KSTP-TV, LLC, THE PERMITTEE OF KSTP-DT, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA (FACILITY ID 28010), HEREBY REQUESTS SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY (STA), IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONS DTV THIRD PERIODIC REVIEW REPORT & ORDER, 23 FCC RCD 2994, 3039-41, PARAS. 94-96 (2007), TO OPERATE ITS AUTHORIZED POST-TRANSITION DTV FACILITIES (SEE FILE NO. BPCDT-20080321ABD) AT LESS THAN FULL, AUTHORIZED POWER THROUGH MARCH 31, 2009, BY WHICH TIME KSTP INTENDS TO HAVE BEGUN OPERATING AT ITS FULLY AUTHORIZED POWER. KSTP'S POST-TRANSITION OPERATIONS WILL BE ON CHANNEL 35. THE UNIQUE TECHNICAL CHALLENGE FORCING KSTP TO CONDUCT A PHASED TRANSITION IS THAT IT CANNOT BEGIN TO FULLY MODIFY ITS EQUIPMENT UNTIL KARE-DT CEASES OPERATION OF ITS CHANNEL 35 PRE-TRANSITION DTV FACILITIES ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009. DURING ITS REDUCED POWER, POST-TRANSITION OPERATIONS, KSTP WILL SERVE APPROXIMATELY 96.2% OF THE POPULATION CURRENTLY RECEIVING ITS ANALOG SERVICE AND 97.2% OF KSTPS APPENDIX B DTV TABLE OF ALLOTMENTS POPULATION. KSTP SUBMITS THAT GRANTING ITS STA REQUEST WOULD SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY ALLOWING IT TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A VALUABLE BROADCAST SERVICE TO THE VAST MAJORITY OF ITS CURRENT VIEWERS WHILE IT FINISHES ITS TRANSITION TO DIGITAL-ONLY OPERATIONS.