Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
Approved by OMB
3060-0386 (July 2002)
FOR FCC USE ONLY
 
Extension of Existing Engineering STA

Read Instructions/FAQ before filling out form

FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY
FILE NO.

BEDSTA - 20060629AFE
Section I - General Information
1. Legal Name of the Applicant
SAGA BROADCASTING, LLC
Mailing Address
73 KERCHEVAL AVENUE

City
GROSSE POINTE FARMS
State or Country (if foreign address)
MI
Zip Code
48236 -
Telephone Number (include area code)
3138867070
E-Mail Address (if available)
GURBIEL@SAGACOM.COM
FCC Registration No
0009112459
Call Sign
WXVT-DT
Facility ID Number
25236
2. Contact Representative (if other than licensee/permittee)
GARY S. SMITHWICK, ESQ.
Firm or Company Name
SMITHWICK & BELENDIUK, PC
Mailing Address
5028 WISCONSIN AVENUE, NW
SUITE 301

City
WASHINGTON
State or Country (if foreign address)
DC
ZIP Code
20016 -
Telephone Number (include area code)
2023634050

E-Mail Address (if available)
GSMITHWICK@FCCWORLD.COM
3. Purpose:
Engineering STA
Extension of Existing Engineering STA         File Number: BEDSTA - 20060511ACH
Legal STA
Extension of Existing Legal STA         
4. Service: DS 
5. Community of License:
City: GREENVILLE     State: MS
6. If this application has been submitted without a fee, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1114):
Governmental Entity Noncommercial Educational Licensee/Permittee Other
N/A (Fee Required)
7.
Please explain in detail the "extraordinary circumstances" which warrant temporary operations at variance from the Commission's Rules. In addition, please specify 1)the specific rules and/or policies from which the applicant seeks temporary relief; 2) how the public interest will be furthered by grant; and 3) the expected duration of the STA and the licensee's plan for restoration of licensed operation. If requesting variance with other than authorized technical facilities, please specify the exact facilities sought
[Exhibit 36]
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 hereby 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.
Typed or Printed Name of Person Signing
DARREN LEHRMANN
Typed or Printed Title of Person Signing
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
Signature
Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
06/29/2006

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 36
Description:
EXPLANATION OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY (STA) SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF SAGA BROADCASTING, LLC (SAGA), LICENSEE OF TELEVISION STATION WXVT(TV) (PERMITTEE OF DTV STATION WXVT-DT), GREENVILLE, MS, TO OPERATE WXVT-DT WITH 0.25 KW ERP WITH ANTENNA CENTER OF RADIATION AT 59 METERS HAAT, FROM GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES NL 33 23 09 WL 91 00 36. THE COMMISSION, BY LETTER DATED MARCH 19, 2002, GRANTED SAGA STA TO OPERATE AT LOW POWER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 19, 2002, AND HAS EXTENDED THE STA TO EXPIRE ON JULY 1, 2006 (SEE FILE NO. BEDSTA-20060511ACH, GRANTED JUNE 27, 2006).

THIS REQUEST IS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO PUBLIC NOTICE, DTV CHANNEL ELECTION ISSUES COMPLIANCE WITH THE JULY 1, 2006, REPLICATION/MAXIMIZATION INTERFERENCE PROTECTION DEADLINE; STATIONS SEEKING EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE, DA 06-1255, RELEASED JUNE 14, 2006.   ON JUNE 27, 2006, SAGA FILED A REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF THE JULY 3, 2006, DEADLINE.

ON OCTOBER 19, 1999, SAGA APPLIED FOR A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (FILE NO. BPCDT-19991019ABP) TO CONSTRUCT DTV FACILITIES THAT REPLICATED WXVTS 1997 ANALOG CONTOUR. THAT APPLICATION WAS GRANTED MAY 3, 2001, AND SAGA HAS TIMELY FILED REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OPERATE AT LOW POWER AND TO AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND THE PERMIT. BECAUSE WXVT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN ON CHANNEL 15 POST-TRANSITION, SAGA'S TECHNICAL STAFF MISTAKENLY BELIEVED IN ORDER TO MEET THE JULY 1, 2006, DEADLINE, IT NEEDED ONLY TO CONSTRUCT DTV CHANNEL 17 FACILITIES THAT WOULD REPLICATE 80% OF THE WXVT 1997 ANALOG SERVICE AREA. WHEN SAGA'S TECHNICAL STAFF CONSULTED SAGA'S ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS AND LEGAL COUNSEL, SAGA WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR MODIFICATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT TO AUTHORIZE USE OF THE CHANNEL 17 FACILITIES. ON JUNE 2, 2006, SAGA FILED AN APPLICATION (FILE NO. BMPCDT-20060602AAX) TO MODIFY THE EXISTING CHANNEL 17 DTV CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. EXPEDITED PROCESSING WAS REQUESTED, BUT IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE PERMIT WILL BE GRANTED BY THE JULY 3, 2006, DEADLINE. IT IS ONLY THE PENDENCY OF THIS APPLICATION THAT PREVENTS WXVT-DT FROM MEETING ITS MAXIMIZATION DEADLINE OF JULY 1, 2006. THE FACILITIES CAN BE READY FOR OPERATION VERY SOON AFTER THE COMMISSION ACTS ON BMPCDT-20060601AAX, AND A LICENSE TO COVER THE FACILITIES CAN BE FILED.

SINCE FULL TECHNICAL INFORMATION WAS SUBMITTED WITH THE ORIGINAL STA REQUEST, NO ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED HEREWITH.

THEREFORE, PLEASE EXTEND SAGA'S STA TO OPERATE WXVT-DT TO EXPIRE ON THE EARLIER OF SIX MONTHS OR WHEN THE FACILITIES DESCRIBED IN BMPCDT-20060601AAX ARE CONSTRUCTED AND AN APPLICATION FOR LICENSE HAS BEEN FILED.

Attachment 36