FCC's Martin Takes Flying J Toward Exit

Apparently, on Friday, his last working day at the Federal Communications Commission, Kevin Martin circulated an item for a vote that would have reversed an earlier Media Bureau decision and allowed a truck stop TV service to share, and potentially interfere with, the spectrum used by broadcasters for electronic newsgathering. Clarity Media (Flying J Truck Stops) has for several years been trying to get waivers to allow it to operate a low-power multichannel digital TV service at a number of its truck plazas using the cable TV relay service spectrum band, which is used by broadcasters extensively for electronic newsgathering. Flying J wants to be able to relay satellite TV to the sets in the cabs of trucks parked for a break or the night--most have overnight cabs with many of the comforts of home, including TV.