# 2026-03015: FCC Flips Kansas PBS from Channel 8 to 33 for Clarity

2026-03015, Television Broadcasting Services Hutchinson, Kansas, is a Federal Register rule from Federal Communications Commission published 2026-02-17, effective 2026-03-19 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03015
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03015
- Title: Television Broadcasting Services Hutchinson, Kansas
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Federal Communications Commission
- Citation: 91 FR 7159
- Published: 2026-02-17
- Effective: 2026-03-19
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

FCC Flips Kansas PBS from Channel 8 to 33 for Clarity

## Summary

The FCC is switching Hutchinson, Kansas’s PBS station KPTS from channel 8 to channel 33 to boost TV signal quality and help viewers get a clearer picture. This change, effective March 19, 2026, won’t cost viewers extra or cause anyone to lose access. It’s a smart move to make watching local educational TV easier and better for everyone in the area.

## Abstract

This document amends the Table of TV Allotments (table) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules by substituting channel *33 for channel *8 at Hutchinson, Kansas in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Kansas Public Telecommunications Service, Inc. (Kansas Public or Petitioner), the licensee of noncommercial educational PBS member television station KPTS(TV) (KPTS or Station), Hutchinson, Kansas. In support of its channel substitution request, the Petitioner asserts that allowing the Station to move from a VHF to a UHF channel would serve the public interest by improving signal reception for viewers. The staff engineering analysis finds that the proposal is in compliance with the Commission's principal community coverage and technical requirements. The substitution of channel *33 for channel *8 in the Table will allow the Station to improve its over- the-air reception within its coverage area and is not predicted to result in viewer loss.

## Effects PRIA read

- KPTS Moves from VHF to UHF: benefit, low. KPTS, the PBS station in Hutchinson, Kansas, is changing from channel 8 (VHF) to channel 33 (UHF) to improve over-the-air signal reception and give viewers a clearer picture. The change is effective March 19, 2026, and the FCC says it will not cost viewers extra or cause anyone to lose access.

## Related documents

- [2026-20591](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20591): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20590](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20590): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20676](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20676): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20607](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20607): Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20681](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20681): Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20486](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20486): Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-10-06

## Sources
- [2026-03015 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/17/2026-03015/television-broadcasting-services-hutchinson-kansas)
- [2026-03015 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-17/pdf/2026-03015.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: C1-2026-00147, Hazard Communication Standard; Corrections](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/C1-2026-00147)
- [Next: 2026-03028, Restoration of Statutory Terms in TSA Regulations: Use of Alien; Technical Amen…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03028)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03015 (as of 2026-06-11).