Mass Media: AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[FCC 95-385]

Mass Media: AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; Interpretation.

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SUMMARY: On September 1, 1995, in response to requests for

reconsideration, the FCC adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order which

rescinded its original AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan, released

October 14, 1994, and provides a thirty-day period for comments to

correct the AM database and a thirty-day period for comments on the

procedures which will be used to generate a new plan based on

recalculated ranking factors. A fifteen-day reply period is also

provided. This will enable an accurate AM expanded Band Allotment Plan

to be issued by the FCC.

DATES: Comments to correct the AM database must be filed on or before

October 19, 1995. Comments regarding the procedures which will be used

to generate a new Allotment Plan must be submitted on or before October

19, 1995. Reply comments are due on or before November 3, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Burtle, Audio Services Division, Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418-2670.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's

Memorandum Opinion and Order adopted September 1, 1995, and released

September 6, 1995. The full text of this Commission decision is

available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in

the FCC Dockets Branch (Room 230), 1919 M St., NW, Washington, DC (See

MM Docket 87-267). The complete text of this decision may also be

purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, Downtown Copy Center,

1990 M St., NW, Suite 640, Washington, DC 30036.

The FCC rescinded the AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan Adopted

October 14, 1994 (DA 94-1154). The Allotment Plan identified stations

that were eligible to apply for authorization for specific expanded

band (1605 kHz-1705 kHz) frequency allotments. The Commission also

verified that certain errors existed in the AM database used to

generate the improvement factor rankings on which the Allotment Plan

was based (June 30, 1993-A database) and rescinded the improvement

factor ranking list. The Commission called for changes to the June 30,

1993-A AM database to be filed within thirty days of the publication of

this Memorandum Opinion and Order in the Federal Register.

The FCC further identified and clarified the standards used to

implement a new Allotment Plan and gave interested parties a period of

thirty days from the publication of the Memorandum Opinion and Order in

the Federal Register to comment thereon. Reply comments may be filed

within fifteen days of the comment date.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The FCC granted in part requests for reconsideration and review of

the AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan adopted October 14, 1994 (DA 94-

1154) and rescinded the Allotment Plan and improvement factor ranking

list. The Commission will receive requests to change the June 30, 1993-

A database during a thirty-day comment period. The FCC also sets forth

the procedures to implement the Allotment Plan and provides for a

thirty-day comment period and fifteen-day reply period, thereon.

This action is authorized under Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the

Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and 303(r), and Section

553(b)(3)(A) of the Administrative Procedures Act.

Ordering Clause

Accordingly, it is ordered that the public is afforded thirty days

from September 19, 1995 to change the June 30, 1993-A database, thirty

days from September 19, 1995 to comment on the allotment plan

procedures; and fifteen days from the comment date to file replies to

the comments.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 95-23171 Filed 9-18-95; 8:45 am]

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