Featured Stories
State Dept.: U.S. Welcomes Italy Into Pax Silica Initiative
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release on July 31, 2026:
* * *
US Welcomes Italy into Pax Silica Initiative
Today, the United States welcomed Italy into the Pax Silica initiative.
Italy signed the Pax Silica Declaration in Brindisi, Italy, officially acknowledging Italy's participation in the initiative. The United States and Italy affirmed their commitment to leveraging Italy's advanced manufacturing expertise to strengthen critical minerals and semiconductor supply chain resilience.
Italy is the 25th Pax Silica Declaration signatory. Pax Silica
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following news release on July 31, 2026:
* * *
US Welcomes Italy into Pax Silica Initiative
Today, the United States welcomed Italy into the Pax Silica initiative.
Italy signed the Pax Silica Declaration in Brindisi, Italy, officially acknowledging Italy's participation in the initiative. The United States and Italy affirmed their commitment to leveraging Italy's advanced manufacturing expertise to strengthen critical minerals and semiconductor supply chain resilience.
Italy is the 25th Pax Silica Declaration signatory. Pax Silicais a positive-sum partnership of economies committed to safeguarding competitiveness and prosperity.
For more information, visit Pax Silica (https://www.state.gov/pax-silica/).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/us-welcomes-italy-into-pax-silica-initiative/
State Department Issues Public Schedule for July 31, 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for June 31, 2026:
* * *
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
11:00 a.m. Secretary Rubio attends a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY THE WHITE HOUSE)
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
11:15 a.m.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the daily public schedule for June 31, 2026:
* * *
SECRETARY MARCO RUBIO
11:00 a.m. Secretary Rubio attends a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY THE WHITE HOUSE)
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER LANDAU
Deputy Secretary Landau attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES MICHAEL J. RIGAS
Deputy Secretary Rigas attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS ALLISON M. HOOKER
11:15 a.m.Under Secretary Hooker meets with Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra at the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)
UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY THOMAS G. DINANNO
Under Secretary DiNanno is on travel to Malaysia and Singapore from July 31-August 7, 2026.
BRIEFING SCHEDULE
No Department Press Briefing.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/07/public-schedule-july-31-2026/
SRNS Employee Selected for Exclusive Weapon Intern Program
AIKEN, South Carolina, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site issued the following news release:
* * *
SRNS employee selected for exclusive Weapon Intern Program
A Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) employee was recently selected to participate in the Weapon Intern Program (WIP) hosted by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Luke Hamrick, a Reservoir Engineer with Savannah River Tritium Enterprise (SRTE), is the sole representative from the Savannah River Site (SRS) chosen for this prestigious, 11-month educational program focused on advancing nuclear
... Show Full Article
AIKEN, South Carolina, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of Energy Savannah River Site issued the following news release:
* * *
SRNS employee selected for exclusive Weapon Intern Program
A Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) employee was recently selected to participate in the Weapon Intern Program (WIP) hosted by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Luke Hamrick, a Reservoir Engineer with Savannah River Tritium Enterprise (SRTE), is the sole representative from the Savannah River Site (SRS) chosen for this prestigious, 11-month educational program focused on advancing nuclearweapon knowledge.
The annual program offers 24 participants the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of nuclear weapons from leading engineers and subject matter experts. Thecurriculum features classroom instruction covering a wide range of nuclear weapon topics, as well as visits to laboratories, plants and sites across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). In addition, participants will complete class projects and presentations.
SRTE Reservoir Engineering Manager Todd Woodsmall plays a key role in coordinating the SRTE application and selection process. According to Woodsmall, the program has a strong reputation for supporting the professional growth and development of participants throughout the organization.
"Having engaged with numerous SRS participants both before and after their involvement in the program, as well as connecting with many others from across the complex, it is evident that this opportunity consistently elevates high performers. The program not only sharpens their skills but also increases their value and contribution to our shared mission."
Hamrick, who begins the program in Sept., expressed his enthusiasm to collaborate with peers across the NSE on improving processes and addressing shared challenges.
"Being accepted into this program will allow me the opportunity to deepen my understanding of the NSE as a whole and the role each site plays in supporting the nation's nuclear deterrent," said Hamrick. "I look forward to expanding my knowledge through this program, building meaningful relationships with colleagues from other sites and working together to find innovative solutions to common issues. By learning from the experiences and expertise of others, I hope to bring fresh perspectives and improvements back to SRS."
The WIP was created in 1998 to accelerate the learning process and transfer decades of knowledge and experience in all aspects of nuclear weapons. Since its inception, the program has graduated over 500 participants from multiple organizations, including the Department of Energy, the Department of War and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
* * *
Original text here: https://public.srs.gov/2026/07/srns-employee-selected-for-exclusive-weapon-intern-program/
Reclamation Announces Public Comment Period on Cachuma Project Contract Amendment
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release on July 31, 2026:
* * *
Reclamation announces public comment period on Cachuma Project contract amendment
FRESNO - The Bureau of Reclamation invites public comment on a proposed third amendment to the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board's Operation and Maintenance Contract (Contract No. 14-06-200-5222RC), dated July 21, 2026.
The amendment would extend the contract term up to two years and allow COMB to continue operation and maintenance of the Cachuma Project's transferred
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release on July 31, 2026:
* * *
Reclamation announces public comment period on Cachuma Project contract amendment
FRESNO - The Bureau of Reclamation invites public comment on a proposed third amendment to the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board's Operation and Maintenance Contract (Contract No. 14-06-200-5222RC), dated July 21, 2026.
The amendment would extend the contract term up to two years and allow COMB to continue operation and maintenance of the Cachuma Project's transferredworks.
Reclamation is accepting written comments for 30 days. Comments on this third draft contract amendment must be received by close of business on August 29, 2026, and may be submitted by mail, fax, or email to:
David E. Hyatt, South-Central California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno, California, 93721; fax: 559-262-0371; email: dhyatt@usbr.gov.
To view the contract, visit: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/sccao/water-contracting.html
For additional information, contact David E. Hyatt at dhyatt@usbr.gov or 559-262-0334.
* * *
The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5384
NIH: Child's Language May Predict the Arrival of Depression and Anxiety Disorders Years Before Onset
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health issued the following news release:
* * *
A child's language may predict the arrival of depression and anxiety disorders years before onset
NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth's framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders.
By applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to interviews with children about early life stress, researchers identified linguistic features that predicted future depressive or anxiety disorders.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSjou) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health issued the following news release:
* * *
A child's language may predict the arrival of depression and anxiety disorders years before onset
NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth's framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders.
By applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to interviews with children about early life stress, researchers identified linguistic features that predicted future depressive or anxiety disorders.In a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study, scientists developed predictive models based on these features that could predict symptom onset and diagnosis up to six years later, surpassing estimates based on gold-standard risk indicators.
This new research, led by senior author Ian H. Gotlib, Ph.D., at Stanford University, may represent a better way of identifying children without mental health disorders but are at high risk of developing them later in life. Such a tool could enable healthcare providers to act during a crucial window when prevention is still possible -- a capability not supported by current clinical assessments.
"We know that exposure to early adversity is a potent risk factor for the development of mental health problems. At the same time, many children experience adversity but do not go on to develop psychopathology. With current methods, which rely heavily on static risk factors, we cannot reliably distinguish children who are at risk from those who are likely to be resilient," said first author Chase Antonacci, a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University.
Seeking objective, data-driven factors that are more indicative of an individual's risk, the authors searched for answers in language, wherein subtle cues have potentially been overlooked.
The researchers analyzed audio recordings of structured interviews with 204 children, 9 to 13 years old, enrolled in the NIH-supported Early Life Stress Study. The interviews, about 30 minutes on average, covered each child's lifetime exposure to traumatic events, providing a measure of baseline stress when children were not yet diagnosed with any mental health disorder. The team also obtained data from follow-up assessments conducted either four or six years later.
Antonacci and his colleagues applied four different natural-language processing techniques to search for patterns within the audio recordings. These AI tools were sensitive to an array of properties, such as sentence structure, grammar, semantics, topics, and categories of words.
By attempting to predict mental health outcomes at the four- and six-year follow-up assessments with each model, the authors identified which features of language were the strongest indicators of risk. For comparison, they also attempted to accomplish the same goal with only demographic information and stress severity scores that experts produced based on the interviews.
The team found that linguistic style was paramount.
One of the strongest predictors was elevated narrative complexity, marked by greater use of function words such as prepositions, which may indicate styles of thinking, including rumination, that are well-established risk factors of depression. Other robust markers included the use of rigid language that expressed absolute certainty and self-referential speech indicated by heavy use of first-person singular pronouns.
"We saw that the way kids spoke about stress exposure -- the mechanics of their language, rather than necessarily what they said -- was a robust predictor of the onset of anxiety and depression," Antonacci said.
Semantic models linked specific themes to mental health outcomes. While narratives about routine engagement with hobbies, structured activities, and access to healthcare seemingly had a protective effect, those about acute physical violence and social exclusion steered children in the opposite direction.
In many cases, the researchers showed that their predictive models outperformed predictions based on expert ratings, the gold-standard measurement of stress severity. In the future, the researchers aim to boost performance further by integrating their models.
"A method of predicting which children are most vulnerable to developing mood and anxiety disorders would be tremendous in helping to prevent a possible burden of cost and suffering over a lifetime," said Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Ph.D., acting director of NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
NIH supported this research through NIMH grants R37MH101495 and F32MH135657.
About the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/).
* * *
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health(R)
* * *
Reference
Chase Antonacci et al. Natural Language Processing of Youth Speech Predicts Psychopathology Across Adolescence. Nature Mental Health. July 31, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s44220-026-00683-9
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/childs-language-may-predict-arrival-depression-anxiety-disorders-years-before-onset
Legendary Aviator Like No Other: Civil Air Patrol's Al Cerullo
MAXWELL AFB, Alabama, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol issued the following news:
* * *
A Legendary Aviator Like No Other: Civil Air Patrol's Al Cerullo
From the dark skies over Vietnam to the bright lights of Hollywood, 1st Lt. Al Cerullo's military service and civilian career reads like a movie script.
Welcome to the Civil Air Patrol America 250 series. We will be highlighting American hero members and their service leading up to the America 250 celebration. This is the seventh feature of that series: 1st Lt. Al Cerullo of CAP's New York Wing. Catch up on the entire
... Show Full Article
MAXWELL AFB, Alabama, Aug. 1 -- The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol issued the following news:
* * *
A Legendary Aviator Like No Other: Civil Air Patrol's Al Cerullo
From the dark skies over Vietnam to the bright lights of Hollywood, 1st Lt. Al Cerullo's military service and civilian career reads like a movie script.
Welcome to the Civil Air Patrol America 250 series. We will be highlighting American hero members and their service leading up to the America 250 celebration. This is the seventh feature of that series: 1st Lt. Al Cerullo of CAP's New York Wing. Catch up on the entireseries here (https://www.cap.news/t/america-250-series).
-
Outside the bounds of New York City's five boroughs, Civil Air Patrol 1st Lt. Al Cerullo may be the aviation legend you've never heard of.
But before dismissing the word legend as overworked and excessive, consider just a slice of Cerullo's record:
A decorated helicopter pilot in Vietnam, Cerullo, now 81, flew in some of the most dangerous hot spots of the war, locales known to history like Chu Lai, Khe Sahn, Da Nang, the A Shau Valley, and Tet. He earned the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and awards for valor, while flying 1,605 air combat hours.
He was in a bunker for 30 hours at Khe Sahn in February 1968 during the siege of that Special Forces base.
"That was scarier than flying to be honest, because we could hear all these freakin' rockets go off and all that."
After the war, he went to work as an aerial cinematographer, filming commercials, TV shows like "The Sopranos," rock videos with the likes of The Rolling Stones, and enough movie and TV credits to rival DeNiro, Duvall, Costner, and Cruise.
And, in 2017, he received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration in recognition for 50 years without a safety incident, the agency's most significant honor. He is approaching 30,000 hours in the air.
That's only part of the story.
As a member of CAP's Lt. Quentin Roosevelt Squadron on Long Island, Cerullo has mentored hundreds of cadets, primarily in aviation education. One of his former cadets, Ohio Wing historian Capt. Jared Del Orfano, tells a story justifying the legend of the plot of "355 Alpha Golf." It happened a few years back. Using his connections, Cerullo arranged for his charges to tour the New York Police Department's Aviation Unit. The police pilots were as wowed by meeting Cerullo as the cadets were meeting them.
* * *
""Al's introducing us to all these famous aviation people when he was just as famous. As cadets, we didn't realize it because he was so humble."
- Capt. Jared Del Orfano, a former New York Wing cadet mentored by Cerullo
* * *
Beginnings
Al Cerullo's life reads a bit like a Hollywood script. It began in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. He lost his mom when he was only 2 years old and was raised by aunts and uncles on Long Island. Like any good film, a plot twist set the course for his entire life.
His father remarried later and the family moved to Long Island. Cerullo was attending college part time when he was drafted. He started as a truck mechanic. His uncles owned two large auto repair shops in Brooklyn.
"While I was in that [truck maintenance] school, I saw guys in helicopter maintenance school, and I thought I'd try that. I got in and was a crew chief for a year. While I was doing that, I saw guys in pilot training and they needed pilots. So it's history from there. I got in and here we are 30,000 hours later."
Vietnam and Blood on His Feet
One quality rings through Al Cerullo's life, especially when reflecting on his wartime service:
Humility.
"He is such a humble guy," Del Orfano said.
"We knew he'd been through some [stuff]," Del Orfano said, but his cadets really had no idea.
In Vietnam, Cerullo served in combat for 13 months, transporting fresh troops to the battlefield and the dead and wounded off the field, resupply, and other duties piloting the large Delta model Huey. He often flew in complete darkness, a natural camouflage from anti-aircraft fire.
"You're dodging tracers and all that. You turn all your lights off, including instrument lights. It was a challenge, but we're still here, you know?"
First Lt. Al Cerullo, recalling his nightly combat flights over Vietnam
"He told us the story where he was doing medevac flights and they would push the nose forward and blood would run up to their feet and pool in the front of the chopper," Del Orfano said.
Cerullo said, "I picked up guys with their arms blown off, their legs blown off."
He was shot once. In fact, his sidearm and holster bear scars from the round.
"I was shot when we were landing on a hilltop to drop some troops off. When we got three to eight feet away and we were ready to drop the troops off, all of a sudden, you see these rifles coming out of the holes."
His chopper took 32 hits, including his wound. But the chopper still flew.
* * *
"We flew to a hospital, and I landed in a rice paddy. When I came back, the helicopter wouldn't start. Somebody up there said, 'Eh. It's not your time to go.'"
- First Lt. Al Cerullo, on being injured but still flying his helicopter to a hospital
* * *
Cerullo's combat service in the 176th Assault Helicopter Company ended on Nov. 9, 1968.
"My commander called me in after I went over 1,600 [hours]," Cerullo recalled. "He said, 'You know what? Everyone else has 1,100 hours. You've got 1,605. I don't know how that happened. Give me your helmet. I'll give it back to you when you leave."
After the War, A New Career
Cerullo originally planned to fly helicopters in the petroleum industry. But when he returned home to Long Island, he earned his flight instructor rating and met a Californian, John Carroll, the owner of Continental Camera. That began his film cinematography career.
His hangar is filled with movie and television memorabilia. One of his favorites was "Sweet Liberty," written, directed, and starring Alan Alda, who Cerullo described as "a sweetheart." He also was a double for Alda and co-star Lois Chiles in the 1986 film that also included Michael Caine and Michelle Pfeiffer.
His first film was 1971's "Klute," starring Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland.
His aerial photography for films includes major blockbusters in the Marvel universe, "Home Alone II: Lost in New York," "Goodfellas," "The Other Guys" with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, and many, many more movies, TV shows, music videos, commercials, and even print ads.
Cerullo also did film work for the U.S. Air Force, flying the A-10 Demonstration Team back and forth to air shows.
His credits as an extra includes shows like "Law and Order." He is a founding member of the Motion Picture Pilots Association. In 2009, he received the Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Award.
He still does groundwork for the film industry as an aerial coordinator.
"It's been a fun career. It was fun to go to the movies and see that."
First Lt. Al Cerullo, on his lengthy post-war film cinematography career
Learn more about his career in this news video, "Al Curello -- Long Island's Pilot to Hollywood."
A Mentor and Legend
As a member of Civil Air Patrol, Cerullo oversaw growth of the Roosevelt squadron's cadet program. Membership grew to some 60 members. He served as deputy commander and commander for a time.
"He demonstrated what it means to be a compassionate leader," Del Orfano said. "He showed how to care for your teammates, regardless of their rank or experience in CAP. He would always give every single person the same time of day, always willing to talk to them about aviation and the military ... and their career goals. He cared about every single person."
* * *
"Al is just the epitome of the patriotic individual who dedicates his life to serving his country. He had that amazing military career, that amazing flying career. Everyone has seen his work and been entertained by his job and on top of all that, he's gone on to educate the future generation of pilots in America. That's just awesome."
- Capt. Jared Del Orfano, describing Cerullo, his CAP friend and mentor
Cerullo's counsel to cadets: "Follow your dreams."
* * *
Is Al Cerullo truly a legend?
"Yes, absolutely," Del Orfano said. "We volunteered at the Jones Beach Air Show, and he would ferry the performers from the airport to the beach where the show center was. He would be out there with our recruiting tent. And there was this kid out there taking pictures of Al's helicopter.
"'I know this helicopter,'" the kid said. "'355 Alpha Golf. This is the one in all the movies and stuff.' This random guy knew who Al was. So, yes, I would say he is a legend. He has been around for a long time and has done so many things. This guy has been everywhere and done everything. This guy probably downplayed all his achievements. But as a pilot and as a person, he is a legend, 100 percent."
Cerullo still flies his twin-engine Airbus Twin Star helicopter -- his kids won't let him fly a single-engine aircraft -- and he also owns a Cessna 421. He hits the car show circuit as well with either his 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 with a seven-speed manual transmission or his 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing.
"When I go to car shows with [the Cadillac], they keep giving me trophies."
And in another twist, he made a confession. While he obviously doesn't have a fear of flying, he has one phobia.
"I'm not afraid of falling out of a helicopter. But I'm afraid of falling off a roof."
Asked if he considers himself a legend, Cerullo answers with characteristic humility.
"No," he said. "I'm just a normal person."
Use Your Skills in CAP
Civil Air Patrol's adult ranks consist of volunteers from all backgrounds, including service in the military like Lt. Cerullo.
He uses his flying and mentoring skills to teach cadets in CAP, the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. In its role as the Air Force auxiliary, CAP offers hands-on training, mentorship, and service opportunities in support of emergency services and disaster relief nationwide.
To learn more about membership and find your local unit, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.cap.news/p/a-legendary-aviator-like-no-other-civil-air-patrol-s-al-cerullo
FCC: Auction 114 Freeze Announced for FM Minor Change Applications
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following public notice (AU Docket No. 26-105):
* * *
The Media Bureau announces that it will not accept FM commercial and noncommercial educational (NCE) minor change applications during the Auction 114 Form 175 application filing window. This window will open on September 14, 2026, and close on September 30, 2026./1 Any such minor change application submitted during the window will be dismissed.
In Auction 114, scheduled to begin on February 2, 2027, the Media Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following public notice (AU Docket No. 26-105):
* * *
The Media Bureau announces that it will not accept FM commercial and noncommercial educational (NCE) minor change applications during the Auction 114 Form 175 application filing window. This window will open on September 14, 2026, and close on September 30, 2026./1 Any such minor change application submitted during the window will be dismissed.
In Auction 114, scheduled to begin on February 2, 2027, the Media Bureau and Office of Economics and Analyticswill make available through competitive bidding procedures 132 vacant non-reserved band allotments in the FM broadcast service. These allotments are listed in Attachment A of the Auction 114 Procedures Public Notice./2 FM minor change applications, which can now be filed on a first-come first-served basis, must protect the reference coordinates of each of these allotments. As part of the pre-auction procedures, an auction participant must file Form 175, Application to Participate in an FCC Auction. In conjunction with its Form 175 submission, an auction participant also may specify FM preferred site coordinates, and thereby gain protection for a potential transmitter site./3 However, absent a freeze during the Form 175 filing period, an existing FM station could file a minor change proposal that would be mutually exclusive with an FM auction applicant's new FM station proposal at its preferred site, thereby subjecting the minor change application to auction procedures. This freeze also will include FM reserved band minor change applications to avoid potential conflicts between these filings and Form 175 applications./4 These temporary freezes are designed to avoid conflicts between the frozen filings and auction proposals, and to promote a more certain and speedy auction process.
For additional information, contact James Bradshaw or Rudy Bonacci, Audio Division, Media Bureau at (202) 418-2700.
By: Acting Chief, Media Bureau
* * *
Footnotes:
1/ On May 11, 2026, the Media Bureau also announced a freeze, effective immediately, on the filing of applications proposing to modify any of the 132 vacant non-reserved band FM allotments scheduled for Auction 114, and petitions and counterproposals that propose a change in channel, class, community, or reference coordinates for any of the FM allotments scheduled for Auction 114. Any application, petition, or counterproposal that either proposes any change to, or fails to fully protect any of the 132 Auction 114 FM allotments, or preferred site coordinates specified in an applicant's Form 175 application, will be dismissed. This freeze will automatically terminate the day after the filing deadline for post-Auction 114 long-form applications. See Auction 114 Freeze Announced for Certain FM Applications and Rulemaking Filings, AU Docket No. 26-105, Public Notice, DA 26-445 (MB May 11, 2026).
2/ Auction of FM Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for February 2, 2027; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 114, Public Notice, DA 26-798 (OEA/MB July 31, 2026) (Auction 114 Procedures Public Notice). Bidders are also cautioned that currently pending petitions for rulemaking and open rulemaking proceedings may affect the 132 FM allotments scheduled for Auction 114. See Auction 114 Procedures Public Notice, "Due Diligence," Section II.A.
3/ See Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding for Commercial Broadcast and Instructional Television Fixed Service Licenses, First Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 15920, 15975 and n.153 (1998), on recon. Memorandum Opinion and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 8724 (1999), on further recon. Memorandum Opinion and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 12541 (1999).
4/ Such conflicts may arise when the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements for FM facilities are applied to proposals specifying operation on channels in the "border" between the reserved and non-reserved bands (Channels 218-223) or on intermediate frequency (IF) channels, i.e., channels that are separated by 53 or 54 channels. See 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 73.207 and 73.507.
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-799A1.pdf
