Media Bureau Seeks Additional Comment on FM Digital Power, 14797-14799 [2024-04243]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 41 / Thursday, February 29, 2024 / Proposed Rules
• Mail: Brittany Sims Nwankwoala,
Assistant General Counsel, Legal
Services Corporation, 3333 K St. NW,
Washington, DC 20007; ATTN: Parts
1621 & 1624 Rulemaking.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Brittany
Sims Nwankwoala, Assistant General
Counsel, Legal Services Corporation,
3333 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20007;
ATTN: Parts 1621 & 1624 Rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brittany Sims Nwankwoala, Assistant
General Counsel, Legal Services
Corporation, 3333 K Street NW,
Washington, DC 20007; (202) 295–1599
(phone); or nwankwoalab@lsc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Listening
Session Access Information: To
participate in the listening sessions via
Zoom, please follow the link or use the
dial-in instructions below:
Link: https://lsc-gov.zoom.us/j/
4396412186.
Meeting ID: 439 641 2186.
Find your local number: https://lscgov.zoom.us/u/kAZIVdfiA.
Background: Consistent with
Executive Orders 14058 and 13985, LSC
reached out to the client-eligible
community to seek their views on LSC’s
rulemaking priorities. LSC was
particularly interested in their views on
those rules that directly affect
individuals who qualify for LSC- funded
legal assistance. Community members
asked LSC to expand upon parts 1621
and 1624. Part 1621 requires legal
services programs that receive financial
assistance from LSC to establish
grievance procedures to process
complaints by applicants regarding the
denial of legal assistance and
complaints by clients about the manner
or quality of legal assistance provided.
These procedures should, to the extent
possible, result in the provision of an
effective remedy in the resolution of
complaints. The grievance procedures
required by part 1621 cover complaints
by individuals denied legal assistance
and by clients dissatisfied by the
manner or quality of legal assistance
received. No part of LSC’s current
regulations provides a mechanism for
governing body members to make
complaints about board malfeasance
and obtain resolution of those
complaints.
Part 1624 requires LSC funded legal
services programs to remove any
impediments that may exist to the
provision of legal assistance to persons
with disabilities eligible for such
assistance in accordance with section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Currently, part 1624 explicitly applies
only to applicants for legal assistance,
clients, applicants for employment, and
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16:15 Feb 28, 2024
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grantee employees. Because many
client-eligible members are persons with
disabilities, the commenters felt
expanding part 1624 to include
governing body members was necessary
to ensure that client-eligible individuals
are afforded the same opportunities to
be selected for and participate in grantee
governing body activities as persons
who do not have disabilities.
Through this Notice, LSC is asking
grantees, clients, other stakeholders, and
interested members of the public to
provide LSC with their views on the
following questions:
• What policies and procedures do
your organizations currently have in
place to address board member
grievances? Describe the process.
• Has your organization had positive
or negative experiences with utilizing
these procedures in the past?
• What effect or impact would
revising parts 1621 and 1624 to apply to
grantee governing body members have
on your organization? Unexpected
outcomes?
• Based on previous experience, how
often would your organization use
regulations like part 1621 and part
1624?
• Is there anything else LSC can do to
help resolve conflicts on your
organization’s board?
Interested parties may submit their
comments in writing to LSC via email,
fax, or postal mail. Additionally, LSC
will hold four listening sessions during
which interested parties may join a
Zoom call with LSC staff to provide
their comments orally. The dates and
access information for those listening
sessions are contained in the DATES
section of this notice.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2996g(e).)
Dated: February 21, 2024.
Stefanie Davis,
Deputy General Counsel, Legal Services
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024–03867 Filed 2–28–24; 8:45 am]
14797
Commission on December 13, 2023, by
Thomas B. Magee on behalf of Coalition
of Concerned Utilities.
DATES: Oppositions to the Petition must
be filed on or before March 15, 2024.
Replies to oppositions to the Petition
must be filed on or before March 25,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information on this
proceeding, contact Michael Ray of the
Wireline Competition Bureau,
Competition Policy Division, at (202)
418–0357 or Michael.Ray@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s
document, Report No. 3210, released
February 16, 2024. The full text of the
Petition can be accessed online via the
Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System at: https://apps.fcc.gov/
ecfs/. The Commission will not send a
Congressional Review Act (CRA)
submission to Congress or the
Government Accountability Office
pursuant to the CRA, 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A), because no rules are being
adopted by the Commission.
Subject: Administrative practice and
procedure.
Number of Petitions Filed: 1.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–04237 Filed 2–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 22–405; DA 24–154; FR ID
205024]
Media Bureau Seeks Additional
Comment on FM Digital Power
BILLING CODE 7050–01–P
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 1
[WC Docket No. 17–84; Report No. 3210;
FR ID 204483]
Petition for Reconsideration of Action
in Rulemaking Proceeding
Federal Communications
Commission.
SUMMARY: Petition for Reconsideration
of Action in a Rulemaking Proceeding in
WC Docket No. 17–84, adopted by the
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
In this document, based on a
Petition for Rulemaking Addendum—
Request for Clarification filed by the
National Association of Broadcasters
and Xperi, Inc., the Commission seeks
additional public comment in the
pending rulemaking proposing to
change the methodology to determine
whether an FM digital broadcast station
can increase its digital power, and to
allow asymmetric sideband operation.
DATES: Comment date: April 1, 2024.
Reply comment date: April 15, 2024.
SUMMARY:
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14798
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 41 / Thursday, February 29, 2024 / Proposed Rules
All filings must be
submitted in MB Docket No. 22–405.
Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.415,
1.419, interested parties may file
comments and reply comments on or
before the dates indicated in the DATES
section of this document. Comments
may be filed using the Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS). See Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
63 FR 24121 (1998).
• Electronic Filers: Comments may be
filed electronically using the internet by
accessing the ECFS: https://
apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
• Paper Filers: Parties who choose to
file by paper must file an original and
one copy of each filing.
Filings can be sent by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or
overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All
filings must be addressed to the
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission.
• Commercial overnight mail (other
than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail
and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050
Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD
20701.
• U.S. Postal Service first-class,
Express, and Priority mail must be
addressed to 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
• Effective March 19, 2020, and until
further notice, the Commission no
longer accepts any hand or messenger
delivered filings. This is a temporary
measure taken to help protect the health
and safety of individuals, and to
mitigate the transmission of COVID–19.
See FCC Announces Closure of FCC
Headquarters Open Window and
Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public
Notice, DA 20–304 (March 19, 2020).
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcccloses-headquarters-open-window-andchanges-hand-delivery-policy.
People with Disabilities: To request
materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (braille, large
print, electronic files, audio format),
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call
the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at 202–418–0530.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Albert Shuldiner, Chief, Media Bureau,
Audio Division, (202) 418–2700;
Thomas Nessinger, Senior Counsel,
Media Bureau, Audio Division, (202)
418–2700. Press inquiries should be
directed to Nancy Murphy, (202) 418–
1043.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
ADDRESSES:
This is a
summary of the Media Bureau’s Public
Notice in MB Docket No. 22–405; DA
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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16:15 Feb 28, 2024
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24–154, released on February 21, 2024.
The full text of this document is
available electronically for public
inspection via the Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS) at https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs and
the FCC’s website at https://
docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC24-154A1.pdf. Documents will be
available electronically in ASCII,
Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
Alternative formats are available for
people with disabilities (Braille, large
print, electronic files, audio format), by
sending an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or
calling the Commission’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530.
Synopsis
1. The Commission initiated this
proceeding on August 1, 2023, with the
release of an Order and Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment
on a proposal to change the
methodology used by digital FM
stations to determine whether they can
increase FM digital power, and to allow
asymmetric sideband operation.
Modifying Rules for FM Terrestrial
Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems, MB
Docket No. 22–405, Order and Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 23–61 (rel.
Aug. 1, 2023) (NPRM). A Federal
Register summary published on August
22, 2023, 88 FR 57033. The time period
for filing comments and reply comments
on the NPRM closed on October 6, 2023.
Comment and Reply Comment Dates Set
For FM Digital Power NPRM, Public
Notice, DA 23–741 (MB rel. Aug. 22,
2023). Comments and reply comments
were filed in ECFS under Media Bureau
Docket No. 22–405.
2. On February 2, 2024, the National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and
Xperi Inc. (Xperi), two of the parties that
filed Petitions for Rulemaking that led
to release of the NPRM, filed with the
Media Bureau (Bureau) a Petition for
Rulemaking Addendum—Request for
Clarification (Petition for Clarification),
which is available in the Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System at
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/
10202290960928/1. In the Petition for
Clarification, NAB and Xperi state that
they have ‘‘identified an important
ambiguity that requires clarification
regarding the maximum allowable
operating power of a digital FM signal.’’
Petition for Clarification at 2. The
NPRM and the Commission’s past
discussions of digital power levels have
considered only the power level for the
digital FM carriers of the primary HD
Radio MP1 hybrid service mode of
operation. Id. In particular, the
Commission has considered the total
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
integrated power level for all digital
carriers used to transmit MP1 standard
hybrid service. NAB and Xperi note,
however, that the HD Radio system is
not limited to the MP1 mode, and the
Commission has authorized extended
hybrid modes of operation, which
increase the number of digital
subcarriers. Petitioners assert that the
optimal operation of the extended
hybrid modes requires an increase in
the total integrated power above that of
the MP1 mode so that all the digital
carriers individually operate at the
intended power. Id. at 2–5. (The MP1
mode consists of 10 digital partitions,
each with 19 subcarriers. Extended
hybrid modes add partitions between
the MP1 partitions and the analog
signal: for example, the MP2 mode adds
one partition to the MP1 partitions; the
MP3 mode adds two partitions; and
various other modes, such as MP11,
MP5, MP6, MP1X, DSB1, MP1XOV,
MP6OV, and DSB1OV, add four
partitions. These additional partitions
increase the total digital power by 10, 20
and 40%, respectively. Id. at 4–5.)
Otherwise, individual carriers would
have to operate with less than the
intended power level to keep the total
integrated power at the intended level.
Petitioners therefore seek to clarify the
maximum digital FM power levels
permitted for hybrid and extended
hybrid service modes, including adding
clarifying text to the NPRM, and textual
changes to the proposed new § 73.404(e)
of the rules. Id. at 6–7.
3. In light of this requested
clarification, and to provide a complete
record on this issue, the Bureau
encourages public comment on NAB
and Xperi’s proposed clarifying
language and changes to proposed
§ 73.404(e) of the rules. The Bureau
notes that NAB and Xperi ask the
Commission to incorporate a reference
in the rules to the NRSC–5 standard,
which is subject to modification, as an
appropriate means to implement the
proposed change. Because it is unusual
for the Commission to incorporate
outside standards into its rules, the
Bureau states that commenters should
offer alternative means to incorporate
the proposed clarification directly into
the Commission’s rules. The Bureau
further seeks comment on whether the
additional digital power necessitated by
use of extended digital modes would
increase potential interference to first
adjacent channel analog FM stations, to
the host analog station, or to other users
of the FM broadcast spectrum or
adjacent to that spectrum. The Bureau
notes that the Petition for Clarification
does not reference any technical studies
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 41 / Thursday, February 29, 2024 / Proposed Rules
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
of the impact of extended hybrid modes
with a total integrated digital power
level more than ¥10 dBc. Are such
studies needed to determine whether or
not to adopt this proposal? Commenters
also should consider that if the
Commission adopts this proposed
change for stations operating with less
than ¥10 dBc, should the Commission
limit the total overall digital power for
any station operating in extended
hybrid mode to a maximum of ¥10
dBc? The Bureau notes that doing so
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16:15 Feb 28, 2024
Jkt 262001
would require stations that convert from
MP1 to an extended hybrid mode to
reduce the power of the individual
subcarriers in the primary digital
sidebands, in order to accommodate the
power added by the extended digital
sideband partitions. The Bureau further
invites commenters to suggest
modifications to petitioners’ clarifying
suggestions, as appropriate. It also seeks
comment regarding the number of
stations operating in the various
extended hybrid modes, including
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
14799
whether those stations operate at a
power level with more than ¥14 dBc,
in order to determine the scope of this
issue. Finally, the Bureau also offers an
opportunity to commenters who wish to
supplement or amend their previous
comments in light of more recent
additions to the record.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2024–04243 Filed 2–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14797-14799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04243]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[MB Docket No. 22-405; DA 24-154; FR ID 205024]
Media Bureau Seeks Additional Comment on FM Digital Power
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, based on a Petition for Rulemaking
Addendum--Request for Clarification filed by the National Association
of Broadcasters and Xperi, Inc., the Commission seeks additional public
comment in the pending rulemaking proposing to change the methodology
to determine whether an FM digital broadcast station can increase its
digital power, and to allow asymmetric sideband operation.
DATES: Comment date: April 1, 2024. Reply comment date: April 15, 2024.
[[Page 14798]]
ADDRESSES: All filings must be submitted in MB Docket No. 22-405.
Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR
1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments
on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section of this document.
Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking
Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing.
Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-
class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive,
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the
Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings.
This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety
of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC
Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-
Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy.
People with Disabilities: 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Albert Shuldiner, Chief, Media Bureau,
Audio Division, (202) 418-2700; Thomas Nessinger, Senior Counsel, Media
Bureau, Audio Division, (202) 418-2700. Press inquiries should be
directed to Nancy Murphy, (202) 418-1043.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Media Bureau's
Public Notice in MB Docket No. 22-405; DA 24-154, released on February
21, 2024. The full text of this document is available electronically
for public inspection via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) at https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs and the FCC's website at
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-154A1.pdf. Documents
will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe
Acrobat. Alternative formats are available for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), by sending an
email to [email protected] or calling the Commission's Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530.
Synopsis
1. The Commission initiated this proceeding on August 1, 2023, with
the release of an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking
comment on a proposal to change the methodology used by digital FM
stations to determine whether they can increase FM digital power, and
to allow asymmetric sideband operation. Modifying Rules for FM
Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting Systems, MB Docket No. 22-405,
Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 23-61 (rel. Aug. 1, 2023)
(NPRM). A Federal Register summary published on August 22, 2023, 88 FR
57033. The time period for filing comments and reply comments on the
NPRM closed on October 6, 2023. Comment and Reply Comment Dates Set For
FM Digital Power NPRM, Public Notice, DA 23-741 (MB rel. Aug. 22,
2023). Comments and reply comments were filed in ECFS under Media
Bureau Docket No. 22-405.
2. On February 2, 2024, the National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB) and Xperi Inc. (Xperi), two of the parties that filed Petitions
for Rulemaking that led to release of the NPRM, filed with the Media
Bureau (Bureau) a Petition for Rulemaking Addendum--Request for
Clarification (Petition for Clarification), which is available in the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10202290960928/1. In the Petition for Clarification, NAB
and Xperi state that they have ``identified an important ambiguity that
requires clarification regarding the maximum allowable operating power
of a digital FM signal.'' Petition for Clarification at 2. The NPRM and
the Commission's past discussions of digital power levels have
considered only the power level for the digital FM carriers of the
primary HD Radio MP1 hybrid service mode of operation. Id. In
particular, the Commission has considered the total integrated power
level for all digital carriers used to transmit MP1 standard hybrid
service. NAB and Xperi note, however, that the HD Radio system is not
limited to the MP1 mode, and the Commission has authorized extended
hybrid modes of operation, which increase the number of digital
subcarriers. Petitioners assert that the optimal operation of the
extended hybrid modes requires an increase in the total integrated
power above that of the MP1 mode so that all the digital carriers
individually operate at the intended power. Id. at 2-5. (The MP1 mode
consists of 10 digital partitions, each with 19 subcarriers. Extended
hybrid modes add partitions between the MP1 partitions and the analog
signal: for example, the MP2 mode adds one partition to the MP1
partitions; the MP3 mode adds two partitions; and various other modes,
such as MP11, MP5, MP6, MP1X, DSB1, MP1XOV, MP6OV, and DSB1OV, add four
partitions. These additional partitions increase the total digital
power by 10, 20 and 40%, respectively. Id. at 4-5.) Otherwise,
individual carriers would have to operate with less than the intended
power level to keep the total integrated power at the intended level.
Petitioners therefore seek to clarify the maximum digital FM power
levels permitted for hybrid and extended hybrid service modes,
including adding clarifying text to the NPRM, and textual changes to
the proposed new Sec. 73.404(e) of the rules. Id. at 6-7.
3. In light of this requested clarification, and to provide a
complete record on this issue, the Bureau encourages public comment on
NAB and Xperi's proposed clarifying language and changes to proposed
Sec. 73.404(e) of the rules. The Bureau notes that NAB and Xperi ask
the Commission to incorporate a reference in the rules to the NRSC-5
standard, which is subject to modification, as an appropriate means to
implement the proposed change. Because it is unusual for the Commission
to incorporate outside standards into its rules, the Bureau states that
commenters should offer alternative means to incorporate the proposed
clarification directly into the Commission's rules. The Bureau further
seeks comment on whether the additional digital power necessitated by
use of extended digital modes would increase potential interference to
first adjacent channel analog FM stations, to the host analog station,
or to other users of the FM broadcast spectrum or adjacent to that
spectrum. The Bureau notes that the Petition for Clarification does not
reference any technical studies
[[Page 14799]]
of the impact of extended hybrid modes with a total integrated digital
power level more than -10 dBc. Are such studies needed to determine
whether or not to adopt this proposal? Commenters also should consider
that if the Commission adopts this proposed change for stations
operating with less than -10 dBc, should the Commission limit the total
overall digital power for any station operating in extended hybrid mode
to a maximum of -10 dBc? The Bureau notes that doing so would require
stations that convert from MP1 to an extended hybrid mode to reduce the
power of the individual subcarriers in the primary digital sidebands,
in order to accommodate the power added by the extended digital
sideband partitions. The Bureau further invites commenters to suggest
modifications to petitioners' clarifying suggestions, as appropriate.
It also seeks comment regarding the number of stations operating in the
various extended hybrid modes, including whether those stations operate
at a power level with more than -14 dBc, in order to determine the
scope of this issue. Finally, the Bureau also offers an opportunity to
commenters who wish to supplement or amend their previous comments in
light of more recent additions to the record.
Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas Horan,
Chief of Staff, Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2024-04243 Filed 2-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P