Numerous Major Modification Applications Filed as Freeze Lifted on August 20

The FCC received a significant number of Class A television, LPTV and TV translator major modification applications on August 20^th, the first date that the television freeze was lifted for such filings.  As of publication time, most of those had been accepted for filing and are awaiting FCC staff determination as to whether the changes proposed create mutual exclusivities. When that is determined, the FCC will presumably grant those applications without any conflicts, and then issue a notice for those that do have conflicts announcing a date for technical or settlement amendments.

Without any auction authority from Congress (still no progress there), the FCC will not be able to schedule or hold an auction for any applications that are mutually exclusive and remain with conflicts after the deadline for technical/settlement proposals passes.

New major modification applications can still be filed and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with each new day marking a “cut-off” against later filed applications that may create conflicts.