Coverage Tops Stations’ Repack Concerns

In two meetings with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Tuesday, broadcasting representatives underscored their concern that the FCC’s incentive auction and collateral repacking of the TV band would force “many hundreds of broadcasters” to move to new channels and diminish their over-the-air coverage, according to an account of the meeting issued yesterday by the reps.

The meetings may have been the last formal opportunity for the reps to meet with Wheeler before the FCC adopts its incentive auction order on May 15.

The broadcasters’ concern about losing coverage stems from the FCC’s plan to use a modified version of the OET-69 coverage model in calculating the coverage of stations in the repacking of the band.

Because OET-69 is “hotly contested,” the reps said, the FCC should open a separate rulemaking to consider making modifications to it. “Following that rulemaking, if it is determined that some change is both lawful and occurs, then that change (or those changes) must be flagged and no further changes should be made outside of an OET-69 notice and comment rulemaking review.”

The broadcasters also proposed that the FCC should:

• Make sure all broadcasters are reimbursed for moving to new channels during the repacking.

• Adopt a new band plan that doesn’t provide “exclusive” spectrum for wireless microphones.

• Find channels for TV translators.

• Provide a schedule for addressing other critical issues like international coordination inter-service interference and provide assurances that they will be dealt with by the full commission, not the staff.

• Provide “ample time” for broadcasters to complete the post-auction transitions to their new channels.

• Process applications from stations desiring to move from the VHF to UHF band if they were filed prior to enactment of the Spectrum Act in 2011.

• Seek additional money from Congress to educate consumers about the broadcasters’ move to new channels because of the repacking.