********************************************************    
                         NOTICE
********************************************************

This document was converted from
WordPerfect to ASCII Text format.

Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
will not show up in this text version.

All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the
original document will not show up in this text version.

Features of the original document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
will not be preserved in the text version.

If you need the complete document, download the
WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available.

*****************************************************************
                                Before the
                     Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                             )              
                                                    )
Amendment of Section 73.202(b),              )      MM Docket No. 97-65 
Table of Allotments,                         )      RM-9002
FM Broadcast Stations.                       )    
(Chewelah, Washington)                       )                                                   

                                     REPORT AND ORDER
                              (Proceeding Terminated)

       Adopted:  December 24, 1997;             Released:  January 9, 1998       

By the Chief, Allocations Branch:

       1.  At the request of LifeTalk Broadcasting Association ("petitioner), the Commission
has before it the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 12 FCC Rcd 1936 (1997), proposing the
allotment of Channel 283C3 at Chewelah, Washington, and its reservation for noncommercial
educational use. Petitioner filed comments and a "counterproposal" requesting the allotment of
alternate Channel 274C3 in lieu of Channel 283C3 at Chewelah. Upper Columbia Media
Association ("UCMA"), licensee of Station KEEH(FM), Channel 284A, Spokane, Washington,
filed reply comments in support of the use of the alternate channel. Petitioner filed reply
comments in support of the proposal reaffirming its intention to apply for whichever channel is
allotted.  For the reasons discussed below, we are allotting Channel *274C3 to Chewelah,
Washington, reserved for noncommercial educational use.   

       2.  As stated  in the Notice, Chewelah is an incorporated community located in Stevens
County, Washington, and has a 1990 U.S. Census population of 1,945 persons.  Therefore,
petitioner states that Chewelah meets the Commission's criteria for a "community" for allotment
purposes.  Petitioner asserts that the allotment is in the public interest since it would provide
Chewelah with its first local aural transmission service.  Petitioner further asserts that there are
no channels available in the reserved band because of the proximity of  Station KHQ-TV,
Channel 6, Spokane, Washington.  Under the circumstances, petitioner states that its proposal
meets the criteria for reservation of a channel in the commercial band for noncommercial use,
citing Butte, Montana, 9 FCC Rcd 2180  (1994); Buhl, Montana, 9 FCC Rcd 2606 (1994); and
Romney, West Virginia, 11 FCC Rcd 12800 (1996).

       3.  Generally,  noncommercial educational stations operate within the reserved portion
of the FM band (Channels 201-220).  However, exceptions have been made where channels in
the noncommercial band are not available because of foreign allotments (Canadian or Mexican),
or potential interference to operation on VHF Television Channel 6.  Here, potential interference 
with Station KHQ-TV, Channel 6, Spokane, Washington, appears to justify the reservation of
a channel in the nonreserved band (Channels 221-300) for noncommercial educational use.

       4.  We believe the public interest would be served by allotting *274C3 at Chewelah,
Washington, and reserving the channel for noncommercial educational use, since it would
provide the community with its first local aural transmission service. An engineering analysis
has determined that Channel *274C3 can be allotted to Chewelah in compliance with the
Commission's minimum distance separation requirements with a site restriction of 21.8
kilometers (13.6 miles) southwest to avoid a short-spacing to the vacant allotment site for
Channel 275B, Creston, British Columbia.  Since Chewelah is located within 320 kilometers
(200 miles) of the U.S.-Canadian border, concurrence of the Canadian government has been
obtained. 

        5.   Accordingly, pursuant to the authority found in Sections 4(i), 5(c)(1), 303(g) and (r)
and 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.61, 0.204(b) and
0.283 of the Commission's Rules, IT IS ORDERED, That effective February 23, 1998, the FM
Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's Rules, IS AMENDED, with respect
to the community listed below, to read as follows:

                          City                                Channel No.

        Chewelah, Washington           *274C3            
   
        6.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this proceeding IS TERMINATED.
        7.  For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Sharon P. McDonald,
Mass Media Bureau, (202) 418-2180.  
                 
        FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION         
                

        
                John A. Karousos
                Chief, Allocations Branch
                Policy and Rules Division            
                Mass Media Bureau