FCC Amends Elko Nevada TV Table of Allotments to Substitute Channel 10 for Channel 20

Viewers tuning into full-power television station KENV-DT in Elko, Nevada, will maintain uninterrupted service on VHF channel 10 following a regulatory adjustment finalized by federal authorities.

The Federal Communications Commission officially amended the Table of TV Allotments in a Report and Order adopted and released on October 20, 2026, according to the Federal Register. The decision substitutes VHF channel 10 for UHF channel 20 at Elko, resolving a construction hurdle faced by the station’s operator.

Regulatory Reversal for Elko Broadcasters

The path to channel 10’s retention involved a structural shift in the station’s broadcast plans. The Media Bureau previously granted a petition filed by Reno (KENV-TV) Licensee, Inc. to switch from VHF channel 10 to UHF channel 20, subsequently issuing a construction permit for the new frequency.

However, the Licensee was ultimately unable to complete construction of the channel 20 facility by the mandatory deadline specified in its permit. To prevent a disruption in local programming, the operator filed a new petition to reverse course, requesting the retention of VHF channel 10 at its currently licensed parameters.

Staff engineering analyses conducted during the review found that the proposal fully complies with the Commission’s principal community coverage, technical specifications, and interference protection requirements. In support of the change, the Licensee submitted comments reaffirming its operational commitment to take all necessary steps to effectuate the channel substitution.

Rule Takes Effect After Public Comment Period

The rulemaking process drew localized feedback alongside the formal petition. An individual commenter, Steven Quinn Singleton, filed remarks during the public comment window, which the Media Bureau subsequently denied as detailed in the official Report and Order.

The proposed rule initially appeared in the Federal Register at 91 FR 51421 on August 10, 2026. Following the conclusion of administrative reviews, the amendment took effect immediately on October 28, 2026.

Agency filings confirm that the action does not trigger information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13; see also 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4) via the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198), nor does it engage provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980. Copies of the final decision, cataloged under MB Docket No. 26-196, RM-12024, and DA 26-1125, are accessible through the FCC Edocs system.