Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 14005

to Battle Mountain, NV, as the

community’s first local aural service.

See 61 FR 37715, July 19, 1996. Channel

253A can be allotted to Battle Mountain

in compliance with the Commission’s

minimum distance separation

requirements without the imposition of

a site restriction, at coordinates 40–38–

18 North Latitude; 116–56–06 West

Longitude. With this action, this

proceeding is terminated.

DATES: Effective May 5, 1997. The

window period for filing applications

will open on May 5, 1997, and close on

June 5, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leslie K. Shapiro, Mass Media Bureau,

(202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Report

and Order, MM Docket No. 96–145,

adopted March 12, 1997, and released

March 21, 1997. The full text of this

Commission decision is available for

inspection and copying during normal

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW.,

Washington, DC. The complete text of

this decision may also be purchased

from the Commission’s copy contractor,

International Transcription Services,

Inc., (202) 857–3800, 2100 M Street,

NW, Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Part 73 of Title 47 of the Code of

Federal Regulations is amended as

follows:

PART 73—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 73

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 303, 48 Stat., as amended,

1082; 47 U.S.C. 154, as amended.

§ 73.202 [Amended]

2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Nevada, is amended

by adding Battle Mountain, Channel

253A.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 97–7441 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

47 CFR Part 73

Radio Broadcasting Services; Various

Locations

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission, on its own

motion, editorially amends the Table of

FM Allotments to specify the actual

classes of channels allotted to various

communities. The changes in channel

classifications have been authorized in

response to applications filed by

licensees and permittees operating on

these channels. This action is taken

pursuant to Revision of Section

73.3573(a)(1) of the Commission’s Rules

Concerning the Lower Classification of

an FM Allotment, 4 FCC Rcd 2413

(1989), and the Amendment of the

Commission’s Rules to permit FM

Channel and Class Modifications

[Upgrades] by Applications, 8 FCC Rcd

4735 (1993).

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 25, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathleen Scheuerle, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

summary of the Commission’s Report

and Order, adopted March 12, 1997, and

released March 21, 1997. The full text

of this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the

Commission’s Reference Center (Room

239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington,

DC. The complete text of this decision

may also be purchased from the

Commission’s copy contractors,

International Transcription Services,

Inc., 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140,

Washington, DC. 20037, (202) 857–3800.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Part 73 of title 47 of the Code of

Federal Regulations is amended as

follows:

47 CFR PART 73—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 73

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 303, 48 Stat., as amended,

1082; 47 U.S.C. 154, as amended.

§ 73.202 [Amended]

2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Alabama, is amended

by removing Channel 224A and adding

Channel 224C2 at Eufaula.

3. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Arizona, is amended

by removing Channel 289A and adding

Channel 289C3 at Cottonwood.

4. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under California, is

amended by removing Channel 293C

and adding Channel 293C1 at Alturas.

5. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Colorado, is amended

by removing Channel 297C and adding

Channel 297C1 at Silverton.

6. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Florida, is amended

by removing Channel 246A and adding

Channel 246C3 at Indian River Shores.

7. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Louisiana, is

amended by removing Channel 232C2

and adding Channel 232C1 at Galliano,

and by removing Channel 224A and

adding Channel 225C3 at Springhill.

8. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Michigan, is amended

by removing Channel 287C and adding

Channel 287C1 at Hart.

9. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Texas, is amended by

removing Channel 261A and adding

Channel 261C2 at San Angelo.

10. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Utah, is amended by

removing Channel 221A and adding

Channel 221C3 at Tooele.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 97–7443 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96–167; RM–8843, RM–

8899]

Radio Broadcasting Services;

Powhatan and Goochland, VA

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission denies the

petition for rule making filed by David

Layne proposing the allotment of

Channel 263A to Powhatan, Virginia.

See 61 FR 43515, August 23, 1996. In

response to a counterproposal filed by

All Cultural Communications, Inc., the

Commission allots Channel 263A to

Goochland, Virginia. Channel 263A can

be allotted to Goochland in compliance

with the Commission’s minimum

distance separation requirements with a

site restriction of 1.5 kilometers (0.9

miles) northwest to avoid short-spacing

conflicts with the licensed operation of

Stations WSOJ, Channel 262A,

Petersburg, Virginia, and WCMS,

Channel 263B, Norfolk, Virginia. The

coordinates for Channel 263A at

Goochland are 37–41–20 NL and 77–54–

03 WL. With this action, this proceeding

is terminated.

DATES: Effective May 5, 1997. The

window period for filing applications

will open on May 5, 1997, and close on

June 5, 1997.
14006 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 57 / Tuesday, March 25, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

1Notice of Inquiry in MM Docket No. 87–268, 2

FCC Rcd 5127 (1987) (‘‘First Inquiry’’). See also

Tentative Decision and Further Notice of Inquiry in

MM Docket No. 87–268, 3 FCC Rcd 6520 (1988)

(‘‘Second Inquiry’’); First Report and Order in MM

Docket No. 87–268, 5 FCC Rcd 5627 (1990)(‘‘First

Order’’); Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM

Docket No. 87–268, 6 FCC Rcd 7024 (1991)

(‘‘Notice’’); Second Report and Order/Further

Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No.

87–268, 7 FCC Rcd 3340 (1992) (‘‘Second Report/

Further Notice’’); Second Further Notice of

Proposed Rule Making in MM Docket No. 87–268,

7 FCC Rcd 5376 (1992) (‘‘Second Further Notice’’);

Memorandum Opinion and Order/Third Report and

Order/Third Further Notice of Proposed Rule

Making in MM Docket 87–268, 7 FCC Rcd 6924

(1992)(‘‘Third Report/Further Notice’’); Fourth

Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MM

Docket No. 87–268, 10 FCC Rcd 10540 (1995)

(‘‘Fourth Further Notice’’); Fifth Further Notice,

supra; Sixth Further Notice of Proposed Rule

Making in MM Docket No. 87–268, 11 FCC Rcd

10968 (1996)(‘‘Sixth Further Notice’’).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam

Blumenthal, Mass Media Bureau, (202)

418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Report

and Order, MM Docket No. 96–167,

adopted March 12, 1997, and released

March 21, 1997. The full text of this

Commission decision is available for

inspection and copying during normal

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW,

Washington, DC. The complete text of

this decision may also be purchased

from the Commission’s copy contractor,

ITS, Inc., (202) 857–3800, 2100 M

Street, NW, Suite 140, Washington, DC

20037.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Part 73 of title 47 of the Code of

Federal Regulations is amended as

follows:

47 CFR PART 73—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 73

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 303, 48 Stat., as amended,

1082; 47 U.S.C. 154, as amended.

§ 73.202 [Amended]

2. Section 73.202(b), the Table of FM

Allotments under Virginia, is amended

by adding Goochland, Channel 263A.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 97–7442 Filed 3–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 87–268, FCC 96–493]

Broadcast Services; Television

Broadcast Stations; TV Transmission

Standards

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This document amends the

Commission’s Rules by adding a

transmission standard for digital

broadcast television signals. This action

is necessary to ensure that the benefits

of digital technology are available to

terrestrial television broadcasting and to

the American public. The intended

effect of this action is to provide the

certainty that many broadcasters,

equipment manufacturers and

consumers need to invest in new

technology.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation is

effective May 27, 1997. The

incorporation by reference of certain

publications listed in the regulations is

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register as of May 27, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Saul

Shapiro, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418–

2600; Roger Holberg, Mass Media

Bureau, Policy and Rules Division,

Legal Branch, (202) 418–2130; Dan

Bring, Mass Media Bureau, Policy and

Rules Division, Policy Analysis Branch,

(202) 418–2170; or Gordon Godfrey,

Mass Media Bureau, Policy and Rules

Division, Engineering Policy, (202) 418–

2190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Fourth Report and Order

in MM Docket No. 87–268, FCC 96–493,

adopted December 24, 1996, and

released December 27, 1996. The

complete text of the Fourth Report and

Order can be found on the internet at

www.fcc.gov. It is available for

inspection and copying during normal

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW.,

Washington, DC, and also may be

purchased from the Commission’s copy

contractor, International Transcription

Service, at (202) 857–3800, 2100 M

Street, NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC

20037.

Synopsis of Fourth Report and Order

I. Introduction

1. In the Fourth Report and Order of

the Commission’s digital television

(‘‘DTV’’) proceeding, the Commission

adopts a transmission standard for

digital broadcast television signals. This

standard is a modification of the

Advanced Television System Committee

Digital Television Standard (‘‘ATSC

DTV Standard’’) proposed in the Fifth

Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making

and is consistent with a consensus

agreement voluntarily developed by a

broad cross-section of parties, including

the broadcasting, consumer equipment

manufacturing and computer industries.

Specifically, the Commission requires

the use of all layers of the ATSC DTV

Standard, except the video format layer,

which will remain optional. The

adopted transmission standard (‘‘DTV

Standard’’) is intended to provide the

certainty that many broadcasters,

equipment manufacturers and

consumers need to invest in new

technology.

II. Background

2. The Commission issued a series of

Notices and made a number of decisions

since the proceeding began in 1987. 1

The Commission established the

Advisory Committee on Advanced

Television Service to provide

recommendations concerning technical,

economic and public policy issues

associated with the introduction of

advanced television service. As alldigital television systems were

developed, advanced television became

digital television. In February of 1993,

the Advisory Committee reported that

four competing digital systems would

benefit from further development. In

May of 1993, seven companies and

institutions that had been proponents of

the four digital systems, joined together

in a ‘‘Grand Alliance’’ and developed

the digital system documented in the

ATSC DTV Standard. On November 28,

1995, the Advisory Committee voted to

recommend the Commission’s adoption

of the ATSC DTV Standard.

3. The ATSC DTV Standard includes

discrete subsystem descriptions, or

‘‘layers,’’ for video source coding and

compression, audio source coding and

compression, service multiplex and

transport, and RF/transmission. In

addition to being able to broadcast one,

and under some circumstances two,

high definition television programs, the

Standard allows for multiple streams of

standard definition television

programming at a visual quality better

than the current analog signal. The

Standard also allows for broadcast of

dozens of CD-quality audio signals and

permits rapid delivery of large amounts

of data.

4. On May 9, 1996, the Commission

adopted the Fifth Further Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, 61 FR 26864

(May 29, 1996), recommending adoption

of the ATSC DTV Standard. The

Commission also requested comment on

alternative approaches to requiring a

standard including: authorizing use of a