Reexamination of Comparative Standards for Noncommercial Educational Applicants

The Commission affirmed its April 2000 decision to use a point system to select among mutually exclusive noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast applicants on reserved channels. In response to requests for additional information, the Commission clarified various aspects of the new system and revised several rules to reflect the clarifications. Appendix D to the decision identifies approximately 1,500 pending applications that are members of closed mutually exclusive groups on reserved channels. The Commission will issue a public notice announcing a date by which those applicants must file either a supplement to claim points or a settlement agreement. The Commission will waive its rules to permit timely filed settlements to exceed the amount of the applicants' reasonable and prudent expenses.