KCTS-TV, licensee of educational television station KCTS in Seattle and one of two applicants for a new station on educational NTSC Channel 62 in Seattle requested the FCC substitute educational DTV Channel 53 for the analog Channel 62. As Seattle is within 248 miles of the U.S./Canadian border, the FCC (as required by a Letter of Understanding between the commission and Industry Canada) requested concurrence from the Canadian government. The other mutually exclusive applicant, Washington Family Broadcasting, agreed to join KCTS-TV in its petition for rule making for Channel 53.

The Canadian government opposed the request. It indicated allotment of DTV Channel 53 to Seattle would not protect DTV Channel 53 at Chilliwack, British Columbia and CIVI-TV, Channel 53, in Victoria, British Columbia. Although KCTS-TV agreed to reduce its requested power to 240 kW at 714 meters HAAT (height above average terrain), the Canadian government objected to the amended proposal saying it failed to protect the Chilliwack DTV Channel 53.

As a result of the Canadian opposition, the FCC denied the petition for rule making from KCTS-TV.