PBS Won’t End Analog TV Early for Wilmington, N.C., Test

WUNJ-TV is skipping the early cut-off because taking part would require the statewide public broadcasting network that runs it to alert viewers of all of its 11 transmitter sites, all simulcasting the same signal, said the spokesman. That could cause “confusion among the statewide viewing audience if we try to communicate that we are shutting off analog service in the Wilmington market but not in the rest of the state,” he said. WUNC-TV distributes emergency gubernatorial alerts to both its transmitters and those of commercial stations, the spokesman said. The cut-off comes during hurricane season, he said. “It was important to have that source of communication still available to the Wilmington market, which is obviously right on the coast,” he said. “There should be at least one source for folks who might otherwise be caught short by the analog cutoff.”

Martin said emergency alerts are “a critical part” of DTV, and the commission always is “concerned if there is a threat” to such communications.” Participating in Wilmington are Raycom Media’s WWAY (ABC) and WSFX-TV (Fox), Morris-owned WECT and WILM, a low-power station owned by Capitol Broadcasting, said company officials. None will resume analog broadcasts and all will work with city and FCC officials to make sure the approximately 7 percent of area residents reliant on over-the-air TV have digital tuners, they said.

The cutoff starts at noon, Martin told reporters Thursday. There’s “flexibility” and “options to address potential problems,” but the goal is not restoring analog service, he said. The FCC will send staffers to attend county fairs and other events to spread the word around the region, he said. Martin hopes another market will volunteer. “I don’t want to rule it out,” he said. He wouldn’t identify other cities contacted by the FCC. In central Florida, 11 stations, including a PBS affiliate, said they'll do a more limited test by briefly cutting off analog service three times June 25 to Feb. 17.

Martin and other FCC members said the exercise will be challenging. It “will help us spot real-world issues that we need to address” elsewhere before Feb. 17, the chairman said. The NAB said the “experiment” may raise DTV issues and urged that its results be “objectively reviewed.” Martin said he expects to issue a report on the trial. House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, D-Mich., said the test may avoid later disruptions by finding “any unforeseen wrinkles” early.

Commissioner Michael Copps labeled the test a “serious challenge.” Calling Wilmington “quite brave,” Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said he hopes the early cutoff will give the FCC “a wake-up call about how daunting the task that lies before us is… Ad hoc efforts are not a substitute for a coordinated plan.” Martin said Best Buy and Circuit City are in on the plan. NTIA’s acting administrator, Meredith Baker, noted that about 30 area stores stock converter boxes and her agency will work “closely” with the FCC. NTIA officials got little advance notice on the early cutoff, said people familiar with the process. “This is really something that we've just been able to finalize,” Martin said.

The Wilmington test is likely to be the nation’s only one, said FCC and industry officials. That market is unique in that most -- if not all -- stations return to their old channel slots after the Feb. 17 analog cutoff, most residents buy satellite-TV or cable service, and the area is flat, enhancing reception, city and industry officials said. The four participating stations have been broadcasting in digital for some time, according to an engineer who’s worked for several of them. WWAY, WSFX-TV and WECT will broadcast in digital from a shared 2,000-foot antenna 19 miles from Wilmington, said the engineer.

AT&T isn’t taking part, a company spokesman said. The company plans to spend $350 million in North Carolina on upgrades to sell video, but hasn’t started sales, he added. Time Warner Cable is participating in the test, officials said. Martin has gotten “positive feedback” from Time Warner Cable on the test but has seen less progress with the company than others involved in the early cutoff, he said. A spokesman for the company said it will work “closely” with other operators and broadcasters on the pilot. The NCTA said it will work with the FCC on the Wilmington pilot. DirecTV customers in the area buying a package of local broadcast signals won’t be affected, a company spokesman said. Martin said DirecTV and Dish have agreed to pass along digital signals.

Dish Network will coordinate with Wilmington broadcasters “to ensure a smooth transition for all of our satellite customers,” said a company spokeswoman. Since Dish already distributes the market’s signals, “our subscribers will not need any additional equipment,” she added. The company will make sure its NTIA-certified digital converter box, which costs less than $40, is available in the area “well in advance” of Sept. 8, she said.

FCC Consumer Advisory Committee members, addressing several DTV issues, praised the early cut-off, as did its advocate, Copps. Committee member Charles Benton, a frequent critic of FCC DTV efforts, called the Wilmington cut-off a “wonderful idea” and “a hell of a lot better than not doing anything.” But the test would have been better if the PBS station had agreed to participate, he said.

There may not be time for another test unless a market agrees to start it before Sept. 8, said committee member Gloria Tristani, a former FCC commissioner (1997-2001). “I wish it could be sooner than September” but “it’s still going to be a very good indicator,” she said. “It certainly would have been good to see a very dense urban market” take part, she said. The Wilmington market is ranked 135 by Nielsen.