CBA 2004

KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov FCC Media Bureau (202) 418-2607

Today’s TopicsToday’s Topics

Brief DTV UpdateBrief DTV UpdateDigital LPTV Digital LPTV Report Report and Orderand Order (non- (non- technical aspects)technical aspects)

FCC News

Interference analysis and other technical elements covered tomorrow morning

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 9/04

Total DTV Stations On Air(out of 1688 paired DTV channels)

(est.) (est.) (est.)

Currently: 1445 stations (794 with STA)

Source: FCC Video Division, Sept. 2004

The Digital TransitionThe Digital Transition

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

1100101 1100101 11001011100101 1100101

HDTV SDTV DATA HDTV SDTV DATA

2nd Periodic Review Report & Order (August 4, 2004)

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

NTSC channel

DTV

channel Post-transition Channel

DTV Channel Election

Filing Freeze: Filing Freeze: (Announced August 3, 2004)(Announced August 3, 2004)

Rule making petitions for: Rule making petitions for: – DTV channel changes and new allotmentsDTV channel changes and new allotments– NTSC channel allotments or changes in NTSC channel allotments or changes in

community of licensecommunity of license

Applications to “maximize” DTV or NTSC Applications to “maximize” DTV or NTSC broadcast facilitiesbroadcast facilities

Filing FreezeFiling FreezeClass A and Class A-eligible Class A and Class A-eligible

LPTV stationsLPTV stations

Displacement applications Displacement applications – Stations facing imminent disruption of service Stations facing imminent disruption of service

may request an STA to permit continued may request an STA to permit continued operation operation

Facilities modifications that would extend Facilities modifications that would extend coverage contour in any direction coverage contour in any direction

DTV Channel Election MilestonesDTV Channel Election Milestones

(1) Certification of intent to “replicate” or “maximize” (1) Certification of intent to “replicate” or “maximize” already-authorized facilities – already-authorized facilities – November, 2004November, 2004(2) (2) 11stst round elections round elections - - December, 2004December, 2004 – stations with in-core DTV and NTSC channels stations with in-core DTV and NTSC channels

select one or negotiate a channel swap with another select one or negotiate a channel swap with another licenseelicensee

– Stations with a single DTV or NTSC in-core channel Stations with a single DTV or NTSC in-core channel select it or release it and request another channel in select it or release it and request another channel in round tworound two

(3) (3) Interference conflict resolutionInterference conflict resolution of first of first round elections – round elections – Complete by February, Complete by February, 20052005(4) (4) 22ndnd round elections round elections: stations with two : stations with two out-of-core channels and stations from 1out-of-core channels and stations from 1stst round that wish to be treated like them round that wish to be treated like them request a channel or ask FCC to select request a channel or ask FCC to select one – one – July, 2005July, 2005(5) (5) Conflict resolutionConflict resolution of second round of second round elections – elections – Complete by September, 2005Complete by September, 2005

(6) (6) Third (final) round electionThird (final) round election: channel : channel preference of stations not yet preference of stations not yet accommodated – accommodated – January, 2006January, 2006

(7) (7) Notice of Proposed RulemakingNotice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a post-transition DTV Table of proposing a post-transition DTV Table of Allotments – Allotments – August, 2006August, 2006

110010111001011100101110010111001011100101

1100

101

1100

101

1100

101

1100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

Digital LPTV Is Coming!

110010111001011100101110010111001011100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

1100101

New Digital LPTV Service Rules

Report and Order (MB Docket No. 03–185)

Adopted: September 9, 2004 Released: September 30, 2004

Our FCC Home

GoalsGoals

– Hasten transition to digital serviceHasten transition to digital service

– Minimize disruption to existing serviceMinimize disruption to existing service

Analog TV Digital TV

Priority on facilitating the digital transition of existing LPTV, TV translator and Class A service

What is a digital low power What is a digital low power TV station?TV station?

A station in the LPTV service that:A station in the LPTV service that:

““may retransmit the programs and signals of a may retransmit the programs and signals of a DTV broadcast station, may originate DTV broadcast station, may originate programming in any amount greater than 30 programming in any amount greater than 30 seconds per hour for the purpose of providing seconds per hour for the purpose of providing digital television (DTV) reception to the digital television (DTV) reception to the general public, and subject to a minimum general public, and subject to a minimum video program service requirement, may offer video program service requirement, may offer services of an ancillary or supplementary services of an ancillary or supplementary nature, including subscription-based nature, including subscription-based services.” services.” § 74.701 (k)§ 74.701 (k)

What digital service is What digital service is required?required?

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

Whenever operating, Whenever operating, must transmit a must transmit a freefree off- off-air video programming air video programming service of at least analog service of at least analog TV technical qualityTV technical quality

Intended for reception by Intended for reception by the general public using the general public using receivers based on the receivers based on the FCC transmission FCC transmission standard (standard (i.e.i.e., , 8-VSB 8-VSB modulationmodulation) )

I want that free video programming service on my new DTV set.

Video Program Service ExamplesVideo Program Service Examples

TV or DTV signal rebroadcasts TV or DTV signal rebroadcasts – Need consent of station licenseeNeed consent of station licensee– May arrange carry only portion of DTV bit streamMay arrange carry only portion of DTV bit stream

Satellite video program service retransmissionSatellite video program service retransmission

Local program origination (of the kind aired by Local program origination (of the kind aired by analog LPTV stations)analog LPTV stations)

Public Interest ObligationsPublic Interest Obligations

Generally apply the obligations applicable Generally apply the obligations applicable to analog LPTV stationsto analog LPTV stationsExamples:Examples:– broadcasts by candidates for political officebroadcasts by candidates for political office– sponsorship identificationsponsorship identification– closed captioningclosed captioning

Future proceeding will address public Future proceeding will address public interest obligations for LPTV and Class A interest obligations for LPTV and Class A station multi-casts station multi-casts

What digital service is What digital service is permitted?permitted?

DynamicDynamic Bit Allocation Options Bit Allocation Options (19.38 megabits/sec)(19.38 megabits/sec)

HDTV SDTV DATA

SDTV Ancillary & Supplementary

SDTV 1 SDTV 2 SDTV 3 SDTV 4 SDTV5

SDTV Empty Bit Space

Ancillary and Supplementary ServicesAncillary and Supplementary Services

Pay TV

Can partner with outside service providers

Annual fee of 5% of gross revenues from feeable services

Examples: Data sent to TV or computer, subscription video, downstream internet, paging

How do I convert to How do I convert to digital operation ?digital operation ?

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

(i.e., cease analog transmissions on authorized channel and begin transmitting a digital signal)

“Flashcut” analog channel to digital

Option 1

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110What

happened to my favorite TV show? @#*& !!!

Pro: Run only one station at a time

Con: If done prematurely, lose audience that cannot receive a digital signal

May file for digital conversion of your analog May file for digital conversion of your analog station station at any timeat any time on a 1 on a 1stst come basis (minor come basis (minor

change application on FCC Form 346)change application on FCC Form 346)

Digitally converted

station protected contour

Analog station protected contour

Option 2Option 2

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

Seek digital “companion channel” for transitional dual analog & digital station operations

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 1010101111

1101

00 1

0101

100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

Analog Digital

Pro: Offer digital service without losing audience receiving analog service

Cons: (1) Economics of running analog and digital station and (2) initial digital audience may possibly be small

Digital Companion Channel WindowDigital Companion Channel Window

Auction window proceduresAuction window procedures

Eligibility limited to permittees and licensees of Eligibility limited to permittees and licensees of LPTV, TV translator and Class A stationsLPTV, TV translator and Class A stations

Class A station licensees will be filing for a digital Class A station licensees will be filing for a digital LPTV stationsLPTV stations– Third DTV periodic review proceeding will consider how Third DTV periodic review proceeding will consider how

and when to permit Class A licensees to seek digital and when to permit Class A licensees to seek digital companion channels with Class A primary status or to companion channels with Class A primary status or to convert LPTV companion channel to Class A status.convert LPTV companion channel to Class A status.

Digital Companion Channel WindowDigital Companion Channel Window

No geographic filing restrictionsNo geographic filing restrictionsSingle digital companion channel for each Single digital companion channel for each existing analog station (paired analog/digital existing analog station (paired analog/digital license) license) Same community of license as analog stationSame community of license as analog stationAt a time to be determined later, must return At a time to be determined later, must return one of the paired channels to the Commissionone of the paired channels to the Commission

First-Come-First Serve First-Come-First Serve Application FilingApplication Filing

Will be announced by public noticeWill be announced by public notice

Not limited to incumbentsNot limited to incumbents

Option 3 (begins some time after the companion channel window)

How will mutually exclusive How will mutually exclusive applications be handled?applications be handled?

Digital LPTV or TV translator applications Digital LPTV or TV translator applications that are mutually exclusive with each other that are mutually exclusive with each other or analog station applications will be or analog station applications will be subject to the auction processsubject to the auction process

– opportunity to resolve by settlement or opportunity to resolve by settlement or engineering solutionsengineering solutions

Mutually exclusive digital Class A applications (Mutually exclusive digital Class A applications (e.g.e.g., , on-channel conversion) are on-channel conversion) are exemptexempt from auction from auction– Provide opportunity for resolution of mutual Provide opportunity for resolution of mutual

exclusivity by engineering solution or settlement exclusivity by engineering solution or settlement – Dismiss applications if mutual exclusivity not Dismiss applications if mutual exclusivity not

resolved resolved

What are the priorities with respect What are the priorities with respect to displacement relief applications?to displacement relief applications?

Analog and digital displacement relief Analog and digital displacement relief applications have priority over applications applications have priority over applications for new or modified digital facilities, for new or modified digital facilities, including digital conversion applicationsincluding digital conversion applications

May file for a replacement channel and on-May file for a replacement channel and on-channel digital conversion in the same channel digital conversion in the same application application

What are the priorities with respect What are the priorities with respect to displacement relief applications?to displacement relief applications?

Digital displacement applications have Digital displacement applications have priority over analog displacement priority over analog displacement applicationsapplications

When mutually exclusive, the lower priority When mutually exclusive, the lower priority application will be dismissedapplication will be dismissed

Three years for digitally converted Three years for digitally converted analog stations and new analog stations and new

digital stationsdigital stations

How much time will I have to build a digital station?

Extensions of TimeExtensions of Time

Apply DTV extension policies and Apply DTV extension policies and procedures, rather than tolling of permitprocedures, rather than tolling of permit– Demonstration of construction delays due to Demonstration of construction delays due to

circumstances beyond permittee’s control and circumstances beyond permittee’s control and that all reasonable steps were taken to that all reasonable steps were taken to overcome delaysovercome delays

– May base extension on financial hardshipMay base extension on financial hardship

Media Bureau may grant two six-month Media Bureau may grant two six-month extensions; requests for additional extensions; requests for additional extensions referred for Commission actionextensions referred for Commission action

What TV channels are What TV channels are available for digital LPTV available for digital LPTV

service?service?

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011

11001001 10010011 11100110 11110100 10101100 10101011• 1

1110

100

1010

1100

101

0101

1 11

10

1111

0100

101

0110

0 1

0101

011

1110

2,3…13 14…51

52 …59

60…69

Channels 52-59Channels 52-59

Not available for further applications for Not available for further applications for analog stations, except those related to analog stations, except those related to channel displacement reliefchannel displacement relief

Available for Available for – digital conversion of existing analog stations digital conversion of existing analog stations – digital companion channels, if no suitable in-core digital companion channels, if no suitable in-core

channel is availablechannel is available

Channels 52-59Channels 52-59

Must notify in writing potentially affected co-Must notify in writing potentially affected co-channel and adjacent channel commercial channel and adjacent channel commercial wireless licensees within 30 days of filing wireless licensees within 30 days of filing FCC Form 346FCC Form 346

May continue to operate without technically May continue to operate without technically conflicting with the operations of a wireless conflicting with the operations of a wireless licenseelicensee

Channels 52-59Channels 52-59

Existing or future wireless licensee may Existing or future wireless licensee may serve notice of potential conflict within 120 serve notice of potential conflict within 120 days of commencing new or modified days of commencing new or modified operationoperation

Channels 52-59Channels 52-59

LPTV or translator station must cease LPTV or translator station must cease operating within 120 days of receiving notice operating within 120 days of receiving notice unless unless – start of wireless service is delayedstart of wireless service is delayed– agreement is reached with wireless licensee or agreement is reached with wireless licensee or – FCC request for stay is granted FCC request for stay is granted

Channels 60-69Channels 60-69

By law, channels 60-69 must be vacated by By law, channels 60-69 must be vacated by end of the full-service DTV transitionend of the full-service DTV transition

Channels 63,64,68 & 69 are allocated for Channels 63,64,68 & 69 are allocated for public safety usepublic safety use

Channels 60-69Channels 60-69

Not available for further applications for Not available for further applications for analog stations, except those related to analog stations, except those related to displacement reliefdisplacement relief

Available only for digital conversion of Available only for digital conversion of existing analog stations (not as a digital existing analog stations (not as a digital companion channel) companion channel)

Channels 60-69Channels 60-69

Must notify in writing potentially affected Must notify in writing potentially affected co-channel and adjacent channel co-channel and adjacent channel commercial wireless licensees and commercial wireless licensees and adjacent channel public safety entities adjacent channel public safety entities within 30 days of filing FCC Form 346within 30 days of filing FCC Form 346

Same conflict resolution procedure with Same conflict resolution procedure with commercial licensees as for channels 52-commercial licensees as for channels 52-5959

Channels 60-69Channels 60-69

Must secure coordinated use agreement Must secure coordinated use agreement with public safety frequency administrators with public safety frequency administrators before filing applicationbefore filing application– Regional Planning Committee(s)Regional Planning Committee(s)– State Interoperability Executive Committee(s)State Interoperability Executive Committee(s)

Must cease operating if station causes Must cease operating if station causes interference to public safety operationsinterference to public safety operations

If and when must Class A, LPTV, and If and when must Class A, LPTV, and TV translators convert to digital and TV translators convert to digital and cease analog transmissions?cease analog transmissions?

FindingsFindings

Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations must ultimately convert to digital must ultimately convert to digital

FCC has discretion to set separate analog FCC has discretion to set separate analog transmission end-date for these stationstransmission end-date for these stations

Less disruptive to set date some fixed time Less disruptive to set date some fixed time after the deadline for full-service stationsafter the deadline for full-service stations

Can’t set that date until certain full-service Can’t set that date until certain full-service transition issues are resolved transition issues are resolved

End of Full-Service DTV TransitionEnd of Full-Service DTV Transition

December 31, 2006 or when 85% of homes in a market can receive DTV signals

DTV transition extended for any requesting DTV transition extended for any requesting station in any station in any marketmarket if the FCC finds that - if the FCC finds that -

1.1. Major network station (ABC, CBS, FOX, Major network station (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) NBC) justifiablyjustifiably not broadcasting in DTV not broadcasting in DTV signal signal oror

2.2. Digital-to-analog converter technology not Digital-to-analog converter technology not generally availablegenerally available or otherwise,or otherwise,

3.3. 15% or more of the TV households in a 15% or more of the TV households in a market do not have the market do not have the capability to receivecapability to receive the digital signals of the TV stations licensed the digital signals of the TV stations licensed in that market. in that market.

LPTV/Class A Transition LPTV/Class A Transition Deadline DeferredDeadline Deferred

Will consider in the FCC’s 3Will consider in the FCC’s 3rdrd DTV DTV periodic review proceeding - periodic review proceeding -

““establishing a deadline and/or establishing a deadline and/or other criteria for the digital other criteria for the digital conversion conversion of LPTV, TV translator, of LPTV, TV translator, and Class and Class A stations”A stations”

GoalGoal

““We seek to hasten their transition to We seek to hasten their transition to digital service and will work toward digital service and will work toward the goal of achieving an end-date at, the goal of achieving an end-date at, or soon after, the end-date of the full-or soon after, the end-date of the full-service transition.”service transition.”

What happens next?What happens next?

Publish summary of digital LPTV Report and Order Publish summary of digital LPTV Report and Order in the Federal Register (F.R.) in the Federal Register (F.R.)

Digital LPTV service rules become effective 60 Digital LPTV service rules become effective 60 days after publication in the F.R. days after publication in the F.R.

Obtain OMB approval of revised FCC Forms 346 Obtain OMB approval of revised FCC Forms 346 and 301-CA (information collection-related rules and 301-CA (information collection-related rules become effective) become effective)

Develop CDBS to accommodate digital LPTVDevelop CDBS to accommodate digital LPTV

Develop interference software (OET 69 methods Develop interference software (OET 69 methods tailored for LPTV)tailored for LPTV)

When can digital conversion When can digital conversion minor change applications minor change applications

be filed?be filed?

When will the digital companion When will the digital companion channel window take place?channel window take place?

Your Path to DTV

On-the-Air

Authorization

Watch Digital Community TV

Consumer Reception & Acceptance

Rules Adopted!

Thanks for listening !Thanks for listening !

Questions?

To obtain FCC documents go to To obtain FCC documents go to www.fcc.govwww.fcc.gov

For digital LPTV For digital LPTV Report and OrderReport and Order – On the FCC home page, scroll to headlines for On the FCC home page, scroll to headlines for

9/30/04 and click on “FCC Establishes Rules for 9/30/04 and click on “FCC Establishes Rules for Digital Low Power and Television Translator Digital Low Power and Television Translator Stations” Stations”

Also check out FCC web site: Also check out FCC web site: www.dtv.govwww.dtv.gov

CBA 2004

KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov FCC Media Bureau (202) 418-2607