Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program; Public Meeting, 59586-59588 [E8-23841]

Download as PDF 59586 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 12. The meeting on both days will be held at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Pavilion, 1000 Croatan Highway (Milepost 7.6), Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina 25948. These, and any subsequent meetings, will be held for the following reason: To work with the National Park Service to assist in potentially developing special regulations for ORV management at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The proposed agenda for these meetings of the Committee may contain the following items: Approval of Meeting Summary from Last Meeting, Subcommittee and Members’ Updates since Last Meeting, Alternatives Discussions, National Environmental Policy Act Update, and Public Comment. However, the Committee may modify its agenda during the course of its work. The meetings are open to the public. Interested persons may provide brief oral/written comments to the Committee during the public comment period of the meetings each day before the lunch break and at 5 p.m. on the first day of each meeting or file written comments with the Park Superintendent. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Murray, Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, North Carolina 27954, (252) 473–2111, extension 148. The Committee’s function is to assist directly in the development of special regulations for management of ORVs at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore). Executive Order 11644, as amended by Executive Order 11989, requires certain Federal agencies to publish regulations that provide for administrative designation of the specific areas and trails on which ORV use may be permitted. In response, the NPS published a general regulation at 36 CFR 4.10, which provides that each park that designates routes and areas for ORV use must do so by promulgating a special regulation specific to that park. It also provides that the designation of routes and areas shall comply with Executive Order 11644, and 36 CFR 1.5 regarding closures. Members of the Committee will negotiate to reach consensus on concepts and language to be used as the basis for a proposed special regulation, to be published by the NPS in the Federal Register, governing ORV use at the Seashore. The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSALS SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:07 Oct 08, 2008 Jkt 217001 Dated: September 26, 2008. Michael B. Murray, Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore. [FR Doc. E8–23779 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–46–M L), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, U.S. EPA, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733, telephone (214) 665–2164; fax number (214) 665–7263; e-mail address belk.ellen@epa.gov. In the final rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State’s SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no relevant adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. For additional information, see the direct final rule, which is located in the rules section of this Federal Register. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R06–OAR–2007–0659; FRL–8727–1] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Louisiana; Approval of Section 110(a)(1) Maintenance Plans for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the Parishes of Calcasieu and St. James Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning maintenance plans addressing the 1997 8-hour ozone standard for the parishes of Calcasieu and St. James. On July 20, 2007 and August 24, 2007, the State of Louisiana submitted separate SIP revisions containing maintenance plans for the 1997 ozone standard for Calcasieu and St. James Parishes, respectively. These plans ensure the continued attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) through the year 2014. These maintenance plans meet the statutory and regulatory requirements, and are consistent with EPA’s guidance. EPA is approving the revisions pursuant to section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA). On March 12, 2008, EPA issued a revised ozone standard. Today’s action, however, is being taken to address requirements under the 1997 ozone standard. Requirements for the areas under the 2008 standard will be addressed in future actions. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 10, 2008. ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD–L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Comments may also be submitted electronically or through hand delivery/ courier by following the detailed instructions in the ADDRESSES section of the direct final rule located in the rules section of this Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Belk, Air Planning Section (6PD– PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Dated: September 29, 2008. Richard E. Greene, Regional Administrator, Region 6. [FR Doc. E8–23866 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration 47 CFR Chapter III Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program; Public Meeting National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of public meetings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act (Act) requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement and administer a program through which each eligible low-power television broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator E:\FR\FM\09OCP1.SGM 09OCP1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules station, or television booster station may receive reimbursement for equipment to upgrade from analog to digital in eligible rural communities. NTIA will hold public meetings regarding the implementation of this Low-power Television Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program) 1 in Washington, DC and Las Vegas, Nevada. DATES: The meeting will be held in Washington DC on October 24, 2008, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 28, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time. ADDRESSES: The Washington, DC meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW. The Las Vegas, Nevada meeting will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, 129 Fremont Street. The locations of both meetings will also be announced on the NTIA Web site www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information regarding the meetings, contact William Cooperman, Broadcast Division Director, at (202) 482–5802. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NTIA will host two public meetings related to its implementation of the Upgrade Program authorized under Section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, as amended by the DTV Transition Assistance Act (Pub. L. 110–295). As amended, section 3009 of the Act contains, in its entirety, the following language: jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSALS Sec. 3009. Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program (a) Establishment.—The Assistant Secretary shall make payments of not to exceed $65,000,000, in the aggregate, during fiscal years 2009 through 2012, from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund established under section 309(j)(8)(E) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(E)) to implement and administer a program through which each licensee of an eligible low-power television station may receive reimbursement for equipment to upgrade low-power television stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities, as that term is defined in section 610(b)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1937 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(2)). Such reimbursements shall be issued to eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009. Priority reimbursements shall be given to eligible low-power television stations in which the license is held by a non-profit 1 See Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109–171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006). VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:07 Oct 08, 2008 Jkt 217001 corporation and eligible low-power television stations that serve rural areas of fewer than 10,000 viewers. (b) Eligible Stations.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘eligible lowpower television station’’ means a lowpower television broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator station, or television booster station— (1) that is itself broadcasting exclusively in analog format; and (2) that has not converted from analog to digital operations prior to the date of enactment of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. Section 610(b)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1937 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(2)), which is referenced in Section 3009(a), contains, in its entirety, the following language: ‘‘the term ‘eligible rural community’ means any area of the United States that is not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants.’’ Matters To Be Considered: NTIA will discuss the following topics at the public meetings and will also provide an opportunity for public comment on these matters. 1. Station Eligibility: How to define an eligible station. Issues that will be discussed include the following: (1) Whether a facility must hold an FCC license to be considered ‘‘broadcasting’’ or be permitted to hold an FCC construction permit or program test authority. (2) Whether a facility meets the statutory requirement ‘‘broadcasting exclusively in analog format’’ if it has a construction permit, program test authority, or license for a digital companion channel or has flash cut to digital. (3) Whether NTIA should establish a uniform deadline of eligibility (DOE) applicable to all applicants that NTIA will use when determining a station’s eligibility regarding the two previous items. If so, should the DOE be (1) the date of enactment of the Act (i.e., February 8, 2006), (2) the closing date for receipt of Upgrade Program applications for the applicable grant round, (3) the same date as the Expenditure Start Date discussed in the section titled Reimbursement, below, or (4) some other date. (4) Whether a governmental subsidiary can be considered a nonprofit corporation and therefore may qualify for ‘‘priority reimbursement.’’ (5) Whether NTIA should adopt the same requirements regarding station eligibility for the Upgrade Program as NTIA adopted for the Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program (Conversion PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 59587 Program) and published in the October 29, 2007, Federal Register (72 FR 61109–61114). The Conversion Program was established under Section 3008 of the Act and contains language identical to Section 3009 establishing the Upgrade Program regarding the definition of an eligible station.2 2. Eligible Communities: How NTIA could implement the statutory requirement that an eligible station must be ‘‘in eligible rural communities’’ (i.e., ‘‘any area of the United States that is not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants.’’) Issues to be discussed will include the most appropriate method of designating an eligible rural community, including the following: (1) Whether NTIA should determine an eligible rural community based on the population within the station’s (a) Community of license, or (b) FCC 50/50 contour,3 or (c) Grade A coverage,4 or (d) Grade B coverage,5 or (e) P coverage contour per Section 74.707 of the FCC Rules. (2) Whether NTIA should determine an eligible rural community based on some other definition or formula (e.g., the number, or percentage, of people served by the station living in rural areas outside Urban Areas or Urban Clusters of more than 20,000).6 3. Reimbursement: The statute provides for reimbursement to an otherwise eligible station that has not converted from analog to digital operations prior to the ‘‘date of enactment of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005’’ (i.e., February 8, 2006). Issues that will be discussed include whether NTIA should accept all expenditures for eligible costs after February 8, 2006, for reimbursement, or, in order to provide fair and equitable notice to all potential applicants to the Upgrade Program, 2 The October 29, 2007, Federal Register notice announcing the Conversion Program stated that an eligible station ‘‘must be broadcasting as authorized by the FCC, not merely possess a Construction Permit,’’ that ‘‘stations that broadcast in digital, either on the main channel or on a companion channel, will not be eligible,’’ and that ‘‘a governmental unit would not qualify for priority compensation unless the unit has a separate corporate charter and has received a determination of non-profit status.’’ The notice also required that an applicant to the Conversion Program ‘‘either hold an FCC broadcast license or have filed an application for a broadcast license prior to November 29, 2007.’’ 3 See 47 CFR 73.684, 73.699. 4 See 47 CFR 73.684. 5 See id. 6 Urban Areas and Urban Clusters are areas defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, see https:// www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html. E:\FR\FM\09OCP1.SGM 09OCP1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with PROPOSALS 59588 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Proposed Rules establish another date (‘‘Expenditure Start Date’’) after which applicant expenses would be eligible for reimbursement. If NTIA were to establish the Expenditure Start Date after February 8, 2006, should it be any of the following? (1) The date of this notice, or (2) The date that NTIA announces the availability of funds to start the Upgrade Program, or (3) The closing date for receipt of Upgrade Program applications for the applicable grant round, or (4) The date that NTIA awards Upgrade Program funds to an applicant, or (5) The Deadline of Eligibility date discussed earlier in the section on Eligibility. 4. Priority Reimbursement: How NTIA can implement the requirement that priority reimbursement shall be given to ‘‘eligible low-power television stations in which the license is held by a non-profit corporation and eligible low-power television stations that serve rural areas of fewer than 10,000 viewers.’’ Issues to be discussed include whether NTIA should (1) Have an exclusive period during which only applicants who qualify for the priority can apply? (2) Establish a priority reimbursement category within a larger grant round? (3) Provide additional points, if the grants are competitive, to those applicants which meet the criteria for priority reimbursement? (4) Require that stations meet both criteria (licensee held by a non-profit corporation and that serve rural areas of fewer than 10,000 viewers) in order to receive the priority? (5) Use the same benchmark in determining the priority reimbursement population requirement (‘‘rural areas of fewer than 10,000 viewers’’) as used in determining population eligibility requirement (‘‘any area of the United States that is not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 inhabitants’’)? (6) Adopt the same requirements regarding priority reimbursement for the Upgrade Program as it adopted for the Conversion Program and published in the October 29, 2007, Federal Register (72 FR 61109–61114). The Conversion Program was established under Section 3008 of the Act and contains language identical to Section 3009 establishing the Upgrade Program regarding priority consideration (reimbursement).7 5. Eligible Equipment and Costs: The Act states that reimbursement shall be given for ‘‘equipment to upgrade lowpower television stations from analog to digital,’’ but does not provide further guidance regarding which equipment or costs should be supported by the program. Issues that will be discussed include what costs or equipment should be eligible for reimbursement under the program and whether there should be a formula or limit on the amount of funds awarded to a single station. If so, what should they be or how should they be determined? 6. Application Selection: Issues to be discussed include how applications should be selected for funding and whether NTIA should consider any of the following alternatives: (1) Uniform grants. If all 7,000 lowpower facilities were eligible for the program, each facility could receive a grant of approximately $9,000; if only half the facilities were eligible for the program, the uniform grant would be approximately $18,000, etc. (2) First-come, first served. NTIA could fund complete applications from otherwise eligible stations on a firstcome, first-served basis, until all funds are awarded. A provision would have to be devised to provide for the facilities that meet the statutory requirements for priority reimbursement. (3) Competitive grant cycle. If NTIA were to awards funds on a competitive basis, what selection factors and criteria should it establish to evaluate applications? (4) Single or multiple grant cycles. How many grant cycles should NTIA plan to award the funds during the authorized period FY 09–FY 12? 7. Administrative Procedures to Award Grants: Issues to be discussed include the administrative matters related to the efficient implementation of the Upgrade Program, including preparation and submission of applications, payment of funds, and grantee post-award obligations. Time and Date: The Washington meeting will held on October 23, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the Las Vegas meeting on October 28, 2008, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. These times and the agenda topics are subject to change. Please refer to NTIA’s Web site, www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv, for the most upto-date meeting agenda. Place: The meetings will be held in Washington, DC at the U.S. Department of Commerce and in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. 7 The October 29, 2007, Federal Register notice regarding the Conversion Program, stated that ‘‘in sum, an applicant requesting priority compensation must (i) be a non-profit corporation; or (ii) serve fewer than 10,000 people within the low-power station’s 50/50 service contour.’’ VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:07 Oct 08, 2008 Jkt 217001 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Status: Interested parties are invited to attend and to submit written comments. Interested parties are permitted to file comments electronically via e-mail to lptv@ntia.doc.gov. Comments provided via email may be submitted in one or more of the formats specified below. Comments may be filed with NTIA at any time before the meeting, and through November 14, 2008. If interested parties wish to submit comments for consideration by NTIA in advance of the meeting, they should be sent to the above listed address and received by close of business one week prior to the meeting to provide sufficient time for review. Comments received after such time may not be reviewed prior to the meeting. Alternatively, interested parties may also submit paper submissions. Paper comments should be sent to: LPTV Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4812, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. Please note that all material sent via the U.S. Postal Service (including ‘‘Overnight’’ or ‘‘Express Mail’’) is subject to delivery delays of up to two weeks due to mail security procedures at the Department of Commerce. All written comments received will be posted on the NTIA Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv. It would be helpful if paper submissions also include a CD or DVD in HTML, ASCII, Word or WordPerfect format (please specify version). CDs or DVDs should be labeled with the name and organizational affiliation of the filer, and the name of the word processing program used to create the document. Because of space limitation, attendance at the meeting will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. The meeting will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring special services, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary aids, are asked to indicate this to [name] at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions at the meeting. Individuals who would like to submit questions in writing should e-mail their questions to Lynn Chadwick at lchadwick@ntia.doc.gov. Dated: October 2, 2008. Meredith Attwell Baker, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information. [FR Doc. E8–23841 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–60–P E:\FR\FM\09OCP1.SGM 09OCP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59586-59588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23841]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

47 CFR Chapter III


Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program; Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, notice of public 
meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act (Act) requires the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to 
implement and administer a program through which each eligible low-
power television broadcast station, Class A television station, 
television translator

[[Page 59587]]

station, or television booster station may receive reimbursement for 
equipment to upgrade from analog to digital in eligible rural 
communities. NTIA will hold public meetings regarding the 
implementation of this Low-power Television Upgrade Program (Upgrade 
Program) \1\ in Washington, DC and Las Vegas, Nevada.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public 
Law No. 109-171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (Feb. 8, 2006).

DATES: The meeting will be held in Washington DC on October 24, 2008, 
at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 28, 2008, 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
at 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time.

ADDRESSES: The Washington, DC meeting will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW. The Las Vegas, 
Nevada meeting will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, 129 
Fremont Street. The locations of both meetings will also be announced 
on the NTIA Web site www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information regarding the 
meetings, contact William Cooperman, Broadcast Division Director, at 
(202) 482-5802.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NTIA will host two public meetings related 
to its implementation of the Upgrade Program authorized under Section 
3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, as amended by the DTV 
Transition Assistance Act (Pub. L. 110-295). As amended, section 3009 
of the Act contains, in its entirety, the following language:

Sec. 3009. Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program

    (a) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall make payments of 
not to exceed $65,000,000, in the aggregate, during fiscal years 2009 
through 2012, from the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety 
Fund established under section 309(j)(8)(E) of the Communications Act 
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)(E)) to implement and administer a program 
through which each licensee of an eligible low-power television station 
may receive reimbursement for equipment to upgrade low-power television 
stations from analog to digital in eligible rural communities, as that 
term is defined in section 610(b)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act 
of 1937 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)(2)). Such reimbursements shall be issued to 
eligible stations on or after February 18, 2009. Priority 
reimbursements shall be given to eligible low-power television stations 
in which the license is held by a non-profit corporation and eligible 
low-power television stations that serve rural areas of fewer than 
10,000 viewers.
    (b) Eligible Stations.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``eligible low-power television station'' means a low-power television 
broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator 
station, or television booster station--
    (1) that is itself broadcasting exclusively in analog format; and
    (2) that has not converted from analog to digital operations prior 
to the date of enactment of the Digital Television Transition and 
Public Safety Act of 2005.
    Section 610(b)(2) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1937 (7 
U.S.C. 950bb(b)(2)), which is referenced in Section 3009(a), contains, 
in its entirety, the following language: ``the term `eligible rural 
community' means any area of the United States that is not contained in 
an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 
inhabitants.''
    Matters To Be Considered: NTIA will discuss the following topics at 
the public meetings and will also provide an opportunity for public 
comment on these matters.
    1. Station Eligibility: How to define an eligible station. Issues 
that will be discussed include the following:
    (1) Whether a facility must hold an FCC license to be considered 
``broadcasting'' or be permitted to hold an FCC construction permit or 
program test authority.
    (2) Whether a facility meets the statutory requirement 
``broadcasting exclusively in analog format'' if it has a construction 
permit, program test authority, or license for a digital companion 
channel or has flash cut to digital.
    (3) Whether NTIA should establish a uniform deadline of eligibility 
(DOE) applicable to all applicants that NTIA will use when determining 
a station's eligibility regarding the two previous items. If so, should 
the DOE be (1) the date of enactment of the Act (i.e., February 8, 
2006), (2) the closing date for receipt of Upgrade Program applications 
for the applicable grant round, (3) the same date as the Expenditure 
Start Date discussed in the section titled Reimbursement, below, or (4) 
some other date.
    (4) Whether a governmental subsidiary can be considered a nonprofit 
corporation and therefore may qualify for ``priority reimbursement.''
    (5) Whether NTIA should adopt the same requirements regarding 
station eligibility for the Upgrade Program as NTIA adopted for the 
Digital-to-Analog Conversion Program (Conversion Program) and published 
in the October 29, 2007, Federal Register (72 FR 61109-61114). The 
Conversion Program was established under Section 3008 of the Act and 
contains language identical to Section 3009 establishing the Upgrade 
Program regarding the definition of an eligible station.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The October 29, 2007, Federal Register notice announcing the 
Conversion Program stated that an eligible station ``must be 
broadcasting as authorized by the FCC, not merely possess a 
Construction Permit,'' that ``stations that broadcast in digital, 
either on the main channel or on a companion channel, will not be 
eligible,'' and that ``a governmental unit would not qualify for 
priority compensation unless the unit has a separate corporate 
charter and has received a determination of non-profit status.'' The 
notice also required that an applicant to the Conversion Program 
``either hold an FCC broadcast license or have filed an application 
for a broadcast license prior to November 29, 2007.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Eligible Communities: How NTIA could implement the statutory 
requirement that an eligible station must be ``in eligible rural 
communities'' (i.e., ``any area of the United States that is not 
contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess 
of 20,000 inhabitants.'') Issues to be discussed will include the most 
appropriate method of designating an eligible rural community, 
including the following:
    (1) Whether NTIA should determine an eligible rural community based 
on the population within the station's
    (a) Community of license, or
    (b) FCC 50/50 contour,\3\ or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See 47 CFR 73.684, 73.699.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Grade A coverage,\4\ or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See 47 CFR 73.684.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Grade B coverage,\5\ or
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) P coverage contour per Section 74.707 of the FCC Rules.
    (2) Whether NTIA should determine an eligible rural community based 
on some other definition or formula (e.g., the number, or percentage, 
of people served by the station living in rural areas outside Urban 
Areas or Urban Clusters of more than 20,000).\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Urban Areas and Urban Clusters are areas defined by the U.S. 
Census Bureau, see https://www.census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Reimbursement: The statute provides for reimbursement to an 
otherwise eligible station that has not converted from analog to 
digital operations prior to the ``date of enactment of the Digital 
Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005'' (i.e., February 
8, 2006). Issues that will be discussed include whether NTIA should 
accept all expenditures for eligible costs after February 8, 2006, for 
reimbursement, or, in order to provide fair and equitable notice to all 
potential applicants to the Upgrade Program,

[[Page 59588]]

establish another date (``Expenditure Start Date'') after which 
applicant expenses would be eligible for reimbursement. If NTIA were to 
establish the Expenditure Start Date after February 8, 2006, should it 
be any of the following?
    (1) The date of this notice, or
    (2) The date that NTIA announces the availability of funds to start 
the Upgrade Program, or
    (3) The closing date for receipt of Upgrade Program applications 
for the applicable grant round, or
    (4) The date that NTIA awards Upgrade Program funds to an 
applicant, or
    (5) The Deadline of Eligibility date discussed earlier in the 
section on Eligibility.
    4. Priority Reimbursement: How NTIA can implement the requirement 
that priority reimbursement shall be given to ``eligible low-power 
television stations in which the license is held by a non-profit 
corporation and eligible low-power television stations that serve rural 
areas of fewer than 10,000 viewers.'' Issues to be discussed include 
whether NTIA should
    (1) Have an exclusive period during which only applicants who 
qualify for the priority can apply?
    (2) Establish a priority reimbursement category within a larger 
grant round?
    (3) Provide additional points, if the grants are competitive, to 
those applicants which meet the criteria for priority reimbursement?
    (4) Require that stations meet both criteria (licensee held by a 
non-profit corporation and that serve rural areas of fewer than 10,000 
viewers) in order to receive the priority?
    (5) Use the same benchmark in determining the priority 
reimbursement population requirement (``rural areas of fewer than 
10,000 viewers'') as used in determining population eligibility 
requirement (``any area of the United States that is not contained in 
an incorporated city or town with a population in excess of 20,000 
inhabitants'')?
    (6) Adopt the same requirements regarding priority reimbursement 
for the Upgrade Program as it adopted for the Conversion Program and 
published in the October 29, 2007, Federal Register (72 FR 61109-
61114). The Conversion Program was established under Section 3008 of 
the Act and contains language identical to Section 3009 establishing 
the Upgrade Program regarding priority consideration 
(reimbursement).\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ The October 29, 2007, Federal Register notice regarding the 
Conversion Program, stated that ``in sum, an applicant requesting 
priority compensation must (i) be a non-profit corporation; or (ii) 
serve fewer than 10,000 people within the low-power station's 50/50 
service contour.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. Eligible Equipment and Costs: The Act states that reimbursement 
shall be given for ``equipment to upgrade low-power television stations 
from analog to digital,'' but does not provide further guidance 
regarding which equipment or costs should be supported by the program.
    Issues that will be discussed include what costs or equipment 
should be eligible for reimbursement under the program and whether 
there should be a formula or limit on the amount of funds awarded to a 
single station. If so, what should they be or how should they be 
determined?
    6. Application Selection: Issues to be discussed include how 
applications should be selected for funding and whether NTIA should 
consider any of the following alternatives:
    (1) Uniform grants. If all 7,000 low-power facilities were eligible 
for the program, each facility could receive a grant of approximately 
$9,000; if only half the facilities were eligible for the program, the 
uniform grant would be approximately $18,000, etc.
    (2) First-come, first served. NTIA could fund complete applications 
from otherwise eligible stations on a first-come, first-served basis, 
until all funds are awarded. A provision would have to be devised to 
provide for the facilities that meet the statutory requirements for 
priority reimbursement.
    (3) Competitive grant cycle. If NTIA were to awards funds on a 
competitive basis, what selection factors and criteria should it 
establish to evaluate applications?
    (4) Single or multiple grant cycles. How many grant cycles should 
NTIA plan to award the funds during the authorized period FY 09-FY 12?
    7. Administrative Procedures to Award Grants: Issues to be 
discussed include the administrative matters related to the efficient 
implementation of the Upgrade Program, including preparation and 
submission of applications, payment of funds, and grantee post-award 
obligations.
    Time and Date: The Washington meeting will held on October 23, 2008 
from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the Las Vegas meeting on October 28, 
2008, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. These times and the agenda topics are 
subject to change. Please refer to NTIA's Web site, www.ntia.doc.gov/
lptv, for the most up-to-date meeting agenda.
    Place: The meetings will be held in Washington, DC at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce and in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Golden Nugget 
Hotel and Casino.
    Status: Interested parties are invited to attend and to submit 
written comments. Interested parties are permitted to file comments 
electronically via e-mail to lptv@ntia.doc.gov. Comments provided via 
email may be submitted in one or more of the formats specified below. 
Comments may be filed with NTIA at any time before the meeting, and 
through November 14, 2008. If interested parties wish to submit 
comments for consideration by NTIA in advance of the meeting, they 
should be sent to the above listed address and received by close of 
business one week prior to the meeting to provide sufficient time for 
review. Comments received after such time may not be reviewed prior to 
the meeting. Alternatively, interested parties may also submit paper 
submissions.
    Paper comments should be sent to: LPTV Program, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 4812, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. 
Please note that all material sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
(including ``Overnight'' or ``Express Mail'') is subject to delivery 
delays of up to two weeks due to mail security procedures at the 
Department of Commerce. All written comments received will be posted on 
the NTIA Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv.
    It would be helpful if paper submissions also include a CD or DVD 
in HTML, ASCII, Word or WordPerfect format (please specify version). 
CDs or DVDs should be labeled with the name and organizational 
affiliation of the filer, and the name of the word processing program 
used to create the document.
    Because of space limitation, attendance at the meeting will be 
determined on a first-come, first-served basis. The meeting will be 
physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals 
requiring special services, such as sign language interpretation or 
other ancillary aids, are asked to indicate this to [name] at least two 
(2) days prior to the meeting. Members of the public will have an 
opportunity to ask questions at the meeting. Individuals who would like 
to submit questions in writing should e-mail their questions to Lynn 
Chadwick at lchadwick@ntia.doc.gov.

    Dated: October 2, 2008.
Meredith Attwell Baker,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
 [FR Doc. E8-23841 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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