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                                Before the
                     Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554

                                     )
In the Matter of                     )
                                     )
Amendment of Section 73.202(b),      )       MM Docket No. 97-57
Table of Allotments,                 )       RM-9016
FM Broadcast Stations.               )
(Hope, North Dakota)                 )
                                     
                     NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING

   Adopted:  February 7, 1997                                    Released:  February 14, 1997

Comment Date: April 7, 1997
Reply Comment Date: April 22, 1997

By the Chief, Allocations Branch:

     1.  The Commission has before it the petition for rule making filed by Vixon Valley
Broadcasting ("Vixon Valley") requesting the allotment of Channel 284A to Hope, North
Dakota, as the community's first local aural broadcast service.  Petitioner states that it will apply
for the channel, if allotted.

     2.  We believe petitioner's proposal warrants consideration since the allotment of Channel
284A could provide Hope, an incorporated community with a 1990 U.S. Census population of
281 persons, with its first local aural service.  Channel 284A can be allotted to Hope in
compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements without the
imposition of a site restriction.  Canadian concurrence in the allotment is required because Hope
is located within 320 kilometers (200 miles) of the U.S.-Canadian border.

     3.  Accordingly, we seek comments on the proposed amendment of the FM Table of
Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules, for the community listed below, to
read as follows:

                                                         Channel No.
                    City                          Present               Proposed

            Hope, North Dakota                    --                    284A

     4.  The Commission's authority to institute rule making proceedings, showings required,
cut-off procedures, and filing requirements are contained in the attached Appendix and are
incorporated by reference herein.  In particular, we note that a showing of continuing interest
is required by paragraph 2 of the Appendix before a channel will be allotted.

     5.  Interested parties may file comments on or before April 7, 1997, and reply comments
on or before April 22, 1997, and are advised to read the Appendix for the proper procedures. 
Comments should be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  Additionally, a copy of such comments should be served on the
petitioner, or its counsel or consultant, as follows:

            Victor A. Michael, Jr.
            President, Vixon Valley Broadcasting
            c/o Magic City Media
            1912 Capitol Avenue, Suite 300
            Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
              (Petitioner)

     6.  The Commission has determined that the relevant provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to rule making proceedings to amend the FM Table of
Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules.  See Certification That Sections 603
and 604 of the Regulatory  Flexibility Act Do Not Apply to Rule Making to Amend Sections
73.202(b), 73.504 and 73.606(b) of the Commission's Rules, 46 FR 11549, February 9, 1981.

     7.  For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Leslie K. Shapiro, Mass
Media Bureau, (202) 418-2180.  For purposes of this restricted notice and comment rule making
proceeding, members of the public are advised that no ex parte presentations are permitted from
the time the Commission adopts a Notice of Proposed Rule Making until the proceeding has been
decided and such decision is no longer subject to reconsideration by the Commission or review
by any court.  An ex parte presentation is not prohibited if specifically requested by the
Commission or staff for the clarification or adduction of evidence or resolution of issues in the
proceeding.  However, any new written information elicited from such a request or a summary
of any new oral information shall be served by the person making the presentation upon the
other parties to the proceeding unless the Commission specifically waives this service
requirement.  Any comment which has not been served on the petitioner constitutes an ex parte
presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding.  Any reply comment which has not
been served 
on the person(s) who filed the comment, to which the reply is directed, constitutes an ex parte
presentation and shall not be considered in the proceeding.

                                   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

                                   John A. Karousos 
                                   Chief, Allocations Branch
                                   Policy and Rules Division
                                   Mass Media Bureau

Attachment: Appendix
                                                APPENDIX

         1.  Pursuant to authority found in Sections 4(i), 5(c)(1), 303(g) and (r), and 307(b) of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.61, 0.204(b) and 0.283 of the
Commission's Rules, IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND the FM Table of Allotments, Section
73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, as set forth in the Notice of Proposed
Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached.

          2.  Showings Required.  Comments are invited on the proposal(s) discussed in the
Notice of Proposed Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached.  Proponent(s) will be
expected to answer whatever questions are presented in initial comments.  The proponent of a
proposed allotment is also expected to file comments even if it only resubmits or incorporates
by reference its former pleadings.  It should also restate its present intention to apply for the
channel if it is allotted and, if authorized, to build a station promptly.  Failure to file may lead
to denial of the request.

          3.  Cut-off protection.  The following procedures will govern the consideration of filings
in this proceeding.

          (a) Counterproposals advanced in this proceeding itself will be considered, if advanced
in initial comments, so that parties may comment on them in reply comments.  They will not
be considered if advanced in reply comments.  (See Section 1.420(d) of the Commission's
Rules).

          (b) With respect to petitions for rule making which conflict with the proposals in this
Notice, they will be considered as comments in the proceeding, and Public Notice to this effect
will be given as long as they are filed before the date for filing initial comments herein.  If they
are filed later than that, they will not be considered in connection with the decision in this
docket.

          (c) The filing of a counterproposal may lead the Commission to allot a different channel
than was requested for any of the communities involved.

          4.  Comments and Reply Comments; Service.  Pursuant to applicable procedures set out
in Sections 1.415 and 1.420 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, interested parties may
file comments and reply comments on or before the dates set forth in the Notice of Proposed
Rule Making to which this Appendix is attached.  All submissions by parties to this proceeding
or by persons acting on behalf of such parties must be made in written comments, reply
comments, or other appropriate pleadings.  Comments shall be served on the petitioner by the
person filing the comments.  Reply comments shall be served on the person(s) who filed
comments to which the reply is directed. Such comments and reply comments shall be
accompanied by a certificate of service.  (See Section 1.420(a), (b) and (c) of the Commission's
Rules.)  Comments should be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20554.

          5.  Number of Copies.  In accordance with the provisions of Section 1.420 of the
Commission's Rules and Regulations, an original and four copies of all comments, reply
comments, pleadings, briefs, or other documents shall be furnished the Commission.

          6.  Public Inspection of Filings.  All filings made in this proceeding will be available
for examination by interested parties during regular business hours in the Commission's
Reference Center (Room 239) at its headquarters, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.