february 20, 2002 digital television transition fcc speaks 2002 the path to digital broadband...
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February 20, 2002
Digital Television Transition
FCC Speaks 2002The Path to Digital
Broadband Migration
FCC DTV Task Force
Digital TV Transition
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DTV Task Force
Structure Established October 2001 Cross-bureau, cross-disciplinary team
Functions Help coordinate and prioritize FCC
proceedings Facilitate progress among parties on key
issues Single point of contact
Digital Television Service
256 DTV Stations Now Operating
DTV Now Available in Markets Including 76% of U.S. households
Build-out Deadlines and Authorization of ServiceAffiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX
May 1, 1999 for Markets 1-1038 of 40 stations now
operatingNovember 1, 1999 for Markets 11-30
75 of 79 stations now operating
All remaining commercial TV stationsMay 1, 2002 92 stations now operating
All noncommercial TV stationsMay 1, 2003 51 stations now operating
1462 TV Stations Granted an Initial DTV Authorization (87% of DTV Allotted Stations)
Remaining Initial DTV Applications
Mutually exclusive “area expansion” facilities
Coordination with Canada or MexicoUnresolved interference issuesRelated channel change proceedings
Recent Policy Changes in Periodic Review Proceeding
Permitted graduated approach to DTV service with smaller less expensive stations and later service area expansion
Deferred to next periodic review setting of new dates for post-transition channel election and elimination of protection for unserved portion of service area
Recent Policy Changes in Periodic Review Proceeding
Stations may operate under STA smaller than allotted or authorized facilities Meets buildout requirement Automatically extends construction
permitNow recognize financial hardship as
basis for extension of buildout requirements
Decision Facing Stations With May 1, 2002 Buildout
1. Build and operate station per construction permit OR
2. File request for special temporary authority to operate station at variance from construction permit OR
3. File FCC Form 337 requesting extension of buildout requirement - paper or electronic filing. If paper, courtesy copy can be e-mailed to Video Services Division at [email protected]
DTV STA
Request consists of letter and Form 301 Tech Box
Letter authorization for a maximum 6 month period that can be extended
Coverage area of STA facilities must be subsumed by that of construction permit or allotted facilities
Service areas based on DTV Allotment Table and construction permit continue to be protected during reduced facility operation
Reasons for Extensions
Technical, e.g. equipment delays, unavailability of work crews or tower safety issues
Legal - Delays in obtaining government clearance; e.g., zoning litigation, FAA, pending DTV applications or channel change rulemakings
Other - Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters
Financial
Finance Based Extensions
Demonstrate that buildout of minimum DTV facility (STA option) is not feasible
Provide detailed description of financial inability to timely construct: itemized estimates of costs of meeting
minimum buildout requirements (service contour over community of license)
detailed statement exploring why financial condition precludes such an expenditure
Finance Based Extensions
Showing reflecting the particular station’s financial status over an economically significant period of time
All efforts to meet the deadline, including good faith efforts to obtain the requisite financing, and an explanation why those efforts were unsuccessful
Channel 52-69 Band Clearing
Spectrum recovery - a goal of DTV proceeding
Band clearing is voluntaryTwo-way and three-way agreementsDifferences in channel 59-69 and
channel 52-58 band clearing policies
Channel 59-69 Band ClearingRebuttable public interest presumption-based
on demonstration of certain public interest benefits; e.g., provision of
advanced wireless service and avoidance of loss of certain broadcast service; e.g., that of four stations in market with largest audience share
Extended DTV buildout for stations with single channel end of 2005 or beyond if less than 70% DTV
penetration level
Channel 52-58 Band Clearing
Case-by-case public interest determination of band clearing agreements, including impact on DTV transition
Agreements do not extend DTV buildout requirements
Stations left with a single channel must build DTV
Interference Protection
Existing interference standards apply to facilities modifications related to band clearing
NTSC-to-NTSC: minimum distance separations
NTSC-to-DTV: 0.5% population reduction DTV-to-NTSC: 2%/10% population reduction DTV-to-DTV: 2%/10% population reduction
Need Rules for Digital Low Power Operations
TV Translators
TV Boosters
LPTV Stations
Translators & Booster Service
NTSC Grade B Contour
DTV Service Contour
Key Regulatory Issues for Digital Low Power Rule Making
Interference Protection StandardsPermissible OperationsTransmission StandardsApplication Filing Procedures
47 CFR Part 74
Facilitate Industry Cooperation
HoedownsCopy ProtectionCable Compatibility
Carriage of Broadcast Programming Over Cable Systems
Petitions for ReconsiderationIssues from the Further Notice
Digital TV Transition
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