Graham Brock, Inc.
Broadcast Technical Consultants
www.grahambrock.com
Graham Brock, Inc.
Broadcast Technical Consultants
Vol. XVI, No. 6
R. Stuart Graham, Jr.
June 2009
Jefferson G. Brock
June
Newsletter
Are We Digital Yet?
The build up to the June 12, 2009 digital TV conversion
is over. All full power analog TV operations, with the
exception of those operating with nightlight
information, have now ceased. Whether there will be any
fallout from the analog shutdown is still to be
determined. In the coming days, the Commission will
likely list the number of calls that it receives from
viewers in different areas of the country. There are
some 319 stations whose digital coverage will be less
than their former analog counterparts. Some signal
augmentation for these stations may be possible through
the use of digital boosters or digital TV translators.
The cessation of analog Channel 6 TV stations has some
non-commercial radio stations poised to file
applications to make changes. However, in an April
Public Notice, the FCC indicated that it will let the
non-commercial FM stations know when they may file
applications which no longer consider the former full
power analog Channel 6 stations. To date, there has been
no follow up notice. Non-commercial radio stations must
still protect any remaining digital Channel 6 stations,
as well as LPTV Channel 6 operations.
More Power for Digital Radio
The FCC is now soliciting comments on whether to
allow radio stations to increase the power of their
digital carriers. At present, the digital power is
limited to 1% of the analog carrier power. A
proposal to increase power up to 10% is pending
before the Commission. Comments on four points are
up for discussion: whether the FCC should act on the
proposal before the findings of a final study are
submitted by National Public Radio; whether there is
sufficient information from real world experience to
proceed; whether the FCC should establish standards
to insure a lack of interference to stations
operating on a first adjacent channel and whether
LPFM stations should also be protected on first
adjacent channels; and whether there should be a
procedure in place to help resolve complaints of
digital into analog interference. Comments are due
July 6, 2009.
Fines for Antenna Structure
Issues
We have previously
written about fines for operating STL’s from
locations which are not licensed. This was prompted
by an inspection of towers earlier this year by one
of the Commission’s field offices. Now the FCC has
fined a broadcaster for failing to change the name
of the tower owner. The licensee of the associated
AM station acquired the towers in January 2004.
Ownership information for the towers was not changed
until March 2009. Since the violation involves two
towers, a fine of $3,000 was applied for each. The
ownership of towers in the Commission’s Antenna
Structure database does not automatically change
with a transfer of ownership of a broadcast station
and must be manually changed.
Filing Freeze for
Minor Change FM Applications
The FCC is accepting
short form applications for the
September 2009 FM Auction 79 from June
16, 2009 (beginning at noon) through
June 25, 2009 (ending at 6pm). During
this period, neither commercial nor
non-commercial minor change applications
may be filed with the Commission. The
FCC is concerned that any minor change
may conflict with an auction applicant’s
short form desired location. Once the
short form filing window is closed,
minor change applications can again be
filed.
