FCC Issues Proposed 'DTV Nightlight' Guidelines

The Federal Communications Commission has released proposed guidelines for implementing the SAFER Act, but suggested that, at least initially, stations in only about two-thirds of US markets will be able to keep to broadcast in analog after the Feb 2009 transition date. The Commission said that it had identified stations in only 136 out of the 210 markets where a "nightlight" service would not interfere with digital signals or otherwise not be able to provide a signal. But the FCC also said that was a conservative estimate of the necessary separation between channels. The Commission said it would look for other ways stations could provide the nightlight service in those markets, including encouraging a low power station that was not making the transition to digital to transmit the information (low-power stations are not required to switch to digital on Feb. 17). Congress has given the FCC until Jan. 15 to come out with its plan for the extended analog service, which requires a blanket waiver of its rules. The Commission released its proposal on Christmas Eve -- it had been working on it in anticipation of the bill's signing -- and has established an abbreviated comment period (eight days) for interested parties to weigh in.