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


In the Matter of                )
                                )
Amendment of Section 73.202(b), )  MM Docket No. 96-123
Table of Allotments,            )  RM-8875
FM Broadcast Stations.          )
(Tullahoma, Lynchburg and       )
Petersburg, Tennessee)          )
                                 
                                 
                         REPORT AND ORDER
                     (Proceeding Terminated)

   Adopted:  November 18, 1998          Released:  November 20, 1998

By the Chief, Allocations Branch:

     1.  The Commission has before the Notice of Proposed Rule Making in this proceeding. 11 FCC Rcd
13164  (1996).  Tri-County Broadcasting, Inc. ("Tri-County Broadcasting") filed Comments.  Petersburg
Broadcasting and Hopkins-Hall Broadcasting, Inc. ("Hopkins-Hall") each filed a Counterproposal.  Big River
Broadcasting Corporation ("Big River Broadcasting") filed "Comments and Contingent Counterproposal." 
For the reasons discussed below, we are denying the underlying proposal and the three counterproposals filed
in response to the Notice.

                            Background

     2.  At the request of Tri-County Broadcasting, the Notice proposed the allotment of Channel 296A
to Tullahoma, Tennessee, as a second local FM service.  In response to the Notice, Petersburg Broadcasting
filed a counterproposal proposing the allotment of Channel 296A to Petersburg, Tennessee, as a first local
service, and Hopkins-Hall filed a counterproposal proposing the allotment of Channel 296A to Lynchburg,
Tennessee, as a first local service.  In its "Comments and Contingent Counterproposal," Big River
Broadcasting contends that the underlying proposal for a Channel 296A allotment at Tullahoma does not
comply with the minimum separation requirements with respect to Station WQLT, Channel 297C, Florence,
Alabama.  In the event that we determine that the proposed Channel 296A allotment at Tullahoma does, in
fact, comply with the applicable minimum separation requirements, Big River Broadcasting requests that
its counterproposal for a Channel 296A allotment at Lynchburg, Tennessee, be considered in this proceeding.

     3.  As correctly noted by Big River Broadcasting, the underlying Channel 296A proposal at
Tullahoma was premised on Station WQLT downgrading to Channel 297C1.  Indeed, at the time Tri-County
Broadcasting filed its Petition for Rule Making for a Channel 296A allotment at Tullahoma, we had granted
a construction permit (File No. BPH-960322ID) downgrading Station WQLT to Channel 297C1, and the
covering license application (File No. BLH-960617KA) was pending.  Notwithstanding  the pendency of
the license application, any petition for rule making filed prior to the grant of the license application must
protect the existing Station WQLT license on Channel 297C. See Section 73.208(a)(1)(i) of the Rules; see
also Revision of Section 73.3573(a)(1) of the Commission's Rules Concerning the Lower Classification of
an FM Allotment, 4 FCC Rcd 2413 (1989).  In this instance, the 146.4-kilometer separation between the
proposed Channel 296A allotment at Tullahoma and the existing Channel 297C authorization at Florence
does not meet the 165-kilometer separation requirement set forth in Section 73.207(b) of the Rules.  For this
reason, we will deny the proposal.  Similarly, the three counterproposals do not meet the same 165-kilometer
separation requirement with respect to Station WQLT.  Each of these counterproposals will also be denied.

     4.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, That the proposal filed by Tri-County Broadcasting Company,
Inc. for Channel 296A at Tullahoma, Tennessee (RM-8875) IS DENIED.

     5.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the counterproposal filed by Petersburg Broadcasting for a
Channel 296A allotment at Petersburg, Tennessee, IS DENIED.  

     6.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the counterproposal filed by Hopkins-Hall Broadcasting, Inc.
for Channel 296A at Lynchburg, Tennessee, IS DENIED.

     7.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the counterpropsal filed by Big River Broadcasting
Corporation for Channel 296A at Lynchburg, Tennessee, IS DENIED.

     8.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this proceeding IS TERMINATED.










     9.  For further information concerning this proceeding contact Robert Hayne, Mass Media Bureau
(202) 418-2177.

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


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