LS Client Memo

F= CC Announces New Filing Opportunities For LPTV and TV Translator Stations

The FCC recently anno= unced two upcoming opportunities to file applications for new digital-only LPTV= and TV translator stations, for major changes to existing analog and digital = LPTV and TV translators, and for digital companion channels. Existing Class A TV, LPTV, and TV translator licensees who have not yet filed an application to convert the= ir station to digital operations should do so prior to the commencement of t= hese filing opportunities in order to retain processing priority.

On August 25, 2009= , the FCC will begin accepting applications in “rural” areas fo= r: (i) new digital LPTV and TV translator stations; (ii) major changes to existing analog and digital LPTV and TV translator stations; and (iii) digital companion channels for existing analog LPTV and TV translator stations. A station is cons= idered to be in a rural area if the station’s proposed transmitting antenna site coordinates are located more than 75 miles (121 km) from the referen= ce coordinates of the cities in the top 100 Nielsen DMAs. A list of those cities and coord= inates is attached to this memo.

On January 25, 201= 0, the FCC will begin accepting applications nationwide (without any geograp= hic restriction) for: (i) new digital LPTV and TV translator stations; (ii) m= ajor changes to existing analog and digital LPTV and TV translator stations; a= nd (iii) digital companion channels for existing analog LPTV and TV translat= or stations.

In each instance, the= FCC will not accept applications for new analog LPTV or TV translator facilit= ies.

All applications will= be processed on a first-come, first-served basis and will be “cut-off” daily. In other words, earlier filed applications will receive processing priority = over later-filed applications, but mutually-exclusive applications filed on the same day will be resolved by the FCC’s competitive bidding (auction) rules. Existing LPTV, TV translator, and Class A television stations may file an application for on-channel digital conversion (“flash cut”) at any time.

Licensees of LPTV, TV translator and Class A stations that have not yet filed an application to convert their station to digital operations may wish to file a flash cut application prior to the start of the new filing opportunities. By doing so, licensees can obtain processing priority for their applications and guard against third-party applications that may limit their station’s proposed digital covera= ge area. Under the Commission’s rules, a station filing a flash cut application may propose a digital facility whose signal contour overlaps any portion of t= he station’s analog protected contour.

The Commission also i= ssued several other reminders to applicants:

· Stations that receive a digital companion channel will be required at a future date to return either their analog channel or companion channel.

· Applications for new digital LPTV and TV translator stations, and for replacement digital stations, may only be fi= led for in-core channels 2 - 51.

· Applications for digital companion channel= s on channels 52 - 59 must certify that no in-core channel is available that w= ould enable it to produce a digital service area comparable to its analog serv= ice area. Such applicants must = also comply with notification requirements to certain wireless licenses.

· Stations with a license, construction perm= it or pending application for a digital companion channel may not file for a second digital companion channel.

· Stations with a license, construction perm= it, or pending application for flash-cut conversion are not eligible to apply= for a digital companion channel.

· All digital companion channels issued to C= lass A stations will be licensed as LPTV channels on a secondary, non-interfer= ence basis.

· Additional adjustments in the facilities a= nd channels of full-power television stations may be required to optimize digital service. These adjustments may have an effect, including displacement, on applications f= iled under the newly announced procedures.

If you have any questions concerning the new digital LPTV, TV translator and digital companion channel filing opportunities, please contact your primary attor= ney in our office.

July 10, 2009

This memorandum is intended only as a general discussion of these issues and should not be regarded as legal advic= e.

We would be pleased to provide additional deta= ils or advice about specific situations if desired.

2000 K Str= eet NW, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20006-1809
tel. 202.429.8970 | fax 202.293.7783 | www.lermansenter.com

To Unsubscribe= : Unsubscribe | To Update Client Info: Update Client Info

APPENDIX A
Applications for new digital low power television and = TV translator stations and analog and digital major changes to existing low power television and TV translator stations filed during the limited filing opportunity beginning August 25, 2009 may not propose new or modif= ied facilities located within 121 kilometers (75 miles) of the reference coordinates listed below for the following cities. Source of cities: Janu= ary 1, 2008 Nielsen Media Research Estimates. Source of coordinates: Section 76.53 of the Commission’s Rules.
DMA
RANKING	MARKET	NORTH LATITUDE	WEST LONGITUDE
1	New York City, New York	40-45-06	073-59-39
2	Los Angeles, California	34-03-15	118-14-28
3	Chicago, Illinois	41-52-28	87-38-22
4	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	39-56-58	75-9-21
5	Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas	32-47-09	096-47-37
6	San Francisco, California	37-46-39	122-24-40
7	Boston, Massachusetts	42-21-24	71-3-25
8	Atlanta, Georgia	33-45-10	84-23-37
9	Washington, District of
	Columbia	38-53-51	77-0-33
10	Houston, Texas	29-45-26	95-21-37
11	Detroit, Michigan	42-19-48	83-2-57
12	Phoenix, Arizona	33-27-12	112-4-28
13	Tampa, Florida	27-56-58	82-27-26
14	Seattle, Washington	47-36-32	122-20-12
15	Minneapolis, Minnesota	44-58-57	93-15-43
16	Miami, Florida	25-46-37	80-11-32
17	Cleveland, Ohio	41-29-51	81-41-50
18	Denver, Colorado	39-44-58	104-59-22
19	Orlando, Florida	28-32-42	81-22-38
20	Sacramento, California	38-34-57	122-23-34
21	St. Louis, Missouri	38-37-45	90-12-22
22	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	40-26-19	80-0-0
23	Portland, Oregon	45-31-6	122-40-35
24	Baltimore, Maryland	39-17-26	76-36-45
25	Charlotte, North Carolina	35-13-44	80-50-45
26	Indianapolis, Indiana	39-46-7	86-9-46
27	San Diego, California	32-42-53	117-9-21
28	Raleigh, North Carolina	35-46-38	78-38-21
29	Hartford, Connecticut	41-46-12	72-40-49
30	Nashville, Tennessee	36-9-33	86-46-55
31	Kansas City, Missouri	39-4-56	94-35-20
32	Columbus, Ohio	39-57-47	83-0-17
33	Cincinnati, Ohio	39-6-7	84-30-35
34	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	43-2-19	87-54-15
35	Salt Lake City, Utah	40-45-23	111-51-26
36	Greenville, South Carolina	34-50-50	82-24-1
37	San Antonio, Texas	29-25-37	98-29-6
38	West Palm Beach, Florida	26-42-36	80-3-5
39	Grand Rapids, Michigan	42-58-3	85-40-13
40	Birmingham, Alabama	33-31-1	86-48-36
41	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	40-15-43	76-52-59
42	Norfolk, Virginia	36-51-10	76-17-21
43	Las Vegas, Nevada	36-10-20	115-8-37
44	Albuquerque, New Mexico	35-5-1	106-39-5
45	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	35-28-26	97-31-4
46	Greensboro, North Carolina	36-4-17	79-47-25
47	Memphis, Tennessee	35-8-46	90-3-13
48	Louisville, Kentucky	38-14-47	85-45-49
49	Jacksonville, Florida	30-19-44	81-39-42
50	Buffalo, New York	42-52-52	78-52-21
51	Austin, Texas	30-16-9	97-44-37
52	Providence, Rhode Island	41-49-32	71-24-41
53	New Orleans, Louisiana	29-56-53	90-4-10
54	Scranton, Pennsylvania	41-24-32	75-39-46
55	Fresno, California	36-44-12	119-47-11
56	Albany, New York	42-39-1	73-45-1
57	Little Rock, Arkansas	34-44-52	92-16-37
58	Knoxville, Tennessee	35-57-39	83-55-7
59	Richmond, Virginia	37-32-15	77-26-9
60	Tulsa, Oklahoma	36-9-12	95-59-34
61	Mobile, Alabama	30-41-36	88-2-33
62	Dayton, Ohio	39-45-32	84-11-43
63	Fort Myers, Florida	26-38-42	81-52-6
64	Lexington, Kentucky	38-2-50	84-29-46
65	Huntington, West Virginia	38-25-12	82-26-33
66	Flint, Michigan	43-0-50	83-41-33
67	Roanoke, Virginia	37-16-13	79-56-44
68	Tucson, Arizona	32-13-15	110-58-8
69	Wichita, Kansas	37-41-30	97-20-16
70	Green Bay, Wisconsin	44-30-48	88-0-50
71	Des Moines, Iowa	41-35-14	93-37-0
72	Toledo, Ohio	41-39-14	83-32-39
73	Honolulu, Hawaii	21-18-36	157-51-48
74	Springfield, Missouri	37-13-3	93-17-32
75	Omaha, Nebraska	41-15-42	95-56-14
76	Portland, Maine	43-39-33	70-15-19
77	Spokane, Washington	47-39-32	117-25-33
78	Rochester, New York	43-9-41	77-36-21
79	Paducah, Kentucky	37-5-13	88-35-56
80	Syracuse, New York	43-3-4	76-9-14
81	Columbia, South Carolina	34-0-2	81-2-0
82	Shreveport, Louisiana	32-30-46	93-44-58
83	Huntsville, Alabama	34-44-18	86-35-19
84	Champaign, Illinois	40-7-5	88-14-48
85	Madison, Wisconsin	43-4-23	89-22-55
86	Chattanooga, Tennessee	35-2-41	85-18-32
87	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	41-58-48	91-39-48
88	Harlingen, Texas	26/11/29	97-41-35
89	South Bend, Indiana	43-40-33	86-15-1
90	Jackson, Mississippi	32-17-56	90-11-6
91	Johnson City, Tennessee	36-19-4	82-20-56
	Burlington, Vermont/
92	Plattsburgh, New York	44-28-34	73-12-46
93	Colorado Springs, Colorado	38-50-7	104-49-16
94	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	30-26-58	91-11-0
95	Waco, Texas	31-33-12	97-8-0
96	Davenport, Iowa	41-31-24	90-34-21
97	Savannah, Georgia	32-4-42	81-5-37
98	El Paso, Texas	31-45-36	106-29-21
99	Johnstown, Pennsylvania	40-19-35	78-55-3
100	Charleston, South Carolina	32-46-35	79-55-53