receipt by the FCC of a request for an available call sign blocks
the acceptance of subsequent requests until the first received
request is processed to completion. tn the case of requests by
low power television operators for the same call sign being
received on the same date, the assignment will be made to the
station having the longest continuous record of broadcast
operation under substantially unchanged ownership and control.
If a low power television operator and an AM, FM or full power TV
operator apply on the same date at the FCC, the AM, FM or full
power TV operator will prevail. It should be noted that a low
power television station operator may not request a call sign
used by another broadcast station unless the stations are
commonly owned or unless the LPTV operator has the other
station's written consent. Two or more LPTV stations may not
have the same call sign. All four-letter call signs assigned to
low power television stations will include a suffix of "-LP."
Telephone requests about the availability of particular call
signs may be made to the FCC Reference Center, (202) 418-0270.
- FCC -