The full FCC approved a limited waiver of the July 13 digital transition deadline for low-power TV stations and translators for 15 state-owned TV translator stations that serve remote communities in Alaska, in an order released Monday. “Due to novel factors” that prevented completion of the translators’ digital facilities, the deadline for those stations was extended to Jan. 10. The waiver will serve the public interest “by maintaining the sole over-the-air broadcast television service to the remote rural and Alaskan bush communities,” the order said. Construction of the stations’ digital facilities was delayed due to “extreme remoteness, limited communications, small population, and extreme weather,” the order said. It extends the translators’ digital construction permits, and requires Alaska to submit a progress report by Oct. 13. “We delegate authority to the Media Bureau to consider future requests seeking similar waiver and relief,” the order ended.

The FCC low-power FM order on reconsideration changed little from the draft, as expected (see 2106160048). A footnote changed for the final version acknowledged concerns by REC Networks and Common Frequency about rejection of criticisms of rules requiring LPFM stations use certified equipment. Common Frequency argues those rules are stricter than what's required of FM translators owned by full-power FM broadcasters. Both versions suggested LPFMs could seek a petition for rulemaking, the final saying a carve-out suggested by REC “could create industry confusion regarding our transmitter certification requirements.” The final suggested some LPFM outlets with certification issues could seek waivers: “Our rules already permit waivers upon a public interest showing from any applicant with unique circumstances.”

Issue a Further NPRM on expanding the base of entities that pay FCC regulatory fees to include “Big Tech and other unlicensed spectrum users” so that those companies pay “their fair share of all of the Commission’s activities from which they directly benefit,” said NAB in calls this week with aides to FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and Office of Managing Director staff, per a filing posted Thursday in docket 21-190. Spare broadcasters reg fee increases related to the Broadband Data Act, “which neither regulates nor benefits broadcasters,” said NAB. “Allocate Broadband Costs across only those core bureaus that are doing the relevant work and whose regulatees benefit from the Commission’s broadband mapping.”

Howard University's WHUT (PBS) will be ATSC 3.0 host for local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates when NextGenTV signals go live in Washington starting late summer, said Pearl TV, which is managing the “broadcast collaborative” announced Wednesday. Washington is the ninth largest U.S. TV market “and posed a unique opportunity for commercial and public broadcasting to band together,” said Pearl. NextGenTV set suppliers LG, Samsung and Sony are among nearly two dozen “supporting organizations.”

The FCC Media Bureau approved channel changes for several TV stations, said Wednesday’s Daily Digest. Four Seasons Peoria’s request to change the community of license for WAOE Peoria, Illinois, to Oswego was granted, as was Gray Television’s request for Channel 9 to be allotted to Freeport, Illinois, as that area’s first local service. WRGB Licensee’s request to switch from 6 to 35 for WRGB Schenectady, New York, was greenlighted. The bureau will seek comment on Corridor Television’s petition to switch KCWX Fredericksburg, Texas, from 5 to 8.

The FCC unanimously approved an order on reconsideration of low-power FM rules and deleted it from the agenda of Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting, said a deletion notice Wednesday. Though the text wasn't released yet, an FCC official told us no significant changes were proposed. The draft order rejected recon petitions from Common Frequency and the Foundation for a Beautiful Life that had sought changes to LPFM technical rules and increased power levels for the radio service. A subsequent proposal for increased power levels is seen as more palatable to the FCC (see 2106140045). Comments on that Simple 250 petition from REC Networks are due Monday.

ATSC 3.0's single frequency network capability can help stations “greatly enhance robust reception” of broadcast TV signals, reported the Pearl TV-led Phoenix Model Market project Tuesday. “Technical coordination” between two transmitters situated miles apart in metropolitan Phoenix was shown in tests “to dramatically enhance what a consumer would be expected to receive,” said Pearl Chief Technical Officer Dave Folsom. Transmission antenna patterns from the two locations were designed intentionally to “overlap each other,” he said. “The improvement in signal level and service margin translates into a marked improvement in the additive signal's signal-to-noise component. That means we can either improve reception or increase carriage bandwidth for more data.”

Comments are due July 16, replies Aug. 2, in docket 21-221 on Scripps’ request to substitute Channel 26 for 13 at KTNV-TV Las Vegas, says Wednesday’s Federal Register. Wednesday is also the effective date for KHQA Licensee’s swap of KHQA-TV Hannibal, Missouri, from 7 to 22, the FR says. The Media Bureau approved Sinclair’s requested switch of WCYB-TV Bristol, Virginia, from 5 to 35, said an order Tuesday. The bureau seeks comment in docket 21-248 on VPM Media’s request to switch WVPT Staunton, Virginia, from 11 to 15. Due dates will come with FR publication.

About 1 million ATSC 3.0 TVs were sold to date, with 3 million-4 million expected to be installed in homes by year-end, said Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle in an interview Monday. “This really is the year of awareness.” Six new U.S. metropolitan 3.0 markets will come on air this summer: Charlotte, Atlanta, Sacramento, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Baltimore, she said.

The FCC Media Bureau listed just over 300 analog low-power TV and TV translator stations that are at risk of having their licenses canceled if they don’t have a DTV construction permit by the July 13 deadline for those stations to transition to digital. “To avoid automatic cancellation of their station license, remaining analog LPTV/translator stations that do not have a digital construction permit should immediately file an application,” the public notice said. Construction permits for new digital LPTV and translator stations granted before Dec. 17, 2015, have the analog shut-off deadline as their expiration, said another PN Friday. Those facilities need to be constructed and operating by July 13 and to have filed a license to cover application within 10 days, the PN said: “Failure to do so will result in the construction permit being automatically forfeited without any further affirmative cancellation by the Commission.” Requests for waivers or extensions should be filed immediately, the PNs said.