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

In the Matter of                )
                                )
Amendment of Section 73.202(b), )       MM Docket No. 96-203
Table of Allotments,            )       RM-8871
FM Broadcast Stations.          )
(Augusta, Gibson and Thomson, Georgia))

                        REPORT AND ORDER
                     (Proceeding Terminated)

   Adopted: January 27, 1999            Released: February 5, 1999  

By the Chief, Allocations Branch:

     1.  At the request of Wilks Broadcast Acquisitions, Inc. ("petitioner"), the Commission has
before it the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 11 FCC Rcd 12702 (1996), proposing the substitution
of Channel 269C3 for Channel 272A at Augusta, Georgia, and the modification of its license for
Station WEKL to specify the higher powered channel.  To accommodate the allotment at Augusta,
the Notice also proposed that Channel 232A be substituted for Channel 269A at Thomson, Georgia,
the license of Station WTHO be modified to specify the alternate Class A channel, and that vacant
and unapplied-for Channel 232A be deleted from Gibson, Georgia.  Comments supporting the
proposal were filed by the petitioner.  No other comments were received.

     2.  Our Notice proposing the upgrade at Augusta and the substitution of channels at
Thompson was predicated on the deletion of vacant and then-unapplied for Channel 232A at Gibson. 
However, as stated in the Notice, Channel 232A would be retained at Gibson if an intent to apply
for the channel was expressed during the initial comment period.  On  September 16, 1996, an
application (BPH-960916ME) for a construction permit for the Gibson channel was filed by Joseph
A. Ranke ("Ranke") but the petitioner, in its comments, provided a letter from Ranke, dated
November 22, 1996, withdrawing his application.  However, on January 15, 1998, Ranke filed
another letter with the Commission seeking to withdraw his application dismissal request, indicating
that he is terminating the agreement and intends to prosecute the application.  On January 25, 1999,
the Commission granted Ranke's request to withdraw his dismissal request and returned the
application (BPH-960916ME) to pending status.  
     3.  It is Commission policy not to delete a channel in which interest has been expresed.  Since
an application for the use of Channel 232A at Gibson has been filed, the basis for the deletion is no
longer valid.  Thus, since the allotment of Channel 269C3 at Augusta requires the deletion of the
Gibson allotment, we are compelled to dismiss petitioner's proposal.  See, Woodville, Mississippi,
and Clayton, Louisiana, 9 FCC Rcd 2769 (1994).
          
     4.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, That the petition for rule making filed by Wilks
Broadcast Acquisitions, Inc. to substitute Channel 269C3 for Channel 272A at Augusta, Georgia,
substitute Channel 232A for Channel 269A at Thomson, Georgia, and delete Channel 232A at
                                   Gibson, Georgia, IS DISMISSED.      

     5.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That the Secretary shall send a copy of this Report and
Order by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to the licensee of Station WTHO, as follows:
Camellia City Communications, Station WTHO, 788 Cedar Rock Road, N.W., P.O. Box 900,
Thomson, GA 30824.
 
     6.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this proceeding IS TERMINATED.

     7.  For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Leslie K. Shapiro, Mass
Media Bureau, (202) 418-2180.10.  

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




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