LPTV Displacement Settlement Window Announced

Posted on October 31st, 2018 by

On October 30, 2018, the FCC announced and opened a filing window ending January 10, 2019 for remaining mutually exclusive LPTV displacement filing window applicants to file technical amendments or proposed settlements to resolve their application conflicts. Those not doing so by the deadline will proceed to a highest-bidder-wins auction sometime in 2019.

A total of 167 applications are mutually exclusive with others, and are included in a list at the end of the public notice. These are what remain from the LPTV Displacement Filing Window from earlier in 2018 that received over 2000 applications for displacement relief.

The FCC encourages applicants that remain to seek out solutions that involve moves or amendments that are compliant with the minor modification rules for LPTV stations. Significantly though, the FCC leaves open the possibility of an applicant seeking a channel change to resolve a mutually exclusive situation, which is a major change under the rules. Such a change would apparently only be available to applicants that are unable to resolve their mutual exclusivity with a minor change.

Now is the time for applicants to contact each other and work on solutions with consulting engineers. While the FCC is affording applicants a generous 71 days to file amendments or settlements, the holidays will surely impact negotiations. Start early.