WJSP Extension Request

Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission, licensee of noncommercial educational TV station WJSP-TV, Columbus, (“WJSP”), files this request for extension (until April 12, 2019) of its January 11, 2019, construction completion deadline and the associated Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) (LMS File No. 63793) allowing it to continue to operate on Channel 23 until such time. WJSP requests this relief because construction of its post-repack facility continues to be delayed by circumstances outside of its control.

WJSP was assigned to Transition Phase 1, pursuant to the Closing and Reassignment Public Notice.1 The Phase Completion Date for Phase 1 was November 30, 2018. On November 28, 2018, WJSP requested re-assignment to Transition Phase 2, with a construction deadline of January 11, 2019, because of unforeseen delays impacting construction of its post-repack facility.2 The FCC granted WJSP’s request on November 30, 2018.3 Unfortunately, the necessary tower work could not be completed due to weather conditions and holiday tower crew schedules.

As noted in the initial Request, WJSP is a PBS member station and part of a state broadcast network that provides PBS programming to urban and rural communities throughout Georgia and portions of surrounding states. Construction and installation of WJSP’s post-auction facilities necessitates significant structural work to its existing 1100-foot tower. Among other things, unforeseen weather late in the construction period – specifically, heavy rain and strong wind –prevented the continuous “tall tower” work necessary to complete these modifications. When WJSP filed its Request, its tower crew has not yet been able to replace the top guy wires, which must occur before the temporary structural work can be completed. Although the tower crew has been standing by, continuing poor weather conditions (primarily wind too strong to permit the guy wires to be pulled up) has prevented completion of the necessary work. WJSP anticipates quickly completing construction and installing its new facilities as soon as the weather permits work to continue. In an abundance of caution, however, and to prevent the need for a further filing, WJSP is requesting an extension of its construction deadline and STA through April 12, 2019, the last day of Phase 2 of the repack.

There is one station “downstream” from WJSP, namely WXTX(TV), Columbus, Georgia (“WXTX”). WXTX is assigned to Phase 1 of the repack and has transitioned to its new channel (Channel 24). WJSP currently is operating on Channel 23 at reduced power pursuant to STA for the limited period until construction of its post-repack facilities is completed. The operations

1 Incentive Auction Closing and Channel Reassignment Public Notice: The Broadcast Television Incentive Auction Closes; Reverse Auction and Forward Auction Results Announced; Final Television Band Channel Assignments Announced; Post-Auction Deadlines Announced, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 2786 (WTB & MB 2017).

2 LMS File No. 63793 (the “Request”).

3 Id. authorized in WJSP’s STA less than 2% interference to the new WXTX facilities on a temporary basis, a level that the Commission has stated that it will allow during the transition.4 Extending WJSP’s construction deadline to the end of Phase 2 will not change the number of rescans in the market.

The series of events WJSP encountered was beyond the station’s control and continue to present substantial technical (and logistical) challenges to construction. Thus, WJSP respectfully requests that that its STA and its construction permit for post-auction facilities (LMS File No. 29683) each be extended until April 12, 2019.

4 Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau Adopt a Post-Incentive Auction Transition Scheduling Plan, Public Notice, 32 FCC Rcd 890, ¶¶ 16-18 (IATF & MB 2017).