Comment Dates Set for Rulemaking to Implement Low Power Protection Act

On March 30^th, the FCC launched a proposed rulemaking to implement the Low Power Protection Act (LPPA) which became effective on January 5, 2023.  The Act provides a means by which existing low power television stations can qualify for and apply for Class-A station status.  Congress required the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to implement the LPPA within 90 days of its adoption.  The FCC has now set May 15 as the comment deadline, and June 13 as the reply comment deadline.

The LPPA limits qualified stations that can apply to those located in television markets of fewer than 95,000 television households.  Further, a station can only qualify if it was operating for at least 18 hours per day and originating at least three hours of locally produced programming per week for each of the 90 days preceding the LPPA effective date.  The 90-day period is October 7, 2022 – January 5, 2023.  Once a station applies for Class A status, the LPPA requires that stations begin airing qualified children’s television core programming and maintaining an online public file.