Federal Register: April 20, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 74)
DOCID: fr20ap09-20 FR Doc E9-8989
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
CFR Citation: 47 CFR Chapter III
NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES
DOCID: fr20ap09-20
DOCUMENT ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; withdrawal.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Docket Number: 0810021312-9654-02 RIN 0660-AA18
EFFECTIVE DATES: April 20, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is withdrawing the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking soliciting comments on the implementation of the LowPower Television and Translator Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program). After reviewing and considering the comments received following two public meetings, the agency has decided not to proceed with regulations to implement the Upgrade Program. NTIA will establish and implement the Upgrade Program through a Notice of Availability of Funds (NOFA) to be published shortly.
SUMMARY:
Low-Power Television and Translator Upgrade Program; Withdrawal
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
LowPower Television and Translator Upgrade Program
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
Section 3009 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109 171, 120 Stat. 4, 21 (2006), required the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to implement and administer the LowPower Television and Translator Upgrade Program (Upgrade Program). The Upgrade Program is intended to provide reimbursement to eligible lowpower television broadcast stations, Class A television stations, television translator stations, or television booster stations for equipment to upgrade from analog to digital in eligible rural communities. On October 9, 2008, NTIA published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Public Meetings, 73 Fed. Reg. 59,586 (2008), to announce two public meetings (October 24 and October 28, 2008) about the Upgrade Program and to provide an opportunity for public comment on the issues to be discussed at these public meetings.
NTIA received 24 public comments on the Upgrade Program through
midNovember 2008. Information provided at the October 24, 2008, public
meeting and the comments received are available on NTIA's Web site at
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv/upgrade.html. After reviewing and
considering the comments received, NTIA has decided not to proceed with
regulations to implement the program. NTIA will issue a NOFA that
provides detailed information concerning the implementation of the
program in the Federal Register. The comments received will be fully discussed in the NOFA.
Dated: April 14, 2009.
Anna M. Gomez,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information. [FR Doc. E98989 Filed 41709; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351060S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
William Cooperman, Upgrade Program, Director Broadcasting Division, telephone: (202) 4825802; fax: (202) 4822156. Information about the Upgrade Program also can be obtained electronically via the Internet at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/lptv.