Opening TV Spectrum to New Wireless Broadband Services

Description

On November 30, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking setting the stage for voluntary broadcast spectrum auctions that could provide consumers with the robust mobile broadband services they demand while preserving over-the-air TV that many rely upon.

The NPRM:

• proposes that wireless broadband providers have equal access to television broadcast frequencies that could become available in spectrum auctions,
• seeks comment on establishing new allocations for both fixed and mobile wireless services in the TV broadcast bands,
• explores enabling TV stations to voluntarily combine their operations and distinct programming lineups on a single TV channel,
• requests comment on the proposed rules that would enable TV broadcasters to opt to share channels by further tapping the technical capabilities that became available following the nation’s historic transition to digital television in 2009, and
• seeks comment on steps that would improve TV reception on the VHF channels (2-13), such as by increasing transmitting power and establishing minimum performance standards for indoor antennas. (These improvements could provide better VHF reception for consumers and encourage broadcasters to use valuable VHF channels in the future.)

In the Matter of Innovation in the Broadcast Television Bands: Allocations, Channel Sharing and Improvements to VHF (ET Docket No. 10-235)

Issues

I. Spectrum Allocations

The FCC is proposing changes to the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations in Section 2.106 of the rules that would allow it to make a significant portion of the spectrum currently used for broadcast television available for flexible use, including fixed and mobile wireless broadband services. To facilitate repurposing of a portion of the U/V Bands in a later action, the FCC is proposing to add allocations for fixed and mobile services in the U/V Bands (excluding channel 37) for non-Federal use, to be co-primary with that for broadcast services. This proposal would also expand the existing land mobile allocation in the areas where PLMRS and CMRS systems operate on specified frequencies in the 470-512 MHz band to be the same more generalized and flexible mobile allocation that would be specified for other frequencies in the U/V Bands. The FCC requests comment on this proposed plan for adding new allocations to the U/V Bands and invites suggestions for alternative approaches.

II. Broadcast Television Channel Sharing
The FCC seeks comment on the development of an appropriate regulatory structure for voluntary television channel sharing that will preserve over-the-air television as a healthy, viable medium going forward, in a way that would benefit consumers overall, while establishing mechanisms to make available additional spectrum for flexible broadband uses.

III. Preservation of Must Carry Rights
The rules proposed in this proceeding are designed to ensure that stations voluntarily electing to share a channel retain their existing rights to mandatory carriage.

IV. Improving Reception of VHF TV Service
Recognizing that UHF spectrum is highly desirable for flexible use, the FCC is interested in exploring the steps needed to increase the utility of VHF spectrum for television broadcasts. The FCC is seeking solutions to the VHF digital TV reception difficulties. In this regard, it is considering changes to DTV operating rules to mitigate or overcome these challenges. The FCC also intends to consider other solutions, including the possibility of indoor antenna performances standards, to make the VHF channels more useful to broadcasters. The FCC also notes that it has seen no indications that there are issues with the performance of television receivers, either traditional models with display screens or stand-alone set-top tuners, in receiving VHF channels.

Comment due date: 03/18/2011

Comment reply due date: 04/18/2011