A freeze on some FM minor change applications takes effect Oct. 5 and lasts until the application window for noncommercial educational (NCE) FM new station construction permits closes Nov. 9, said a public notice Friday. The freeze applies to minor change applications for the FM reserved band, FM non-reserved band adjacent channels, and intermediate frequency channels, the docket 20-343 PN said. The NCE window opens Nov. 2, it noted: Applications for new NCE FM constriction permits must be filed electronically on “Form 2100, Schedule 340, Noncommercial Educational Station for Reserved Channel Construction Permit Application” in the licensing and management system. The form will be available for data entry on Aug. 2 and applicants have a limit of 10 submissions.

Five TV channel substitution requests take effect Friday, says that day's Federal Register. Most are Sinclair stations: KTVM-TV Butte, Montana, will switch from Channel 6 to 20, KVAL-TV Eugene will go to 28 from 13, KECI-TV Missoula, Montana, will switch from 13 to 20, and KRCR-TV Redding, California, will change from 7 to 15. WGEM License’s WGEM-TV Quincy, Illinois, goes from 10 to 19.

NAB opposes any push by wireless mic makers for reconsideration of an order terminating docket 15-146 on use of vacant channels in the TV band to provide spectrum for TV white space devices and wireless mics (see 2101080050), representatives said in a call with a Media Bureau staffer. The FCC’s “central objective” in the proceeding “was expressly to preserve one television channel for white spaces devices and wireless microphones nationwide, not to create a patchwork quilt of channel availability as Shure and Sennheiser now request,” said a filing posted Thursday in docket 15-146.

The FCC Media Bureau proposed a $3,000 forfeiture for The Corporation for Native Broadcasting over a late-filed renewal application for KXSW(FM) Sisseton, South Dakota, but also OK'd renewal, said a notice of apparent liability and order Wednesday. The application was due Dec. 1 and filed Jan. 14. “The Licensee provides no explanation,” MB said. "We find no evidence of violations that, when considered together, constitute a pattern of abuse."

The FCC administrative law judge partly denied and approved evidence requests from broadcaster Auburn Network, which was designated for hearing on its fitness to hold FCC licenses after the felony conviction of principal Michael Hubbard (see 2105130039). In an order listed in Wednesday’s Daily Digest, ALJ Jane Halprin denied Auburn's requests for internal FCC documents on Hubbard’s performance as a licensee, but she required the Enforcement Bureau to create a list of FCC documents that concern his criminal convictions. “As previously ordered, discovery in this matter is limited to the issue of whether Mr. Hubbard’s felony convictions disqualify him from being a Commission licensee,” the order said. EB objections that creating the list would be overly burdensome weren’t “persuasive,” said a footnote. The list is intended to inform Auburn whether it would be worthwhile to request the internal documents under the Freedom of Information Act. “The Presiding Judge intends to avoid any unnecessary delay that might result if the FOIA process is invoked,” the order said.

Spanish Broadcasting System asked the FCC to approve a stock sale that would let the company settle ongoing litigation but put it over the foreign-ownership cap. In a petition Monday, SBS said it has total foreign equity interests of 11.33% now, and the settlement would give more non-U.S. entities new shares of SBS Class A common stock, along with cash. That would increase "total equity ownership by non-U.S. persons to a percentage close to or exceeding the 25% foreign-ownership benchmark," it said.

The FCC should make clear that the foreign sponsorship ID rules adopted 4-0 in April (see 2104220074) don't apply to standard advertising sales by local stations, regardless of ad length, said ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in a docket 20-299 clarification request Monday. They said the lack of definition of "traditional short-form advertising" in the foreign sponsorship order means common forms of broadcast advertising could be subject to the rules, even though contrary to FCC intent.

The FCC Media Bureau terminated multiple investigations into political file recordkeeping compliance failures. Greeley Broadcasting will create a plan to ensure future compliance with its political file obligations and submit periodic compliance reports to the bureau, in a consent decree order Monday closing an investigation into the company's failure to keep required political files. The agency said it agrees to process Greeley's pending radio license renewal applications. The bureau also settled investigations of political file compliance with similar consent decrees for KOFI Inc. and Wayne Radio Works, both listed in Monday's Daily Digest.

Alpha Media wrapped up its restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it said Thursday. Chairman-CEO Bob Proffitt said it now has “greater financial resources and flexibility, and we will continue to invest in new digital capabilities to better serve our advertisers and communities across our local markets.” The FCC Media Bureau approved license transfers associated with the reorganization last week. See our report.

The FCC Media Bureau OK'd some channel substitutions and seeks comment on another. Sinclair KRCR-TV Redding, California, will switch from Channel 7 to Channel 15. Sinclair's KTVM-TV Butte, Montana will go from 6 to 20. Sinclair's KECI-TV Missoula, Montana, will move from 13 to 20. WGEM Licensee's WGEM-TV Quincy, Illinois, will switch 10 for 19. Comments will be due 30 days after appearance in the Federal Register on KPTV-KPDX Broadcasting's KPTV Portland, Oregon's requested substitution of 21 for 12. Bureau OK of Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation's request to substitute WYES-TV New Orleans Channel 28 for 11 (see 2107020052) takes effect Monday, says that day's FR.