Low-power TV broadcasters hope to offer rural broadband

SpectrumEvolution.org is an advocacy organization that argues that low-power TV (LPTV) broadcasters can deploy broadband just as easily as anyone who might buy their spectrum.

“Broadcasters should be allowed to play in broadband as opposed to being pushed to the margins,” said SpectrumEvolution.org President Greg Herman. Herman argued that thousands of low-power TV stations operating in the UHF band, including many in rural areas, have been left in limbo since the digital TV conversion of 2009. The low-power stations weren't required to convert to digital and many have not yet done so. “Since many haven’t converted, now is a great time to do something that might be more desirable to the public,” said Herman, who notes that only 15% of TV viewers watch over-the-air programming. SpectrumEvolution argues that LPTV broadcasters could deploy wireless broadband services covering a 10- to 15-mile radius for about the same amount it would cost them to convert to digital TV. The organization proposes that LPTV stations offer advertiser-supported broadband service at no charge to the customer. Customers would have to buy their own modem, but Herman said that cost could be recovered within three to six months based on the savings in Internet connectivity costs. Potentially the LPTV stations could continue to offer their traditional video content in a digitized format or could stream that content in IP form over the customer’s broadband connection, Herman said. The LPTV stations should have no trouble meeting the proposed minimum broadband speed of 4 Mb/s downstream and 1 Mb/s upstream proposed in the National Broadband Plan, said Herman.