The design of a (FIR) finite-impulse-response digital filter with some of the coefficients constrained to zero is formulated as a linear programming (LP) problem and the Steiglitz\´s program [1] is modified and then used to design a class of constrained FIR digital filters. This class includes pulse shaping filters,

th band filters and nonuniform tap spacing filters, where some of the filter coefficients are constrained to zero. The advantage of the present approach, as compared to other methods, with regard to design speed and filter optimality and performance, are described, and illustrated by means of examples.