> **DA 08-1644**

##  Released: July 14, 2008

**COMMISSION LIFTS THE FREEZE ON THE FILING OF**

**CERTAIN CLASS A TELEVISION APPLICATIONS**

**EFFECTIVE AUGUST 4, 2008**

On August 3, 2004, the Media Bureau imposed a freeze on requests from
full power and Class A television stations to maximize facilities or
change DTV channels.[^1] With respect to Class A television, the Media
Bureau froze the filing of Class A station displacement applications and
applications for coverage changes that would serve any area that was not
already served by that Class A station's authorized facilities (Class A
expansion applications).[^2] As an exception to this freeze, on-air
Class A stations demonstrating that they faced imminent disruption of
service were permitted to request Special Temporary Authority to
continue operations. The Media Bureau also stated that displacement
applications filed by out-of-core LPTV stations that were deemed Class
A-eligible requesting to move to an in-core channel where Class A
authority could be granted would not be acted on during this freeze.[^3]
For such stations, immediate non-Class A LPTV displacement relief could
be requested through an STA.

The freeze provided a stable database during the channel election
process and the initial processing of applications for full power
stations' post-transition digital facilities.[^4] The Commission
recently lifted the freeze on the filing of maximization applications by
full power television stations.[^5] Given that action, we find it
appropriate to lift the freeze on the aforementioned types of Class A
station applications. Effective August 4, 2008, we lift the freeze on
the filing of Class A displacement applications and Class A expansion
applications.

Beginning August 4, 2008, we will accept Class A displacement and
expansion applications on a "first-come, first-serve" basis and such
applications will be treated for cut-off purposes on the date they are
filed. In addition, Class A displacement and expansion applications that
were filed prior to August 4, 2008, and that requested a waiver of the
filing freeze, will be treated for cut-off purposes as being filed on
August 4, 2008.

Class A displacement applications and Class A expansion applications
must be filed using FCC Form 301-CA. FCC Form 301-CA must be filed
electronically using the Commission's Consolidated Database System
("CDBS") Electronic Filing system via the Internet from the Media
Bureau's Web site at: <http://www.fcc.gov/mb/cdbs.html> or
<http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbs_ef.htm>.

For further information, contact the Media Bureau's Video Division:
Hossein Hashemzadeh (Technical), <Hossein.Hashemzadeh@fcc.gov>, at (202)
418-1658, or Shaun Maher (Legal), <Shaun.Maher@fcc.gov>, at (202)
418-2324. TTY: (202) 418-7171.

**-FCC-**

[^1]: *See* "Freeze on the Filing of Certain TV and DTV Requests for
    Allotment or Service Area Changes, *Public Notice*, 19 FCC Rcd 14810
    (MB 2004).

[^2]: *Id.*

[^3]: *Id.*

[^4]: *See Second Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies
    Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television*, 19 FCC Rcd 18308
    (2004).

[^5]: *See* "Commission Lifts the Freeze on the Filing of Maximization
    Applications and Petitions for Digital Channel Substitutions,
    Effective Immediately," *Public Notice*, DA 08-1213, released May
    30, 2008.