LPTV Coalition Vows Legal Problems for Repack

The Low-Power Television (LPTV) Spectrum Rights Coalition has declared legal war on the Federal Communications Commission's post broadcast incentive auction repack. "Bring on the Legal Cases," said the coalition in an e-mail April 14 rallying the troops. LPTV stations were not allowed to participate in the auction—outside of Class A stations with protections similar to full powers—nor were the translators that extend the reach of TV station signals. The coalition, whose members comprise holders of LPTV and translator licenses, was reacting to the FCC's April 13 announcement of the new channel positions for stations in the post-incentive auction repack, the official end of the auction and the official beginning of that move of 957 stations to new channels, some displacing unprotected LPTVs and translators. "For 5 years we have kept our powder dry, and have not been in the courts. We knew we could not win those cases, and did not even try," said coalition director Mike Gravino. "But the repack is different." Gravino signaled the coalition would use whatever means necessary.