The FCC adopted a rule to make it easier for...
The FCC adopted a rule to make it easier for radio stations serving Native American Tribes and Alaska Native Villages to move to urban areas, as expected (CD Dec 12 p4). Under the new rules, the FCC will establish a…
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“Threshold Qualifications Window” for tribal entities to claim they meet the qualifications for a move, including: (1) the applicant is at least 51 percent owned by a recognized tribal entity. (2) at least 50 percent of the station’s signal coverage contour is over tribal lands. (3) the city of license is on tribal lands. (4) the proposed service must be first or second aural service, or a first local tribal-owned commercial service. If more than one entity applies for a particular location, tribes will have a period to settle mutually exclusive applications. If there’s no settlement, the allocation will be auctioned, the FCC said. If no qualifying party applies for the radio allocation, it would be auctioned to anyone. The rules do not include the FCC’s original proposal of a tribal bidding credit. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said he believes the rules will “lead to licensing significantly more tribal entities” to provide radio service.