In case you are wondering why I didn't mention the FCC's changes to the DTV tuner mandate, the actions on negotiated channel agreements, and two stations volunteering to give up their analog channels early, these stories were covered last week in TV Technology's News Bytes. Sign up to receive News Bytes via e-mail here. See FCC Accelerates Tuner Deadline, All Right, FCC Moves on DTV Channel Selection and Two More Stations Request Early Analog Shutdown.
The article on DTV Channel Selection did not include the complete revised timetable listed in the FCC news release FCC Advances DTV Channel Election Process. Here is the table as listed in the FCC news release:
DTV Channel Election Time line
February 2005:- First round elections filed; in-core licensees file elections.
June 2005: - Media Bureau issues decision approving/rejecting Negotiated Channel Arrangements
(NCA) Stations with rejected NCAs revert to alternate channels; - Round One conflict letters issued by Media Bureau.
August 2005: - Licensees file conflict decision forms with Media Bureau.
September 2005: - Round Two elections to be filed with Media Bureau;
- Public Notice listing NCAs, if any, filed in Round Two and setting comment
dates.
October 2005: - Round Two conflict letters issued by Media Bureau.
December 2005: - Licensees file conflict decision forms with Media Bureau.
February 2006: - Round Three elections to be filed with Media Bureau;
- Public Notice listing NCAs, if any, filed in Round Three and setting comment
dates.
March 2006: - Commission to resolve remaining conflicts among third round elections;
August 2006: - Commission to issue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing new DTV Table of
Allotments.
If you are interested in the FCC's reasoning behind its channel election decisions, read the Report and Order (DA 05-1619). A list of all approved Negotiated Channel Agreements is in Attachment A, with the rejected agreements listed in Attachment B.
