FCC Lifts Freeze on DTV Substitutions

On August 3, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau imposed a freeze on requests from full power and Class A television stations to maximize facilities or change DTV channels. The freeze provided a stable database during the channel election process and the initial processing of applications for post-transition digital facilities. In the Third DTV Periodic Report and Order, the Commission anticipated being able to lift the freeze in mid-August 2008, allowing time to process initial construction permit applications. The Commission has received approximately 620 post-transition construction permit applications, and the FCC's Video Division has been processing them in an expedited fashion, on average 4 days from date of receipt. As a result of the Commission's successful expedited processing efforts, the Commission has completed its review of, and has granted all applications, except for those requiring international coordination or additional information from the applicant. As a result, the FCC has decided it can lift the freeze on the filing of maximization applications twelve weeks earlier than originally anticipated. Accordingly, the FCC will lift the freeze on the filing of maximization applications immediately, and it encourages stations to file promptly.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1213A1.doc