The FCC announced its tentative agenda for its Dec. 18 open meeting, with some items of considerable interest to broadcasters.
One of them is a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a new digital translator service for analog loss areas.” I've suggested that an easy, simple process for quickly licensing multiple low power on-channel boosters or distributed transmitters inside a broadcaster's coverage area could help resolve some of the loss of service due to the “all or nothing” nature of digital broadcasting.
I'm not sure this NPRM will include it, but any option for improving coverage should be welcomed by low VHF analog stations moving to UHF DTV channels.
Program Carriage and Access is another item on the agenda, a “Report and Order modifying the program carriage rules and procedures and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on the practices of programmers and broadcasters.”
The first item on the agenda, “A Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration addressing service rules for fixed and mobile services, including advanced wireless services (AWS), in the 2155-2180 MHz band (AWS3)” has received most of the attention due to statements indicating licensees in this spectrum would be required to use some of it to provide a free and optionally filtered wireless Internet service.
Read all of the latest RF Reporthere.
