UHF Item Still 'In Flux' at FCC

Edits and proposals continued to circulate around the Federal Communication Commission's eighth floor (where the commissioners reside) over the issue of when the UHF TV station discount would no longer be in effect, according to FCC sources. However, industry sources were saying Sept 26 would likely be the effective trigger date. The process was described as still in flux by all those sources. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, if it is voted at the FCC's public meeting on Sept 26 as planned, is expected to exempt deals currently submitted to the FCC -- most notably Tribune/Local TV, which would be affected by the change. But it is unclear whether the trigger will be Sept 26 or when the order is finally voted, which would take at least a couple of months. That issue was said to be the source of the "flux." The FCC is almost certain to vote to eliminate the discount, which counts only 50% of a UHF station toward the FCC's 39% cap on one broadcast group owner's national audience reach.