FCC Issues Freeze on Requests to Change DTV Channels

May 31, 2011

On May 31, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a public notice announcing that it will no longer accept petitions for rule making that request a change of a full-power DTV station's allotted channel.  In the public notice, the Commission states that it is implementing this filing freeze in order to allow it to evaluate its reallocation and repacking proposals in connection with the National Broadband Plan.

The public notice clarifies that the Commission will still process channel change petitions that are already on file with the Office of the Secretary.  This filing freeze does not impact DTV stations' ability to file requests for minor modifications that do not involve channel changes.