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

In the Matter of                     )
                                     )
Amendment of Section 73.622(b),     )        MM Docket No. 00-188
Table of Allotments,                 )       RM-9969
Digital Television Broadcast Stations.       )
(New Orleans, Louisiana)             )

                        REPORT AND ORDER
                     (Proceeding Terminated)

   Adopted:  February 23, 2001          Released:  February 26, 2001  

By the Chief, Video Services Division:

     1.  At the request of WWL-TV, Inc. ("WWL"), licensee of station WWL-TV, NTSC
channel 4, New Orleans, Louisiana, the Commission has before it the Notice of Proposed Rule
Making, 15 FCC Rcd 19449 (2000), proposing the substitution of DTV channel 36 for station
WWL-TV's assigned DTV channel 30.  Iberia Communication, LLC ("Iberia") and WWL filed
comments.  Reply comments were filed by Iberia and WWL.

     2.  In its comments, WWL reiterates its intention to apply for DTV channel 36 at New
Orleans, Louisiana, if it is allotted and, if authorized, to build a DTV facility promptly.  WWL
states that its proposal would eliminate the significant interference that would be caused by its
operation  on channel 30 to the adjacent channel DTV allotments of WVUE-DT and WLAE-DT in
New Orleans and to WGBC-TV, NTSC channel 30, in Meridian, Mississippi.  WWL notes that the
only party submitting comments is Iberia, the applicant for vacant NTSC channel 36, who supports
the allotment of DTV channel 36 to WWL-DT.  WWL encourages the Commission to promptly
issue a Notice and expedite action on Iberia's separate channel 53 proposal.
    
     3.  Based on the record before us, we believe the public interest would be served by
substituting DTV channel 36 for DTV channel 30 since it will permit station WWL-TV to eliminate
interference to the DTV channel allotments at New Orleans, as well as to station WGBC-TV at
Meridian, Mississippi.  With regard to Iberia's concern, the Commission has issued a Notice of
Proposed Rule Making, seeking comments on Iberia's request to substitute TV channels at New
Iberia, Louisiana.  DTV channel 36 can be allotted to New Orleans, Louisiana, as proposed, in
compliance with the principle coverage requirements of Section 73.625(a) at coordinate (29-54-23
N. and 90-02-23 W.).  In addition, we find that this channel is acceptable under the 2 percent
criterion for de minimis impact that is applied in evaluating requests for modification of initial DTV
allotments under Section 73.623(c)(2) for Station WWL-TV with the following specifications:

                  DTV         DTV power       Antenna       DTV Service
State & City        Channel        (kW)           HAAT (m)       Pop. (thous.)
LA New Orleans     36             1000           305                  1712
     
     
     4.  Accordingly, pursuant to the authority contained in Sections 4(i), 5(c)(1), 303(g) and (r)
and 307(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.61, 0.204(b) and 0.283
of the Commission's Rules, IT IS ORDERED, That effective April 12, 2001, the DTV Table of
Allotments, Section 73.622(b) of the Commission's Rules, IS AMENDED, with respect to the
community listed below, to read as follows:

                    City                Channel No.

                    New Orleans, Louisiana   *11, 14, 15,
                                        29, *31, 36,
                                        40, 43, 50c

     5.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That within 45 days of the effective date of this Order,
WWL-TV, Inc. shall submit to the Commission a minor change application for a construction
permit (FCC Form 301) specifying DTV Channel 36 in lieu of DTV Channel 30 for station WWL-
TV. 

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

     7.  For further information concerning this proceeding, contact Pam Blumenthal, Mass
Media Bureau, (202) 418-1600.

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                              Barbara A. Kreisman 
                              Chief, Video Services Division
                              Mass Media Bureau