FCC Sets Last U.S. DTV Transition: Sept. 1, 2015, for LPTV

Government and industry education of LPTV viewers will be needed before the 2015 transition, just like public and private-sector efforts in the run-up to the full-power analog switch, said Commissioner Michael Copps, who chaired the FCC during the earlier switch. The order noted consumer education will be needed, setting out few details beyond that which it said must be done by stations. “We do not believe it is necessary now to decide on the exact form and extent of our consumer education. However, as we begin our education efforts, we will be guided by our experience from the full power DTV transition,” the FCC said at http://xrl.us/bk2fhx.

The coming analog switch-off “presents unique challenges given that many LPTVs do not originate broadcasting” and transmit shows that originate on other stations, the commission said. “Because of this fact it will be extremely important to identify regional strategies and to think creatively on how best to reach the consumers who will be affected by this transition.” That includes a focus via “targeted initiatives” on places with many LPTV viewers and “at-risk” segments of the population such as in rural areas and the elderly, the regulator said. CEA and the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition have said they'll work with commission staff on education, it noted. Representatives for those groups had no comment Monday.

LPTVs that can originate their own programming must notify viewers of the analog cutoff “when the highest number of viewers is watching,” the commission said. All other stations must use “other reasonable means” such as publishing a notice in a local newspaper or asking the station originating programming to relay a crawl or other advisory, the agency said. “We believe stations are best suited to determine the most effective means of reaching their viewers, and we shall therefore rely on their good faith efforts to decide the format of local notification.” Low-power TV stations should be able to go digital in the next four years, two executives who own such outlets said in interviews. They said they hope the commission will release a mathematical model that’s been being worked on for some time showing what the coverage areas of stations will be like after a repacking of channels as part of a voluntary incentive auction of TV spectrum.

The 700 MHz licensees can tell LPTVs of the wireless company’s plan to start or change operations in that band, giving the broadcasters four months to stop operations of any facility causing interference, the FCC said. That will “facilitate clearing of the 700 MHz band” given the Dec. 31 deadline for all LPTVs on channels 52-69 to stop transmitting in digital, the agency said. Such out-of-core stations must seek an in-core channel of 2-51 except for 37, by Sept. 1, the FCC said. The “CTIA is pleased that the process to clear that spectrum for wireless broadband continues to move forward,” a spokeswoman said.

The Sept. 1, 2015, deadline, which can be extended by six months for cases of demonstrated hardship, is three years later than the 2012 transition the commission originally targeted in a rulemaking notice. The earlier deadline would be too soon in light of the planned reallocation of broadcast spectrum the FCC seeks, and could force LPTVs to have to switch channels twice, the order said. “A transition deadline more than four years into the future will allow time for low power operators to learn more about the direction of the Broadband Innovation proceeding. Even if the reallocation is not concluded before the conversion deadline, a 2015 deadline will permit low power operators to take specific proposals into account when finalizing their transition plans. It will also be further removed from the prolonged economic downturn that began in late 2007, and will provide more time for operators to secure the necessary funding.” The commission recommended the NTIA consider seeking an extension from Congress of the Sept. 30, 2012, end of a program that reimburses some DTV costs for low-power and translator stations. The fund has $30.1 million, the FCC said. The NTIA is “considering what actions, if any, we will take” on the fund, a spokeswoman for that agency said.

VHF LPTV stations can boost power levels up to tenfold to a maximum of 3 kW, though UHF stations can’t exceed the current limit of 15 kW, the FCC said. The agency said it expects problems as bad or worse than with the signal issues faced by full-power stations on channels 2-13. That’s because “low power stations operate with considerably less power,” it said. Reception problems of full-power VHF stations haven’t been solved “even by allowing these stations to operate with the maximum power permitted under the full power television rules,” the commission noted.

A 2015 LPTV analog cutoff is “a very workable outcome,” because all low-power construction permits also will be extended until that date, said President Greg Herman of Spectrum Evolution, a group of such stations seeking other ways to use their frequencies. “The thing we don’t know is obviously what impact any repacking would have on this conversion,” he said. “That they recognize more power is necessary for those who want to try to make a go of it in VHF” is good, he said of the commission. Cocola Broadcasting has “slowly transitioned” its stations to digital, with about eight of its 28 LPTVs having made the switch, CEO Gary Cocola said: “Now it’s really going to be making sure there are reliable business models for low-power television to pursue,” and seeing the FCC’s spectrum allocation will help.

The 2009 transition showed to “expect the unexpected,” McDowell said. “There are significant differences in scope” between the two switches, he noted. “I do have some concerns about the Commission’s representations regarding possible consumer outreach efforts, such as third-party and expanded FCC call centers, walk-in DTV help centers, and staff contact with local communities,” he added. “Consumers and policymakers alike should be made aware that we may not have at our disposal the same private sector resources and funding for consumer education that was available for the first digital transition. We therefore must be careful to not raise undue expectations.” Copps seeks “smart planning,” he said. “Hopefully by crafting regional strategies and implementing creative outreach efforts, coordinating with civic groups, faith centers, and utilizing local government infrastructure that proved so successful in the Full Power transition, we will minimize the disruption to the communities who rely upon LPTV."

An LPTV transition “in the middle of the summer” will maximize the amount of time available to build new facilities and reduce issues in remotely located areas and because of bad weather, the commission said. In extending all DTV construction permits to Sept. 1, 2015, the agency said a one-time extension of six months to March 1, 2016, will be granted in certain cases. Such licensees still must stop all analog operations by Sept. 1, 2015, the agency said. “No further extension applications [beyond March 1 2016] will be accepted.” Extension seekers must show an extension is warranted because of an “act of God,” court action, bankruptcy or other circumstances that are beyond the station’s control, the agency said.