FCC Approves VHF Channel 10 Switch for Elko Television Station
Television station KENV-DT in Elko, Nevada, is officially returning to VHF channel 10 following a formal channel allotment amendment issued by the Federal Communications Commission. The regulatory change, published in the Federal Register, resolves a construction hurdle faced by the station’s licensee.
The regulatory action amends the Commission’s Table of TV Allotments under 47 CFR part 73. It directly responds to a petition filed by Reno (KENV-TV) Licensee, Inc., the full power broadcaster operating KENV-DT in Elko. The adjustment replaces the previously assigned UHF channel 20 with VHF channel 10, allowing the station to maintain standard broadcast parameters and deliver continuous service to local viewers.
Background on the Elko Channel Swap and Permitting Deadlines
The regulatory path to this final allotment has evolved through several procedural steps handled by the agency’s Media Bureau. Initially, the Bureau granted a petition from the Licensee to substitute UHF channel 20 for VHF channel 10 in the table of allotments, subsequently issuing a construction permit for the new UHF facility.
Complications arose when the Licensee found itself unable to complete construction on the channel 20 facility by the mandatory deadline outlined in the permit. To avoid a disruption in service, the Licensee filed a subsequent petition asking the Commission to reverse course and return the station to VHF channel 10. Staff engineering analyses confirmed that returning to channel 10 fully complies with the Commission’s principal community coverage, technical specifications, and interference protection requirements.
Media Bureau Releases Formal Report and Order
The rulemaking process involved public scrutiny following its publication in the proposed rule phase at 91 FR 51421 on August 10, 2026. During the public comment window, the Licensee filed submissions reaffirming its commitment to promptly execute the channel substitution. An individual commenter, Steven Quinn Singleton, also submitted comments regarding the proceeding, which the Media Bureau formally denied in its Report and Order.
The formal Report and Order—designated as MB Docket No. 26-196, RM-12024, and DA 26-1125—was adopted and released on October 20, 2026. The full text of the administrative decision and related filings remain accessible through the Federal Communications Commission edocs system.
Federal Administrative Acts Do Not Apply to Proceeding
Because this action modifies a local television allotment table rather than imposing broad mandates, specific federal administrative acts do not apply. The Media Bureau noted that the proceeding contains no information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13) or the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-198, codified at 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4)). Provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 were determined not to apply to the proceeding.
In accordance with standard oversight procedures, the Commission will submit a copy of the Report and Order in a report to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act. The final rule takes effect on October 28, 2026, securing channel 10 for the Elko community.
