Opinion ID: 294822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Administrative Due Process

Text: 12 The filing of this newly discovered June 1956 map of KVOS-TV Station's predicted contours was the pretext by which Everett stuck its nose into the FCC tent at the last minute. As we have indicated, Everett could have and, if it deemed its interest at stake, should have participated in the proceeding from the start. The Commission welcomed both the old map and Everett, although it is not clear that the Commission, once it had reopened the proceeding on the basis of the newly discovered map, actually relied upon this at all. 13 The Commission's counsel argued the case as if the Commission had relied on the 1956 map confirmed by another map and engineering studies; the Commission's opinion on reconsideration is couched in language susceptible to more than one interpretation. The Commission stated: 14 KVOS-TV's contour map and its entire engineering records have been examined in view of Everett Cablevision's claim, and the Commission finds that KVOS-TV's predicted principal community contour encompasses part of Everett. (Footnote indicated.) 12 15 On this alone it would appear that the 1956 map and the engineering record history were the basis of the Commission's decision, but the footnote may be intended to convey a different and more accurate thought. The Commission's footnote says: 16 The determination of the KVOS-TV principal community contour in the direction of Everett, Washington, was based on the transmitting antenna height above average terrain of 2370 feet and the effective radiated power of 229 kilowatts. The map employed to establish KVOS's transmitting site and the Everett city limits was the Sectional Aeronautical Chart — Bellingham, Edition of October 1954. 13 17 When Everett filed this newly discovered old map, it admitted that the map is difficult to read in that it is lacking in clarity. Commissioner Cox in his dissent deprecated the map on another ground: 18 In any event the mysterious map is worthless because KVOS-TV has modified its license, either increasing or decreasing power, four times since June 1956. Thus it can no longer be the subject of valid, official notice for any current purpose. Indeed, the majority are not here proceeding on the basis of the map at all. Instead, they are relying on a calculation — never submitted for KIRO-TV's comments — made by our chief engineer. 14 19 It appears that the engineering calculation as to the predicted contour line of coverage is based on three factors: (1) terrain, (2) transmission tower height, and (3) transmittal power. The terrain presumably remained the same, whether the Commission could read the 1956 map or not, whether it based its engineering calculations on the map which served to reopen the proceeding or whether it resorted to the 1954 map cited in its footnote. The KVOS tower transmitter height was originally put at 2411.7 feet, 15 but early in the station's history was reduced to 2370 feet, which it remained in December 1969. The KVOS transmittal power increase from 214 kilowatts to 229 kilowatts, 16 the day before the Commission decision on reconsideration was made, appears somewhat timely but we are assured by Commission counsel that this additional increment is so minuscule that it would make no difference in the engineering calculation of the predicted contour of KVOS. 20 The Commission asserts that the determination of the predicted signal of a TV station is really an engineering calculation by a well-accepted formula, not subject to valid dispute, and that is what was done in this case. The Commission urges that this engineering calculation was subject to verification by KIRO, if it so desired, and it does seem that KIRO in its brief here has not asserted that this December 1969 calculation of KVOS's predicted contour is actually wrong. Rather, KIRO appears to predicate this appeal on its right to have the September 1969 decision of the Commission reinstated, while the Commission argues that once having discovered the true facts as to the comparative coverage of KIRO and KVOS, it was obligated to make its ruling on the facts it knew to be true in December 1969. 21 Thus it is not clear that KIRO has received less from the Commission than full and accurate justice, but it is clear that the procedure by which the determination of the Commission was reached was not a due process procedure that inspires confidence that full and accurate justice was in fact rendered.