The Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau has provided sixty days advance notice of the opening of a displacement application filing window for low power television (LPTV), TV translator stations, and analog-to-digital replacement translators (DRT) (referred to collectively as “LPTV/translator stations”) that were displaced by the incentive auction and repacking process (Special Displacement Window). The Special Displacement Window will open on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, and close on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 11:59 pm EDT. They also announced that simultaneous with the release of this Public Notice they are releasing a channel study to assist stations in identifying potential new channels in the repacked television bands.See Public Notice for further details.
Author: Gary Cavell
Media Bureau Freezes The Filing Of Minor Change Applications For LPTV/Translator Stations.
Effective immediately, the FCC Media Bureau will no longer accept for filing applications for minor changes for low power television and TV translator stations (referred to collectively as “LPTV/translator stations”). This action will help to provide a stable database for eligible LPTV/translator stations to identify and apply for available channels in an upcoming displacement window.
The FCC Adopts An NPRM Seeking Comment On Whether To Modify, Retain Or Eliminate The 39 percent National Audience Reach Cap And/Or The UHF Discount Used By Broadcast Television Station Groups To Calculate Compliance With The Cap.
The FCC is seeking comment on the national television audience reach cap, including the discount afforded to UHF stations. The national television audience reach cap limits entities from owning or controlling television stations that, in the aggregate, reach more than 39 percent of the television households in the country. Earlier this year, the FCC reinstated a component of the rule, the so-called UHF discount, which provides a 50 percent discount to UHF stations for purposes of calculating compliance with the 39 percent audience reach cap. In reinstating the discount, the FCC found that the national audience reach cap and UHF discount are inextricably linked. Continue reading “The FCC Adopts An NPRM Seeking Comment On Whether To Modify, Retain Or Eliminate The 39 percent National Audience Reach Cap And/Or The UHF Discount Used By Broadcast Television Station Groups To Calculate Compliance With The Cap.”
Freeze On FM Translator And Low-Power FM Station Minor Change Applications And FM Booster Applications January 18 – January 31, 2018.
The Media Bureau (MB) and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) announce details and filing instructions for the second filing window opportunity to apply for new cross-service FM translator station construction permits. This filing window will be open to any AM station licensee that did not participate in either of the 2016 FM translator modification windows or the 2017 cross-service FM translator auction filing window, including licensees and proposed assignees of Class A and B AM broadcast stations that did not participate in a 2016 modification window. A cross-service FM translator rebroadcasts the signal of an AM broadcast station. Continue reading “Freeze On FM Translator And Low-Power FM Station Minor Change Applications And FM Booster Applications January 18 – January 31, 2018.”
FCC adopts a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Generation television transmission standard (ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis.
The FCC authorizes television broadcasters to use the “Next Generation ” broadcast television (Next Gen TV) transmission standard, also called “ATSC 3.0” or “3.0 ,” on a voluntary, market-driven basis. This authorization is subject to broadcasters continuing to deliver current-generation digital television (DTV) service, using the ATSC 1.0 transmission standard, also called “ATSC 1.0 ” or “1.0,” to their viewers.ATSC 3.0 is the new TV transmission standard developed by Advanced Television Systems Committee as the world’s first Internet Protocol (IP)-based broadcast transmission platform. Continue reading “FCC adopts a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking authorizing television broadcasters to use the Next Generation television transmission standard (ATSC 3.0) on a voluntary, market-driven basis.”
Media Bureau Temporarily Lifts The Freeze On The Filing Of Minor Modification Applications That Expand The Contour Of Full Power And Class A Television Stations From November 28 Through December 7, 2017.
The Media Bureau is temporarily lifting the freeze imposed on April 5, 2013 on the filing and processing of minor modification applications that would increase a full power television station’s noise – limited contour or a Class A station’s protected contour in one or more directions beyond the station’s authorized facilities. Continue reading “Media Bureau Temporarily Lifts The Freeze On The Filing Of Minor Modification Applications That Expand The Contour Of Full Power And Class A Television Stations From November 28 Through December 7, 2017.”
The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to relieve certain television broadcasters of a reporting obligation relating to ancillary or supplementary services and to update rules requiring public notice of broadcast applications.
The FCC is seeking comment on how to modernize two provisions in Part 73 of the Commission’s rules governing broadcast licensees:Section 73.624(g), which establishes certain reporting obligations relating to the provision of ancillary or supplementary services, and Section 73.3580, which sets forth requirements concerning public notice of the filing of broadcast applications. First, the FCC proposes amendments to Section 73.624(g)(2) that would relieve certain television broadcasters of the obligation to submit FCC Form 2100, Schedule G, which is used to report information about the provision of ancillary or supplementary services. Second, the FCC seeks comment on whether to update or repeal Section 73.3580 of the rules, which requires broadcast applicants to provide public notice of the filing of various license applications, to afford such applicants more flexibility in how they provide that notice. As part of this inquiry , the FCC seeks comment on whether to permit broadcast applicants that currently provide written notice in a local newspaper, instead to provide that notice online.
Freeze On The Filing Of Modification Applications To Be Lifted Temporarily To Permit Filing Of Applications To Expand The Contours Of Full Power And Class A Television Stations That Are Not Part Of The Post Incentive Auction Repack Process
The Media Bureau will temporarily lift a freeze imposed on the filing and processing of certain full power and Class A station applications. This action will help ensure the utility of an upcoming application filing window for secondary stations displaced by the incentive auction repacking process by reducing the likelihood that facility modifications awarded in that displacement window might shortly thereafter be displaced again by applications of priority stations.
Incentive Auction Task Force And Media Bureau Announce The Initial Reimbursement Allocation For Eligible Broadcasters and MVPDs.
The Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media Bureau (Bureau) announced the issuance of an initial allocation of the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund (Fund) in the total amount of $1 billion to begin to reimburse eligible full power and Class A broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs ) (together, Eligible Entities ), for expenses related to the construction of station facilities on reassigned channels. The Bureau will continue to monitor closely the draw-down of Fund amounts and allocate additional amounts later in the transition period
Revitalization Of The AM Radio Service, Third Report And Order. The Commission adopted a Third Report and Order that relaxes or eliminates certain rules pertaining to AM broadcasters employing and maintaining directional antenna arrays.
This Third Report and Order is the latest in a series of orders designed to further the Commission’s efforts to assist AM broadcasters in providing vital radio service to consumers through out the country. By identifying ways to streamline the technical requirements imposed upon AM broadcasters, we free up resources to allow those broadcasters better to serve the public. Continue reading “Revitalization Of The AM Radio Service, Third Report And Order. The Commission adopted a Third Report and Order that relaxes or eliminates certain rules pertaining to AM broadcasters employing and maintaining directional antenna arrays.”