LPTVs Ask For Time, Flexibility To Make Digital Switch

Fifteen low power television stations told the Federal Communications Commission that they need more time to make the transition to digital, and want the flexibility to experiment with delivering a combined broadcast and broadband service.

The FCC has proposed requiring low-power TV stations to make the digital transition by 2012. That is so it can begin auctioning off broadcast spectrum for wireless broadband per the national broadband plan. LPTV stations were not required to make the DTV transition back in 2009 along with full-power stations, in part because of the economic burden it would put on the stations.

The stations said that the 2012 shut-off date would require them to "expend strained resources" -- as much as $200,000 if they have to move to a new channel -- to make the DTV switch or lose their spectrum, and at a time when it was not yet clear whether they would be getting any money out of proposed incentive spectrum auctions. They want the FCC to wait until it has reclaimed and reallocated spectrum to mandate the conversion to ensure there will be spectrum left over for them. The stations also say they should have the flexibility to use their spectrum to deliver both broadcast and broadband service, which at least one commenter says will require the FCC not to lock them into the ATSC transmission standard for DTV.