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FCC Restores VHF Channel 10 to Elko, Nevada TV Station KENV-DT

The FCC's Media Bureau has finalized a channel substitution for KENV-DT in Elko, Nevada, reverting the station from UHF channel 20 back to VHF channel 10 after the licensee missed a construction permit deadline.

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The Federal Communications Commission has amended its Digital Television Table of Allotments to substitute VHF channel 10 for UHF channel 20 at Elko, Nevada, restoring the original channel assignment for full power television station KENV-DT. The final rule, adopted and released October 20, 2026, takes effect October 28, 2026, and amends 47 CFR part 73.

The action reverses a prior channel change that the Media Bureau had itself approved. The Bureau had previously granted a petition for rulemaking submitted by Reno (KENV-TV) Licensee, Inc. — the licensee of KENV-DT — to substitute UHF channel 20 for VHF channel 10 at Elko, and had subsequently granted a construction permit for the new channel 20 facility. However, the Licensee states that it was unable to complete construction of the channel 20 facility by the deadline specified in the Station's construction permit, prompting it to file the current petition to revert to channel 10.

In support of its channel substitution request, the Licensee filed comments reaffirming its interest and stating that it commits to promptly take any and all steps that may be necessary to effectuate the channel substitution proposed in the petition. The Bureau's staff engineering analysis found that the proposal is in compliance with the Commission's principal community coverage and technical requirements, including the interference protection requirements. The stated rationale for the reversion is to allow KENV-DT to continue to operate on channel 10 at its licensed parameters and provide uninterrupted service to viewers.

An individual commenter, Steven Quinn Singleton, also filed comments in the proceeding; the Bureau denied those comments for the reasons discussed in the Report and Order. The proceeding is identified as MB Docket No. 26-196; RM-12024; DA 26-1125. The proposed rule had been published at 91 FR 51421 on August 10, 2026. The Commission will send a copy of the Report and Order to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act.

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The final rule is effective October 28, 2026, the date of its Federal Register publication, at which point 47 CFR § 73.622's Digital Television Table of Allotments formally reflects channel 10 as Elko's allotment for KENV-DT.

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Sources

13 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The FCC amended the Digital Television Table of Allotments to substitute VHF channel 10 for UHF channel 20 at Elko, Nevada.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The final rule was adopted and released October 20, 2026, and takes effect October 28, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  3. The rule amends 47 CFR part 73.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The Media Bureau had previously granted a petition for rulemaking to substitute UHF channel 20 for VHF channel 10 at Elko, and subsequently granted a construction permit for the new channel 20 facility.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The Licensee is Reno (KENV-TV) Licensee, Inc., the licensee of full power television station KENV-DT in Elko, Nevada.

    federalregister.gov

  6. The Licensee states that it was unable to complete construction of the channel 20 facility by the deadline specified in the Station's construction permit.

    federalregister.gov

  7. The Licensee filed comments reaffirming its interest and stating it commits to promptly take any and all steps that may be necessary to effectuate the channel substitution proposed in the petition.

    federalregister.gov

  8. The Bureau's staff engineering analysis found the proposal is in compliance with the Commission's principal community coverage and technical requirements, including the interference protection requirements.

    federalregister.gov

  9. The stated rationale for the reversion is to allow KENV-DT to continue to operate on channel 10 at its licensed parameters and provide uninterrupted service to viewers.

    federalregister.gov

  10. An individual commenter, Steven Quinn Singleton, also filed comments, which the Bureau denied.

    federalregister.gov

  11. The proceeding is identified as MB Docket No. 26-196; RM-12024; DA 26-1125.

    federalregister.gov

  12. The proposed rule was published at 91 FR 51421 on August 10, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  13. The Commission will send a copy of the Report and Order to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act.

    federalregister.gov

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