WASHINGTON, D.C. — In late September 2022, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on updates to rules for full power and Class A stations which it believes reflect the digital transition and completion of the post-incentive auction, current technology, and/or Commission practices.
Now, one year later, the Commission will vote on the proposal.
As first shared in RBR+TVBR‘s afternoon headlines email on August 30, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel confirmed that the Commission at its September Open Meeting will consider a Report and Order that amends “Part 73” of the FCC’s rules.
This, Rosenworcel believes, would ensure the FCC’s rules better reflect the current broadcast TV operating environment.
Changes related to such major developments as the transition from analog to digital-only operations to a smaller television band with fewer channels are at the heart of “MB Docket No. 22-227.”
The NPRM released in September 2022 asked for comment on a number of proposals, including eliminating rules regarding analog operating requirements that no longer have any practical effect given the digital transition. The NPRM also proposed to delete outdated rules that are no longer valid given past changes in Commission-adopted policy. In addition, the NPRM proposed to reorganize a portion of the Commission’s technical television rules to make the rules easier to find and more practical for users.
Comments were due to the Commission no later than April 10, with reply comments needed by April 25, 2023.
Now, with the public having chimed in on the matter, Rosenworcel is ready to move forward with updates to rules for full-power and Class A TV stations she says have not been comprehensively reviewed in decades. “This means the current rules do not reflect the completion of major developments, like the transition from analog to digital-only operations and the post-incentive auction transition to a smaller television band with fewer channels,” Rosenworcel said. The Commission will vote to “clean up these rules to reflect the current operating environment.”
Also on the agenda for the September 21 meeting among the Commissioners are matters pertaining to the 5G Fund for Rural America, Satellite Application Processing, and direct access to phone numbers.
