Proposed Deletion of Freeport FM Channel Moves to Comment
| RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 4:37pm CT |
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 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) |
The FCC has opened a public comment proceeding on a proposal to delete vacant FM Channel 277C at Freeport, Texas, citing technical spacing conflicts that prevent the channel from being reinstated in the FM Table of Allotments.
The channel became vacant following the 2022 cancellation of the DKJOJ-FM license, after the FCC determined the station's license had expired as a matter of law under Section 312(g) of the Communications Act. As a result, the channel designation at Freeport remained unassigned.
According to a recent FCC engineering analysis, Channel 277C at Freeport is short-spaced by 182 kilometers to vacant Channel 277C2 at Wharton, Texas, well below the required minimum separation of 249 kilometers. The Media Bureau concluded that no alternate channel configuration is available that would meet the Commission's spacing requirements, making reinstatement of the channel technically infeasible.
Because the channel cannot comply with FCC technical rules, the Audio Division determined it should not be restored to the FM Table of Allotments. The FCC says the proposed deletion would resolve the existing spacing conflict with the Wharton allotment and serve the public interest by maintaining the integrity of the FM allocation system.
The Commission is inviting public comment on the proposal. Parties seeking to retain FM service in Freeport must submit technical evidence demonstrating that a properly spaced transmitter site is feasible and that a compliant signal could cover the entire community, along with proof of reasonable assurance of site availability.
Comments are due March 13 with reply comments due March 30.
