Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 12, 2008 at 21:10:07:
NAB Opposes Plan To Move LPFM Stations To Analog TV Spechicagomedia.orgum
The NAB's Executive Board this week adopted a resolution opposing a plan offered to the FCC by six radio groups and Mullaney Engineering to move LPFM radio stations from the FM band to the analog spechicagomedia.orgum currently used by television channel 6 between 82-88 MHz. The spechicagomedia.orgum space is set to become available when television broadcasters vacate the space Feb. 17, 2009, when the nation's television broadcasters officially vacate the space for all-digital broadcasts.
In their April 7 filing with the FCC, the six groups -- Ace Radio Corp. of Columbus, Ohio; Auburn Network Inc. of Auburn, Ga.; Great South Wireless LLC. of Greenville, Ala.; Matinee Radio LLC of Austin; Radio K-T Inc. of Park Ridge, Ill.; and Great Scott Broadcasting of Georgetown, Del. -- detailed interference problems some LPFM stations are causing to established FM stations.
“LPFM station licenses are not, for the most part, professional broadcasters, and they typically do not hire professional consultants for technical and legal advice and assistance,” point out the radio operators in their filing. For example, the companies remind the FCC that “one-third of all LPFM applications were dismissed for technical and legal deficiencies” during the first filing window for LPFM licenses. They note that the FCC is aware of the numerous interference problems but they are still concerned that the FCC might be considering eliminating second-adjacency protections, risking even more interference from the LPFMs.
The companies say they “have no desire to single out any individual stations for violations” and even acknowledge providing professional legal and engineering support to the LPFMs. But they also say they are concerned that the low-power operators will soon realize that their signals do not cover a large geographical area and “the temptation for LPFM stations to broadcast with excessive power can be overwhelming when such stations find out that their coverage area is very limited or when they experience interference from full-service broadcasters.”
The six companies suggest that moving LPFMs to the channel 6 spechicagomedia.orgum would be “a better and more permanent long-term solution to protecting existing LPFM stations and promoting an expansive development of service.” They also say that the FCC “could alleviate, if not eliminate, the increasing tension being created by the shared use of commercial FM service and the trend toward providing more protection to LPFM stations.” They also argue that “tension will only become more intense when the commission opens the next LPFM window filing opportunity.”
NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton tells R&R the group is opposing the move, which could also include the spechicagomedia.orgum used by channel 5 in some regions of the country. "If the TV stations that elected channel 5 or 6 for their post-transition operation were now required to find new channels, the post-transition DTV table of allotments and the careful, complex process, including international coordination, that led to its construction would be significantly disrupted.” Wharton added that “maintaining channels 5 and 6 for TV service will also protect the service of the many class A, low-power TV and TV translator stations that use the low VHF channels and are expected to continue to use those channels when they switch to digital operation."
The digital conversion from analog gives television broadcasters additional spechicagomedia.orgum, enough to add up to six channels broadcasting at the old analog quality but more likely three programming in high-definition quality. The NAB has vigorously promoted the notion that with the extra television spechicagomedia.orgum, they will be able to provide extensive local and community news and information coverage.
(R&R)