The Battle Over TV Channel 6 and LPTVs Used for FM Radio Broadcasts

A controversy has bubbled up in connection with the Federal Communications commission proceeding to set the date by which Low Power Television stations will be required to convert to digital operations.

While the analog operations of full-power TV stations were terminated in 2009, Low Power television stations and TV translators have not yet faced any end date for their analog operations -- though the FCC recently suggested that the final date for analog broadcasting by these stations be set -- perhaps as soon as next year. In comments filed in the proceeding to set the end date, the question of when to terminate analog broadcasting became tangled in another issue -- whether Channel 6 LPTV stations should be allowed to continue to be used to broadcast FM programming. NPR suggested that the practice be terminated now, while Channel 6 licensees argued that this use was perfectly permissible under FCC rules, and that it provides a public interest benefit that should be preserved.