Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
Approved by OMB
3060-0407 (January 2008)
FCC 337
FOR FCC USE ONLY
 
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO CONSTRUCT A DIGITAL TELEVISION BROADCAST STATION FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY
FILE NO.

BEPEDT - 20040629AAP
1. Legal Name of the Licensee/Permittee
EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTING FOUNDATION, INC.
Mailing Address
3330 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD., SUITE 345

City
METAIRIE
State or Country (if foreign address)
LA
Zip Code
70002 -
Telephone Number (include area code)
5048303705
E-Mail Address (if available)
DOUG_CURRY@WLAE.PBS.ORG
FCC Registration Number:
0001718832
Call Sign
WLAE-DT
Facility Identifier 
18819
2. Contact Representative (if other than licensee/permittee)
DOUGLAS H. CURRY
Firm or Company Name
WLAE-TV
Mailing Address
3330 N. CAUSEWAY BLVD.
SUITE 345

City
METAIRIE
State or Country (if foreign address)
LA
ZIP Code
70002 -
Telephone Number (include area code)
5048303705

E-Mail Address (if available)
DOUG_CURRY@WLAE.PBS.ORG
3.
Facility Information:
a. Commercial b: Noncommercial Educational c: N/A
d. Community of License:
City: NEW ORLEANS State: LA
4. Purpose of Application. Applicant requests an extension of time in which to complete the construction authorized pursuant to (check one):
a permit for a new DTV station Permit No. - Expiration Date:
a modification of a DTV construction permit Permit No. BPEDT-20000210AAP Expiration Date:
Amendment to pending application
5. Applicant certifies that construction cannot be completed due to (check all that apply):
legal reasons beyond station's control (e.g., litigation, international coordination).
severe financial hardship (e.g., bankruptcy, negative cash flow).
other reasons (e.g., natural disasters).

Describe in an Exhibit the specific reason(s) requiring additional time to construct, including the steps taken by the applicant to solve or mitigate the problem(s).

[Exhibit 1]
6. Has the construction period for this station been previously extended ? Yes No
a. If Yes, describe in an Exhibit the applicant's diligent efforts during the most recent construction period to overcome the circumstance(s) preventing construction.
[Exhibit 2]
7. Applicant requests that the time within which to complete construction be extended until: 01/04/2005
a. If applicant is not able to state now when construction is expected to be completed, describe in an Exhibit the reasonable steps it is taking to resolve the problem(s) preventing timely construction.
[Exhibit 3]
8. Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification. Applicant certifies that neither applicant nor any party to the application is subject to denial of federal benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862. Yes No

I certify that the statements in this application are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and are made in good faith. I acknowledge that all certifications and attached Exhibits are considered material representations. I hereby waive any claim to the use of any particular frequency as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the previous use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and request an authorization in accordance with this application. (See Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.)

Typed or Printed Name of Person Signing
DOUGLAS H. CURRY
Typed or Printed Title of Person Signing
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
Signature
Date
09/08/2004

WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND/OR IMPRISONMENT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 18, SECTION 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION LICENSE OR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 503).



Exhibits
Exhibit 1
Description:
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 5-- ADDITIONAL REASON FOR REQUIRING MORE TIME TO CONSTRUCT

WLAE HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL PROGRESS IN COMPLETING OUR DTV CONSTRUCTION, AS DESCRIBED IN GREATER DETAIL IN EXHIBIT 2, SINCE THE SUBMISSION OF OUR APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION (FCC FILE NO. BEPEDT 20040629AAP) WHICH IS BEING HEREBY AMENDED. HOWEVER, UNEXPECTED LEGAL OBSTACLES HAVE ARISEN IN PURCHASING THE DTV ANTENNA AND TRANSMISSION LINE WHICH HAVE FURTHER EXTENDED OUR PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE.

WLAE MUST COMPLY WITH LOUISIANA'S TECHNICAL PUBLIC BID LAWS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT. THE DELAYS IN THE PURCHASE OF A DTV ANTENNA AND TRANSMISSION LINE HAVE RESULTED FROM MINOR TECHNICALITIES IN THE BIDDING PROCESS WHICH CAUSED BIDS TO BE THROWN OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND WERE REQUIRED TO BE REBID.    ON EACH OF THESE OCCASIONS THERE HAS BEEN A SIX WEEK DELAY IN THE REBIDDING PROCESS. CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE THIRD BID CYCLE FOR THIS EQUIPMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEMS IN BIDDING HAVE NOW BEEN RESOLVED AND THAT THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE PURCHASED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2004, DELIVERED WITHIN 60 DAYS THEREAFTER AND INSTALLED NO LATER THAN 1/4/05.



Attachment 1


Exhibit 2
Description:
RESPONSE TO QUESTION 6A-ADDITIONAL DILIGENT EFFORTS TO COMPLETE DTV CONSTRUCTION

SINCE THE FILING OF OUR APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION (FCC FILE NO. BEPEDT 20040629AAP) WHICH IS BEING HEREBY AMENDED, WLAE HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING FURTHER DILIGENT EFFORTS TO COMPLETE ITS DTV CONSTRUCTION: (A) ALL OF THE STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE TOWER HAVE NOW BEEN COMPLETED, INCLUDING ALL GUY FOUNDATIONS STRENGTHENED, BRACING REPLACEMENTS MADE AND GUY WIRE REPLACEMENTS MADE; (B) A FOUR (4) STATION MASTER FM ANTENNA HAS BEEN INSTALLED; (C) TWO FM ANTENNAS AND TRANSMISSION LINES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, REDUCING THE WINDLOADING TO THE TOWER TO ALLOW A DTV ANTENNA TO BE INSTALLED; AND (D) ALL OF THIS WORK WAS COMPLETED BY AUGUST 28, 2004 PRIOR TO THE SEPT. 1 DEADLINE CONTAINED IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH OUR FM STATION PARTNERS.

AT THIS TIME 95% OF THE WORK REQUIRED TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION OF WLAE-DT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH ALL OF THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDING A NEW DTV FACILITY TO AN OVERLOADED TOWER, AND TO AN OVERCROWDED TRANSMITTER BUILDING, AND ARE NOW ARE ON THE FINAL STEP TO ACTIVATING OUR DTV FACILITY. EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE SOLE EXCEPTION OF PURCHASING AND INSTALLING A DTV ANTENNA AND TRANSMISSION LINE, WHICH ARE TO OCCUR SHORTLY AS OUTLINED ABOVE. WE EXPECT TO FINALLY BEGIN BROADCASTING IN DIGITAL ON OR BEFORE 1/4/05.









Attachment 2