83 FR 27537 - Television Broadcasting Services; Block Island and Newport, Rhode Island

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 114 (June 13, 2018)

Page Range		27537-27537
FR Document		2018-12657

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Ocean State Television, LLC (Petitioner or OST), licensee of television station WPXQ-TV, channel 17, Block Island, Rhode Island (WPXQ). WPXQ operates on channel 17 on a shared basis with commercial television station WLWC, New Bedford, Massachusetts, also licensed to OST. OST requests an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete channel 17 at Block Island, Rhode Island, and substitute channel 17 at Newport, Rhode Island. Petitioner also requests modification of WPXQ's license to specify Newport as its community of license pursuant to agency rules. The Petitioner asserts that substantial public interests weigh heavily in favor of reallocating WPXQ to Newport. Newport has a population of 24,027 while Block Island's population consists of approximately 1,000. Petitioner asserts that the proposed reallotment will cause no public harm because Block Island will not only continue to be served by five full-power commercial and one full-power non- commercial television stations, but will also continue to receive the exact same over-the-air service from Petitioner that they are receiving currently. The proposal would result in a preferential allotment by providing Newport with its first local full-power television services in satisfaction of the Commission's second allotment priority, which is also consistent with Commission precedent and consistent with the public interest.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27537]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12657]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 18-153, RM-11801; DA 18-496]


Television Broadcasting Services; Block Island and Newport, Rhode 
Island

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed 
by Ocean State Television, LLC (Petitioner or OST), licensee of 
television station WPXQ-TV, channel 17, Block Island, Rhode Island 
(WPXQ). WPXQ operates on channel 17 on a shared basis with commercial 
television station WLWC, New Bedford, Massachusetts, also licensed to 
OST. OST requests an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete 
channel 17 at Block Island, Rhode Island, and substitute channel 17 at 
Newport, Rhode Island. Petitioner also requests modification of WPXQ's 
license to specify Newport as its community of license pursuant to 
agency rules. The Petitioner asserts that substantial public interests 
weigh heavily in favor of reallocating WPXQ to Newport. Newport has a 
population of 24,027 while Block Island's population consists of 
approximately 1,000. Petitioner asserts that the proposed reallotment 
will cause no public harm because Block Island will not only continue 
to be served by five full-power commercial and one full-power non-
commercial television stations, but will also continue to receive the 
exact same over-the-air service from Petitioner that they are receiving 
currently. The proposal would result in a preferential allotment by 
providing Newport with its first local full-power television services 
in satisfaction of the Commission's second allotment priority, which is 
also consistent with Commission precedent and consistent with the 
public interest.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before July 13, 2018, and reply 
comments on or before July 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 
445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing 
comments with the FCC, interested parties should serve counsel for 
petitioner as follows: Ocean State Television, LLC, c/o Cooley LLP, 
John R. Feore, Jr., Esq., Jason Rademacher, Esq., 1299 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Fernandez, 
[email protected], phone 202-418-2769, Video Division, Media 
Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, MB Docket No. 18-153, adopted May 14, 
2018, and released May 15, 2018. The full text of this document is 
available for public inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the FCC's Reference Information Center at Portals II, CY-A257, 
445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. This document will also be 
available via ECFS (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/). (Documents will be 
available electronically in ASCII, Word 97, and/or Adobe Acrobat.) To 
request this document in accessible formats (computer diskettes, large 
print, audio recording, and Braille), send an email to [email protected] 
or call the Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
(202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This document does not 
contain proposed information collection requirements subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In addition, 
therefore, it does not contain any proposed information collection 
burden ``for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees,'' 
pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 
107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
    Provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply 
to this proceeding. Members of the public should note that from the 
time a Notice of Proposed Rule Making is issued until the matter is no 
longer subject to Commission consideration or court review, all ex 
parte contacts (other than ex parte presentations exempt under 47 CFR 
1.1204(a)) are prohibited in Commission proceedings, such as this one, 
which involve channel allotments. See 47 CFR 1.1208 for rules governing 
restricted proceedings.
    For information regarding proper filing procedures for comments, 
see 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Television.

Federal Communications Commission.
Barbara A. Kreisman,
Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau.

Proposed rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--RADIO BROADCAST SERVICES

0
1. The authority citation for part 73 continues to read as follows:

     Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336, and 339.


Sec.  73.622  [Amended]

0
2. Section 73.622(i), the Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments under 
Rhode Island is amended by adding channel 17 at Newport and removing 
channel 17 at Block Island.

[FR Doc. 2018-12657 Filed 6-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules 27537

will not affect a substantial number of licensed to OST. OST requests an (computer diskettes, large print, audio
carriers, and so it does not anticipate amendment of the DTV Table of recording, and Braille), send an email to
that it will affect a substantial number Allotments to delete channel 17 at Block fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Commission’s
of small entities. Therefore, the Island, Rhode Island, and substitute Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Commission certifies that this Notice channel 17 at Newport, Rhode Island. Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202)
will not have a significant economic Petitioner also requests modification of 418–0432 (TTY). This document does
impact on a substantial number of small WPXQ’s license to specify Newport as not contain proposed information
entities. See 5 U.S.C. 605(b). its community of license pursuant to collection requirements subject to the
78. Comments. All comments to this agency rules. The Petitioner asserts that Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Notice should be filed in WC Docket No. substantial public interests weigh Public Law 104–13. In addition,
18–143, The Uniendo a Puerto Rico heavily in favor of reallocating WPXQ to therefore, it does not contain any
Fund and the Connect USVI Fund. Newport. Newport has a population of proposed information collection burden
24,027 while Block Island’s population ‘‘for small business concerns with fewer
IV. Ordering Clauses
consists of approximately 1,000. than 25 employees,’’ pursuant to the
79. Accordingly, it is ordered, Petitioner asserts that the proposed Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
pursuant to the authority contained in reallotment will cause no public harm 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
sections 4(i), 214, 254, 303(r), and 403 because Block Island will not only 3506(c)(4).
of the Communications Act of 1934, as continue to be served by five full-power Provisions of the Regulatory
amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 214, 254, commercial and one full-power non- Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to
303(r), and 403, and sections 1.1, 1.3, commercial television stations, but will this proceeding. Members of the public
and 1.412 of the Commission’s rules, 47 also continue to receive the exact same should note that from the time a Notice
CFR 1.1, 1.3, and 1.412, Notice of over-the-air service from Petitioner that of Proposed Rule Making is issued until
Proposed Rulemaking is adopted. The they are receiving currently. The the matter is no longer subject to
Notice is effective thirty (30) days after proposal would result in a preferential Commission consideration or court
publication of the text or summary allotment by providing Newport with its review, all ex parte contacts (other than
thereof in the Federal Register. first local full-power television services ex parte presentations exempt under 47
80. It is further ordered that pursuant in satisfaction of the Commission’s CFR 1.1204(a)) are prohibited in
to applicable procedures set forth in second allotment priority, which is also Commission proceedings, such as this
sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the consistent with Commission precedent one, which involve channel allotments.
Commission’s Rules, 47 CFR 1.415, and consistent with the public interest. See 47 CFR 1.1208 for rules governing
1.419, interested parties may file DATES: Comments must be filed on or restricted proceedings.
comments on the Notice on or before before July 13, 2018, and reply
July 5, 2018, and reply comments on or For information regarding proper
comments on or before July 30, 2018. filing procedures for comments, see 47
before July 18, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications CFR 1.415 and 1.420.
Federal Communications Commission. Commission, Office of the Secretary,
Marlene Dortch, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Secretary. 20554. In addition to filing comments Television.
[FR Doc. 2018–12625 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am] with the FCC, interested parties should
serve counsel for petitioner as follows: Federal Communications Commission.
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
Ocean State Television, LLC, c/o Cooley Barbara A. Kreisman,
LLP, John R. Feore, Jr., Esq., Jason Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS Rademacher, Esq., 1299 Pennsylvania Proposed rules
COMMISSION Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC
20004. For the reasons discussed in the
47 CFR Part 73 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: preamble, the Federal Communications
[MB Docket No. 18–153, RM–11801; DA 18– Darren Fernandez, Darren.Fernandez@ Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR
496] fcc.gov, phone 202–418–2769, Video part 73 as follows:
Division, Media Bureau.
Television Broadcasting Services; PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
Block Island and Newport, Rhode SERVICES
synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of
Island Proposed Rule Making, MB Docket No.
■ 1. The authority citation for part 73
AGENCY: Federal Communications 18–153, adopted May 14, 2018, and
continues to read as follows:
Commission. released May 15, 2018. The full text of
this document is available for public Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336,
ACTION: Proposed rule. and 339.
inspection and copying during normal
SUMMARY: The Commission has before it business hours in the FCC’s Reference § 73.622 [Amended]
a petition for rulemaking filed by Ocean Information Center at Portals II, CY–
State Television, LLC (Petitioner or A257, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, ■ 2. Section 73.622(i), the Post-
OST), licensee of television station DC 20554. This document will also be Transition Table of DTV Allotments
WPXQ–TV, channel 17, Block Island, available via ECFS (http://www.fcc.gov/ under Rhode Island is amended by
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1

Rhode Island (WPXQ). WPXQ operates cgb/ecfs/). (Documents will be available adding channel 17 at Newport and
on channel 17 on a shared basis with electronically in ASCII, Word 97, and/ removing channel 17 at Block Island.
commercial television station WLWC, or Adobe Acrobat.) To request this [FR Doc. 2018–12657 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am]
New Bedford, Massachusetts, also document in accessible formats BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

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Document Created: 2018-06-12 23:59:38
Document Modified: 2018-06-12 23:59:38

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule.
Dates		Comments must be filed on or before July 13, 2018, and reply comments on or before July 30, 2018.
Contact		Darren Fernandez, [email protected], phone 202-418-2769, Video Division, Media Bureau.
FR Citation		83 FR 27537