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Issue: Jul. 18, 2008
FCC Extends DTV Construction Deadline for 20 Stations
In the “Third Periodic Review of the Commission’s Rules and Policies Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television,” the FCC set deadlines for stations to complete construction of their DTV facilities. Thursday the FCC released a Public Notice listing 20 TV stations identified as facing a “unique technical challenge.” For these stations, their DTV construction deadlines were extended to Feb. 17, 2009, and their associated pending DTV extension applications dismissed.
The Third Periodic Review notes, “Most of the stations are in this group because they need to reposition a top-mounted analog antenna with a side-mounted digital antenna.” Stations had to outline their unique technical challenge in their applications for post-transition facilities or filing a notification through CDBS (the consolidated database system). They also had to report their status in their Transition Status Reports, Form 387. Updates to Form 387 are due today (July 18, 2008).
The 20 stations are:
- KAUZ-DT Wichita Falls, Texas
- KCSM-DT San Mateo, Calif.
- KDVR-DT Denver, Colo.
- KETC-DT St. Louis, Mo.
- KFTR-DT Ontario, Calif.
- KLEW-DT Lewiston, Idaho
- KPTV-DT Portland, Ore.
- KQED-DT San Francisco, Calif.
- KSNC-DT Great Bend, Kan.
- KVHP-DT Lake Charles, La.
- KVRR-DT Fargo, N.D.
- WCVI-DT Christiansted, Virgin Islands
- WEWS-DT Cleveland, Ohio
- WJAR-DT Providence, R.I.
- WKBN-DT Youngstown, Ohio
- WLAE-DT New Orleans, La.
- WMFD-DT Mansfield, Ohio
- WMYO-DT Salem, Ind.
- WNPB-DT Morgantown, W.Va.
- WTLW-DT Lima, Ohio
FCC Lifts Freeze on Some Class A TV Applications
The FCC Media Bureau issued a Public Notice (DA 08-1644) announcing the freeze on the filing of Class A displacement applications and Class A expansion applications is lifted, effective Aug. 4, 2008. Full-power TV stations are required to protect Class TV stations from interference. As discussed before in RF Report, some stations found they were not able to maximize because of nearby Class A TV stations. After the Class A application freeze is lifted on Aug. 4, Class A TV displacement or expansion applications may further limit other TV stations’ ability to expand coverage.
These applications will be accepted on a “first come, first served” basis and will be treated for cut-off purposes on the date they are filed. Class A displacement and expansion applications filed prior to Aug. 4, 2008, that requested a waiver of the filing freeze will be treated for cut-off purposes as being filed on Aug. 4, 2008.
The FCC Public Notice states, “The freeze provided a stable database during the channel election process and the initial processing of applications for full power stations’ post-transition digital facilities. The commission recently lifted the freeze on the filing of maximization applications by full power television stations. Given that action, we find it appropriate to lift the freeze on the aforementioned types of Class A station applications.”
The FCC Public Notice did not describe how mutually exclusive applications would be handled.
The FCC allowed LPTV stations that met certain local programming requirements and agreed to comply with applicable sections of FCC Part 73 regulations for full service TV stations to apply for Class A status in November 1999 and receive protection from interference by full service TV stations. LPTV stations, due to their secondary status, are not eligible for this protection. There are a relatively small number of Class A TV stations.
Dallas/Fort Worth Station to Test Analog Switch-Off
KTXA (TXA 21) in Dallas/Fort Worth, will be the latest station to run an early analog switch-off test to help its viewers keep their sets on during the DTV transition.
On July 23 between 7 and 9 p.m., TXA 21 engineers will switch off the station’s analog transmitter for approximately 15 seconds. During that time, only viewers whose television sets are equipped to receive a digital signal will be able to view the broadcast.
“This is the most reliable way to know if you are ready for digital TV,” said TXA 21 Senior Vice President and Station Manager Gary Schneider. “If your set goes dark during that time, you will know that you still need to take action before February 17.”
As part of the test, TXA 21 will help viewers understand the steps they need to take if they learn that their TVs are not digital ready. Topics addressed will include the converter box coupon program, digital antennas and more.
In addition, consumer electronics experts will be available after the test to answer questions about the transition. Viewers may call the special TXA 21 News hotline (1-877-Texas-11) with their questions or get answers via email or live online chat at the station’s Web site, txa21tv.com
TXA 21 is a CBS affiliate along with its local duopoly partner, KTVT (Channel 11).
Georgetown Partners: Sirius Backseat TV Is Not ‘Ancillary’ Service
Georgetown Partners, a private investment firm, says Sirius’ use of its satellite radio spectrum for the Sirius Backseat TV service is a violation of its licensing rules and it has asked the Enforcement Bureau of the FCC to look into the matter.
Georgetown asked the FCC to order Sirius to “cease its unauthorized television broadcasting through appropriate orders after investigation,” according to a recent filing with the agency.
Georgetown has been pushing the FCC to mandate that the merged satcasters lease a portion of their spectrum to a third entity to provide satellite digital radio programming, should the merger be approved. The company says it could establish a competitive alternative digital satellite radio company with 20 percent of Sirius’ 25 MHz swath of SDARS spectrum.
In recent FCC filings, Sirius and XM say their attorneys have meet with commission staff and discussed “pending issues raised in recent filing ... including matters pending before the Enforcement Bureau.” XM and Sirius reiterated positions “consistent with their filings in this proceeding,” and urged prompt approval of the merger.
(Radio World)
CEA and NAB Announce First ‘Rabbit Ears Pioneer’ Semi-Final Winner
The Consumer Electronics Association and the NAB announced the first semi-final winner in their Rabbit Ears Pioneers contest. CEA and NAB define “Rabbit Ears Pioneers” as “those individuals who rely on broadcast TV signals, a trusty TV set, and an antenna to receive their favorite TV shows.” Contest applicants need to submit a photo of a Rabbit Ears Pioneer and their TV set along with a short essay of at least 200 words describing how the Pioneer enjoys over-the-air TV broadcasts, their favorite type of TV shows, and a description of their home entertainment setup.
An Arkansas teacher was the first winner. JoNancy Linn Sundberg, 69, of Hot Springs Village, Ark. was presented with a Zenith converter box and an RCA digital reception antenna during an in-studio appearance on KTHV-TV, Little Rock’s CBS affiliate. She will be able to use the converter box to receive digital channels on her 1982 black-and-white analog TV set. That black-and-white set might be retired if she wins the grand prize, a high-definition home entertainment center.
Here is an excerpt from her entry:
“I’ve never had anything
But an analog TV.
When February ’09 arrives,
I’ll be bereft, you see,
Of all the information and entertainment
That so appeals to me.
So please consider my entry favorably!”
Gary Shapiro, CEA’s president and CEO, said, “Ms. Sundberg’s poetic tribute to analog television is a reminder of a time when life was a little simpler. We are thrilled to have such a thoughtful winner, and we offer our most sincere congratulations. We are pleased to present her with a digital-to-analog converter box which will ensure her trusty analog set will work for years to come.”
NAB President and CEO David Rehr said, “As this winning entry shows, television is ever-evolving but has remained a constant companion and entertainer throughout the decades. As we move into the digital future, this viewer can relish another revolution in broadcasting with the crystal clear picture and sound of digital television.”
If you know a Rabbit Ears Pioneer, there is still time to enter the contest. Semi-final winners will be announced in August, September and October 2008. The grand prize winning entry will be announced in November as part of the 180-day countdown to the transition and in time to kick-off the holiday season.
Microsoft Bows Out of White Space Device Tests
Marketwatch reported this week that Microsoft was pulling out of the FCC’s “white space” testing. Microsoft’s numerous technical problems with its white space equipment during previous FCC tests have been widely reported, and it appears that the company has not been able to resolve the problems. Marketwatch noted that Google, another white space device (WSD) proponent, has not submitted equipment for testing by the FCC, although it did provide results of its own testing. The FCC testing has been open to the public. While I have not been able to attend any of the tests, third-party reports indicate that there are major problems with WSDs using sensing technology to determine if a TV channel is being used.
Marketwatch has this comment from Microsoft spokesman Ginny Terzano, “Our position remains the same including our confidence in the FCC process, the viability of the technology and our belief [that] the use of the white spaces spectrum will be beneficial to consumers.”
Profile of Larry Neuens, Modern-Day Antenna Installer
The DTV transition has been cited as the reason for an increased interest in off-air TV reception. Web site LivingLakeCountry.com posted an interesting article this week profiling Larry Neuens, president of Kenner TV in Sussex, Wis.
The article, “Outdoor TV antenna guy thrives in digital age,” quotes Neuens saying business is going great, even with competition from cable, satellite TV and the Internet.
The article also has some good tips for readers regarding the DTV transition and DTV equipment from antenna installer and electronic technician Neuens.
CalAmp Awarded Patents for Smart Antenna Technology
CalAmp Corp. was awarded two new U.S. patents titled “Calibration methods and structures in wireless communications systems” (No. 7,392,015) and Adaptive beamforming methods and systems that enhance and reduce computations (No. 7,339,979). These patents cover technology used in adaptive antenna systems.
The first patent describes a system and method for wireless transceivers that receive and transmit signals from an array of antennas connected to spatial processing channels. The patent covers calibration methods and structures that compensate for the relative gain and phase errors of transceivers utilizing frequency-domain spatial processing algorithms.
The second patent describes computational methods to increase real-time performance and reduce implementation complexity and cost by processing spatial information progressively on delay-optimized sub-arrays.
CalAmp was previously awarded three other patents related to smart antenna technology: “Wireless communications structures and methods utilizing frequency domain spatial processing” (No. 7,072,693); “Wireless communication structures and methods with enhanced range and performance” (No. 7,035,652); and “Spatial-temporal methods and systems for reception of non-line of-sight communication signals” (No. 6,947,507).
Although this technology may sound like it’s too complex for consumer services, CalAmp sees it being leveraged to enhance the performance of networks using WiFi, WiMAX, broadband “white space” UHF and 700 MHz mobile frequencies. It may also find use in ATSC mobile TV applications. CalAmp said the complex spatial processing cancels interference by better utilizing high multipath, non-line-of-sight channels, substantially improving data throughput and reducing “dead spots.”
More information is available at www.calamp.com.
Satellite Update
Intelsat North America LLC requested a determination from the FCC’s International Bureau that it has met the first three milestones (binding contract for construction, critical design receive and commence construction) for its application for Intelsat 16 at 58.1 degrees west longitude. The satellite will use conventional Ku-band frequencies. FCC Report SAT-00537 also lists several corrections to applications listed in the report released July 3, 2008, that was covered in last week’s Satellite Update.
The FCC granted special temporary authority to DirecTV Enterprises LLC for a period of two days between July 7 and July 11, 2008, to conduct in-orbit testing of DirecTV 11 using the frequencies 29.437 GHz (uplink) and 18.732 GHz (downlink) at 100.7 degrees WL. The testing was approved using the Los Angeles downlink spot beam with an emission designator of 36M0G7W and a maximum downlink power flux density of –118 dBW per meter squared per MHz. The FCC determined the modification request filed by PanAmSat on June 30, 2008, for satellite call sign S2422 PAS-2R is not appropriate for the streamlined procedure for fleet management maneuvers specified in the FCC rules. From FCC Report SAT-00538.
DTV Station Status
DTV Station Status per FCC CDBS – July 16, 2008
LICENSED (LIC): 1248 (-0-)
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (CP): 679 (-14)
CP Modification (CP MOD): 332 (+35)
STA (All variations - authorized): 1012 (-3)
STA (Modifications): 161 (-0-)
APPLICATIONS (minus rule making and channel/service elections): 948 (-67)
Rule making - Digital channel changes
PENDING APPLICATIONS: 71 (+1)
GRANTS: 156 (-0-)
Final DTV Facilities Only (dtv_type = “posttran” or “both”)
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (CP): 495 (-14)
CP Modification (CP MOD): 143 (+44)
APPLICATIONS (minus RM and elections): 709 (-68)
(Change from July 2, 2008 listing)
Note: These totals do not include digital class A TV, low power TV or TV translator entries. The total will be greater than the number of DTV stations as some stations have licenses, construction permits and applications on file. Some stations also have licenses, construction permits or applications for backup facilities (auxiliary broadcast). Subtracting the STA Modification number from the number in STA (All variations) will give a more accurate indication of the number of DTV stations operating under STA, although STA records sometimes remain in the CDBS long after the licensed facility is operational. Entries with the call sign “TEST” are not included.
A spreadsheet (dtvdb.zip) showing all DTV entries (including digital LPTV and translator) in the FCC CDBS TV engineering database files as well as a spreadsheet (tvdb.zip) showing the entire TV engineering database (large file—over 2 MB) extracted from the CDBS will be available at www.xmtr.com/fcc/. The July 16, 2008, spreadsheets will be uploaded this weekend. Look for a file date of July 18, 2008, or later.
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