FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Marsha Blackburn U.S. House of Representatives 217 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Blackburn: October 31, 2013 \ Thank you for your regarding a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee from digital VHF to UHF. I appreciate your interest in this matter and am pleased to provide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of the Media Bureau's Office of Communications and Industry Information. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Enclosure 445 121h Street S. W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 41 8- 1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 The Honorable Marsha Blackburn U.S. House of Representatives 217 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congresswoman Blackburn: October 31,2013 IN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1300999 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee, from digital VHF to UHF. Your views are very important to the Commi sion and will be included in the record of the proceeding. The petition submitted by WMC is one of approximately ten requests that were filed with the Commission on or before May 31, 20 II by VHF stations seeking to relocate to a UHF channel. As you know, Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) specifically prohibits the Commi sion from granting a VriF to UHF channel change until completion of the broadcast incentive auction authorized in the Act unless doing so would not decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation or the request was pending on May 31,2011. On September 28, 2012, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) seeking public comment on a number of issues and proposals to implement the Spectrum Act. In the Notice, the Commis~ion found that it could not yet determine whether granting any of the pending VHF to UI IF channel changes would decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation and compromise the Commi~sion's fl exibility in the repacking process. Thus, to achieve the Act's goal of maximizi ng the value of spectrum reclaimed for flexible usc, the Commission proposed to exercise its discretion and not act at this time on any pending requests to reassign a. tation from a VHF to a UHF channel, including requests that were pending on or before May 31, 20 I I. Commission staff has completed its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a deci sion for the Commission's consideration. The recommended decision will address the proposals discussed in the Notice, including the disposition of pending VI IF to UHF channel change requests. Please be assured that the pending petitions will be considered carefully as the Commission continues its work to implement the incentive auction provisions of the Spectrum Act. Page 2- Thc Honorable Marsha Blackburn The Commiss ion appreciates your interest in thi s matter, and please do not hc~itate to contact me if 1 can be o f further as~ i stance . Sincerely, ~My,l)L- ,()~ Michael S. Perko C hie f, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION October 31,2013 Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chaim oman The Honorable Stephen Fincher U.S. House of Representatives 1118 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Fincher: Thank you for your regarding a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee from digital VHF to UHF. I appreciate your interest in this matter and am pleased to provide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of the Media Bureau's Office of Communications and Industry Information. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Enclosure 445 12'h trcct S. W. WfL~hington. D.C. 20554 (202) 4 18-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 The Honorable Stephen Fincher U.S. House of Representatives October 31, 2013 111 8 Longworth I lou e Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Fincher: IN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1300999 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee, from digital VHF to UHF. Your views are very important to the Commission and will be included in the record of the proceeding. The petition submitted by WMC is one of approximately ten requests that were filed with the Commission on or before May 31, 20 II by VHF stations seek ing to relocate to a UHF channel. As you know, Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) specificall y prohibits the Commission from granting a VI IF to UHF channel change until completion of the broadcast incentive auction authorized in the Act unless doing so would not decrease the amount of UIIF spectrum available for reallocation or the request was pending on May 3 1,20 11. On September 28, 2012, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) seeking public comment on a number of issues and proposals to implement the Spectrum Act. In the Notice, the Commission found that it could not yet determine whether granting any of the pending VHF to Ul IF channel changes would decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation and compromise the Commission's Oexibility in the repacking process. Thus, to achieve the Act's goal of maximizing the value of spectrum reclaimed for flexible use, the Commission proposed to exercise its discretion and not act at this time on any pending requests to reassign a tation from a VHF to a UHF channel, including requests that were pending on or before May 31, 20 11. Commission staff has completed its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a decision for the Commission's consideration. The recommended decision will address the proposals discussed in the Notice, including the dispo~ition of pending VHF to UI IF channel change requests. Please be assured that the pending petitions will be considered carefully as the Commission continues its work to implement the incentive auction provisions of the Spectrum Act. Page 2-The I Ionorable Stephen Fincher The Commission appreciates your interest in thi mauer, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, vfv/7rJJ..- ~ MichaelS. Perko Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau • FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION October 31,2013 Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Rick Crawford U.S. House ofRepresentatives 1711 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Crawford: Thank you for your regarding a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee from digital VHF to UHF. I appreciate your interest in this matter and am pleased to provide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of the Media Bureau's Office of Communications and Industry Information. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Enclosure 445 12'h Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 4 18-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 The Honorable Rick Crawford U.S. House of Representatives October 31 ,2013 1711 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 15 Dear Congressman Crawford: IN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1300999 Thank you for your letter regarding the sta!Us of a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee, from digital VIIF to UHF. Your views arc very important to the Commission and will be included in the record of the proceeding. The petition submitted by WMC is one of approximately ten requests that were filed with the Commission on or before May 3 1, 20 J l by VTI F stations ccking to relocate to a UHF channel. As you know, Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of2012 (Spectrum Act) specifically prohibits the Commission from grant ing a VIJF to UIIF channel change until completion of the broadcast incentive auction authorized in the Act unless doing so would not decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation or the request was pending on May 31, 20 J 1. On September 28, 20 12, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) seeking public comment on a number of issues and proposals to implement the Spectrum Act. In the Notice, the Commission found that it could not yet determine whether granting any of the pending VHF to UI IF channel change would decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation and compromise the Commission's flexibility in the repacking process. Thus, to achieve the Act's goal of maximi1.ing the value of spectrum reclaimed for flexible use, the Commission proposed to exercise its discretion and not act at this time on any pending requests to reassign a station from a VHF to a UHF channel, including request that were pending on or before May 31, 2011. Commission staff has completed its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a decision for the Commission's consideration. The recommended decision will address the proposals discussed in the Notice, including the disposition of pending VIIF to UHF channel change requests. Please be assured that the pending petitions will be considered carefully as the Commission continues its work to implement the incentive auction provisions of the Spectrum Act. Page 2-The Honorable Rick Crawford The Commission appreciates your intere~t in this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. Sincerely, ~ ~:~~~::;<) ~-,-- Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Alan Nunnelee U.S. House ofRepresentatives October 31 ,2013 1427 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Nunnelee: Thank you for your regarding a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee from digital VHF to UHF. I appreciate your interest in this matter and am pleased to provide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of the Media Bureau's Office of Communications and Industry Information. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Enclosure 445 12'h Street S. W. Washington. D.C. 20554 (202) 418-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 The I Ionorable Alan Nunnclee U.S. House of Representatives October 31,2013 1427 Longworth llouse Office Building Wa hington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congres~man Nunnelee: IN REPLY REFER TO: CN-1300999 Thank you for your letter regarding the status of a pending reque~t to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee, from digital VHF to UHF. Your views are very important to the Commission and will be included in the record of the proceeding. The petition submitted by WMC is one of approximately ten requests that were filed with the Commission on or before May 31, 2011 by VIIF stations seeking to relocate to a UHF channel. As you know, Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) specifically prohibits the Commission from granting a VliF to UIIF channel change until completion of the broadcast incentive auction authorized in the Act unless doing so would not decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation or the request was pending on May 31, 2011. On September 28, 2012, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) seeking public comment on a number of issues and proposals to implement the Spectrum Act. In the Notice, the Commission found that it could not yet determine whether granting any of the pending VHF to UIIF channel changes would decrease the amount of UHF spectrum available for reallocation and compromise the Commission's nexibility in the repacking process. Thus, to achieve the Act's goal of maximizing the value of spectrum reclaimed for Oexible usc, the Commission proposed to exercise its discretion and not act at this time on any pending requests to rea~sign a station from a VHF to a UHF channel, including requests that were pending on or before May 31, 20ll. Commission staff has completed its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a decision for the Commission's con ideration. The recommended decision will address the proposals discussed in the Notice, including the disposition of pending VHF to UHF channel change requests. Please be assured that the pending petitions will be considered carefully as the Commission continues its work to implement the incentive auction provisions of the Spectrum Act. Page 2-The Honorable Alan Nunnelce The Commi sion appreciates you r interest in this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact me if l can be of further assistance. :A:;A--J()~ MichaelS. Perko Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION October 31, 2013 Mignon L. Clyburn Acting Chairwoman The Honorable Steve Cohen U.S. House ofRepresentatives 2404 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Cohen: Thank you for your regarding a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee from digital VHF to UHF. I appreciate your interest in this matter and am pleased to provide the enclosed letter on this issue from the Chief of the Media Bureau's Office of Communications and Industry Information. If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Enclosure 445 12'h Street S. W. Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 41 8- 1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 The Honorable Steve Cohen' U.S. House of Representatives 2404 Rayburn I louse Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 15 Dear Congressman Cohen: October 31, 2013 IN REPLY REFER TO: CN- 1300999 Thank you for your letter regardi ng the status of a pending request to change the channel allocations for WMC-DT, Memphis, Tennessee, fro m digital VHF to UTIF. Your views are very important to the Commission and will be included in the record of the proceeding. The petition submitted by WMC is one of approximately ten requests that were filed wi th the Commission on or be fore May 3 1, 2011 by V I IF stations seeking to relocate to a UHF channel. As you know, Title VI of the Middle C lass Tax Relie f and Job Creation Act of 2012 (S pectrum Act) specifica ll y prohi bits the Commiss ion from granting a VIIF to U l IF channel change until completion of the broadcast incenti ve auction authorized in the Act unless doi ng so would not decrease the amount of UHF spectrum avail able for reallocation or the request was pending on M ay 3 1, 2011. On September 28, 2012, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) seeking public comment on a number o f issues and proposals to implement the Spectrum Act. In the Notice, the Commission found that it cou ld not yet determine whether granting any of the pending VHF to UI lF channe l changes would decrease the amount of UI IF spectrum available for reallocation and compromise the Commiss ion's flex ibility in the repacking process. Thus, to achieve the Act's goal of maximizing the value of spectrum reclaimed for flexible use, the Commiss ion proposed to exercise its di screti on and not act at this time on an y pending requests to reassign a station from a VI IF to a UHF channe l, including requests that were pending on or before May 3 1,20 11. Commission staff has completed its evaluation of the record developed in the proceeding and is preparing a decision for the Commission's consideration. The recommended decision will address the proposals discussed in the Notice, including the dispo ition of pending VIIF to UHF channe l change requests. P lease be assured that the pending peti tions will be considered carefully as the Commission continues its work to imple ment the incentive auction provisions of the Spectrum Act. Page 2-The Honorable Steve Cohen The Commission appreciates your intere~t in this matter, and plea~e do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of fuJther as~i~tancc. Sincerely, !:K;::~~-r--- Chief, Office of Communications and Industry Information Media Bureau