Television Broadcasting Services Orono, Maine, 54412 [2022-19175]

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• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19175]



[[Page 54412]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MB Docket No. 22-215; RM-11929; DA 22-899; FR ID 102896]


Television Broadcasting Services Orono, Maine

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On May 25, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) 
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for 
rulemaking filed by Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), 
the licensee of WMEB-TV, channel *9, Orono, Maine, requesting the 
substitution of channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono in the Table of 
Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order 
referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC or Commission) regulations to substitute channel *22 for channel 
*9 at Orono.

DATES: Effective September 6, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Bernstein, Media Bureau, at 
(202) 418-1647 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published at 87 FR 
34624 on June 7, 2022. The Petitioner filed comments in support of the 
petition reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *22. No other 
comments were filed.
    We believe the public interest would be served by substituting 
channel *22 for channel *9 at Orono, Maine, since it would improve 
access to WMEB-TV's PBS and other public television programming by 
improving indoor reception. Although the proposed channel *20 
facilities will result in a predicted loss of service, much of the 
predicted loss area is served by the Petitioner's other commonly owned 
stations WCBB(TV), Augusta, Maine (WCCB), and WMED-TV, Calais, Maine, 
which largely air the same programming as WMEB-TV. Once these other 
sources of PBS programing and terrain limitations are factored into the 
loss analysis, the new loss area created by the proposed channel 
substitution would contain only 523 persons, which is within the level 
the Commission considers de minimis in the context of determining 
whether there would be an impermissible loss of service. Moreover, the 
proposed channel change would result in first service to a substantial 
number of persons. As set forth in the Engineering Statement submitted 
with the Petition, the proposed facilities would reach 25,238 persons 
that do not currently receive WMEB-TV and of those persons, 5,558 would 
receive their first television service and 10,681 would receive their 
first noncommercial educational (NCE) television service. Since the 
proposed facility is located within the Canadian coordination zone, 
concurrence from the Canadian government was required and has 
subsequently been obtained.
    This is a synopsis of the Commission's Report and Order, MB Docket 
No. 22-215; RM-11929; DA 22-899, adopted August 29, 2022, and released 
August 29, 2022. The full text of this document is available for 
download at https://www.fcc.gov/edocs. To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 
(voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
    This document does not contain 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, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to 
this proceeding.
    The Commission will send a copy of the Report and Order in a report 
to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

    Television.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.

Final Rule

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 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, 155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334, 
336, 339.


0
2. In Sec.  73.622(j), amend the Table of Allotments, under Maine, by 
revising the entry for ``Orono'' to read as follows:


Sec.  73.622  Digital television table of allotments.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *

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                        Community                           Channel No.
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                                * * * * *
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                                  MAINE
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                                * * * * *
Orono...................................................             *22
 
                                * * * * *
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[FR Doc. 2022-19175 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P