Graham Brock, Inc.
Broadcast Technical Consultants
www.grahambrock.com
Graham Brock, Inc.
Broadcast Technical Consultants
Vol. XV, No. 8
R. Stuart Graham, Jr.
August 2008
Jefferson G. Brock
August Newsletter
STL Notifications
Did you receive a PCN (Prior Coordination Notification)
announcing a station across town is making a change to
their STL, and you are not sure if the change will have
an impact on your system? Graham Brock, Inc., has the
software necessary to make that assessment. We can
monitor your system for a nominal fee, provided we
receive the notice. If no response to the PCN is needed,
there is no added charge. If an objection is needed, an
engineering statement can be prepared.
Companion DT Applications for LPTV Stations
Sixty-four groups of mutually exclusive digital
companion applications have been preliminarily set
for auction. These applications were filed by
existing LPTV licensees and permittees seeking a
digital companion channel to operate with their
analog facility. The FCC extended the period for the
groups to settle until August 14, 2008 to avoid
going to auction.
Digital Radio 10% Request Made
The formal request to increase digital power
levels from the present 1% up to 10% has been
made to the Commission. The next step is for the
Commission to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule
Making seeking comments on the request; so an
actual implementation is not imminent. There is
also the matter of added interference to
adjacent channel stations and to the host analog
carrier. National Public Radio conducted testing
on 850 public stations and concluded that, while
the added power increased the digital coverage
to automobiles to a level at or better than the
analog coverage, the analog coverage was
degraded. Many of the early entrants to the
digital realm must also consider the cost to
modify their facilities to enable an increase of
power.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Stu and Jeff will attend the
National Association of Broadcasters Fall Radio Show
in September. For those making the trip who would
like an opportunity to meet with Jeff and Stu,
please let them know as soon as possible. Since the
show is shorter, there will be less time for meeting
and greeting.
Channels 5 and 6 to FM?
As part of the
Commission’s ongoing proceeding for diversity, a
group calling itself the “Broadcast Maximization
Committee” has formally requested that the FCC
consider the re-allotment of TV Channels 5 and 6 (76
MHz to 87 MHz) to the FM band. The Committee
proposes to use the additional spectrum to
accommodate LPFM expansion, the migration of AM
stations to the new band, and some shifting of the
non-commercial spectrum. The request also proposes
that the band operate digitally, and that the
bandwidth be limited to 100 kHz, rather than the
present 200 kHz.
