Opinion ID: 461338
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of the First Local Service Criterion

Text: 16 Although it was perfectly proper for North Texas to select Lake Dallas as a community of license, such choice did not excuse the applicant from compliance with the FCC's short-spacing rule. North Texas, however, makes much of its alleged entitlement to preferential treatment under section 307(b) of the Federal Communications Act. Section 307(b) of the Act provides that, in considering applications for radio licenses, the Commission must provide a fair, efficient, and equitable distribution of radio service to as many communities as possible. 23 In making such a determination, the Commission is guided by three principal objectives, 24 only one of which is of decisional significance here--the provision of service of local origin to as many communities as possible. North Texas asserts that the local service criterion should weigh decisively in favor of its proposal, since it would provide first local service to Lake Dallas, or should, at the very least, militate in favor of a waiver of the mileage spacing rule. 17 We disagree. The FCC allocated channel 256 to Denton, Texas after a notice and comment proceeding during which 307(b) benefits were considered and a specific site restriction was imposed in order to meet spacing requirements to KTXU in Paris, Texas, KLVV in Dallas, Texas, and KPLX in Fort Worth, Texas. 25 In addition, the Commission found, in the context of the present waiver request, that the 307(b) virtues of appellant's application were outweighed by the strong policy in favor of maintaining the requirements of appropriate spacing as a means of allocating stations. 26 Finally, and most significantly, it is absolutely clear that, under normal circumstances, in order for an applicant for a new FM broadcast facility even to be considered for a waiver of the mileage separation rule, a threshold showing must be made that no properly spaced site is available. Section 307(b) considerations do not obviate this requirement.