Federal Communications Commission
- 47 CFR Part 73
- [MB Docket No. 19-118, RM-11838; DA 19-316]
AGENCY:
Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION:
Proposed rule.
SUMMARY:
The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of television station WNLO(TV), channel 32, Buffalo, New York (WNLO), and WUTV Licensee, LLC (WUTV Licensee), licensee of television station WUTV(TV), channel 36, Buffalo, New York. The Joint Petitioners propose the substitution of channel 32 for channel 36 as WNLO's DTV allotment; and the substitution of channel 36 for channel 32 as WUTV's allotment. The Joint Petitioners also request a waiver of the Media Bureau's current freeze on the filing and processing of petition for digital channel substitutions and minor modification applications for changes to existing television service areas that would increase a full power television noise limited contour. The Joint Petitioners seek to exchange the channels of WNLO and WUTV so that after the swap, WNLO would operate on channel 36 and WUTV would operate on channel 32. WUTV would continue to operate form its existing pre-auction location and WNLO would move the Nexstar shared facilities in the site previously vacated by WIVB-TV (Buffalo, New York (CBS) (WIVB). The channel substitution serves the public interest because it would allow for a more efficient allocation of UHF television channels and resolve significant over-the-air reception problems in WIVB's prior service area.
DATES:
Comments must be filed on or before May 22, 2019; and reply comments on or before June 3, 2019.
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: Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., c/o Elizabeth Ryder, 345 E John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, Texas 75062 and WUTV Licensee, LLC, c/o Paul A. Cicelski, Esq., Lerman Senter PLLC, 2001 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Varsha Mangal, Varsha.Mangal@fcc.gov, or Joyce Bernstein, Joyce.Bernstein@fcc.gov, of the Media Bureau, Video Division.