FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
August 4, 20 I I
JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Ruben Hinojosa
First Vice Chair
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
U.S. House of Representatives
2262 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Hinojosa:
Thank you for your letter regarding the status ofan Application for Review that was liIed
with the Commission by Entravision Holdings, LLC, licensee ofWJAL(TV), Hagerstown,
Maryland, concerning its request to change the community of license for WJAL.
In 2004, the Commission's Media Bureau affirnled a prior decision to dismiss the
Entravision petition for rulemaking seeking to change the community oflicense ofWJAL's
digital television (DTV) channel 16 from Hagerstown to Silver Spring, Maryland. The Media
Bureau based its dismissal primarily on the grounds thatlhe proposed relocation would cause
substantial interference to public safety and emergency operations on channel 17 in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Bureau also determined that the proposal would result
in a significant curtailment ofexisting television service to the Hagerstown area. Entravision
filed an Application for Rcvicw requesting that the Bureau's decision be reviewed by the full
Commission.
In 2006, Entravision filed a supplement to its Application for Review, which indicated
that the company had changed its DTV election for WJAL to channel 39, thereby addressing the
public safety concerns. By that time, however, the Commission had stopped considering certain
proposed license modifications, including community of license changes, in order to ensure a
stable database for conducting the DTV channel election process and the development ofa new
DTV Table of Allotments. With the completion of the DTV transition, the staff has resumed
consideration of matters, such as Entravision's Application for Review, that were held in
abeyance pending the DTV transition.
I appreciate learning of your interest in this important malter. If I can be of further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Julius Genachowski
445 12lH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
August 4, 20 I 1
JULIUS GENACHQWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Charles A. Gonzalez
Chairnlan
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
U.S. House of Representatives
1436 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairnlan Gonzalez:
Thank you for your letter regarding the status of an Application for Revicw that was filed
with the Commission by Entravision Iioidings, LLC, licensee of WJAL(TV), Hagerstown,
Maryland, concerning its request to change the community of license for WJAL.
In 2004, the Commission's Media Bureau affirmed a prior decision to dismiss the
Entravision pctition for rulemaking seeking to change the community ofliccnse ofWJAL's
digital television (DTV) channel 16 from Hagerstown to Silver Spring, Maryland. The Media
Bureau based its dismissal primarily on the grounds that the proposed relocation would cause
substantial interference to public safcty and emergency operations on channel 17 in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Bureau also determined that the proposal would result
in a significant curtailment ofexisting television service to the Hagerstown area. Entravision
filed an Application for Review requesting that the Bureau's decision be reviewed by the full
Commission.
In 2006, Entravision filed a supplement to its Application for Review, which indicated
that the company had changed its DTV election for WJAL to channel 39, thereby addressing the
public safety concerns. By that time, however, the Commission had stopped considering certain
proposed license modifications, including community of license changes, in order to ensure a
stable database for conducting the DTV channel election process and the development ofa new
DTV Table of Allotments. With the completion ofthe DTV transition, the staff has resumed
consideration ofmatters, such as Entravision's Application for Review, that were held in
abeyance pending the DTV transition.
I appreciate learning of your interest in this important matter. If I can be of further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Julius Genachowski
445 12Tli STREET S.W WASHINGTON. D.C. 20554 • 202'418'1000