ORIGINAL ORIGINAL

EX PARTE OR LATE FILED

May 25, 2000

Commissioner Susan Ness Federal Communications Commission The Portals 445 12th St. S.W. Room 8Bl15 Washington, D.C. 20045 Rc: WT Docket No.9::168 ! Dear Commissioner Ness:

As you know, I have expressed concern about the September 6, 2000 auction of licenses in the 746-762 and 777-792 MHz bands in light ofthe allocation actions ofthe FCC regarding digital television. As you know, the 700 MHz frequency band is utilized by television stations operating on Channels 60-69 and the process ofclearing that spectrum for use by the auction winners has been complicated because the FCC has made 19 digital television allocations in the same 60-69 band as well as an additional 23 DTV allocations on Channel 59. Unless the FCC is able to clear some ofthese DTV allocations, the 700 MHz spectrum to be auctioned in September may have severely diminished value to the auction participants.

For example, in the Los Angeles DMA, the FCC has made 5 DTV allotments on Channels 60-69. Other DTV allotments have been made in this frequency band in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Sacramento-Stockton. However, the FCC may now have an opportunity to address this problem since all commercial broadcast stations have filed their DTV construction permit applications. To that end, I have asked PCC's broadcast consulting engineers to review the Los Angeles market with its five DTV allotments on Channels 60-69. I am attaching the preliminary report from the consulting engineers in which they identify nine possible DTV assignments for use in that market outside ofthe 60-69 band. We recognize that additional interference studies will be necessary to determine which ofthese channels will be usable and with what potential levels of interference, but the fact that such channels exist warrants, in my opinion, serious review by the FCC ofpossible alternative DTV allotments in any market where Channels 59-69 have been allotted for DTV use.

No. of Copies rec'd.""",O+;"'-I--!-J__ UstABCDE

... _--. _..._--_...... _------\ Commissioner Susan Ness May 25, 2000 Page 2

We would urge the FCC to conduct similar studies in each ofthe markets where DTV allotments have been made in the Channels 60-69 band and, in fact, for those DTV allotments on Channel 59. By copy ofthis letter, I am forwarding the preliminary engineering study to Bruce Franca ofthe FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology.

Very truly yours,

Chairman Paxson Communications Corporation

Enclosure cc (w/encl.): Chairman William E. Kennard Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth Commissioner Michael K. Powell Commissioner Gloria Tristani Bruce A. Franca Robert Pepper flll Treil, Lu"tli" & R4ekky, Illc.

201 F1erchet A"eruJlll $UIliDQ, Finnell 342'." Telephone: (941) 329..6000. Ex' 5011 F;u:similc. (941) 329-6030 • DC tine: (202) 223-610D. Ext 60 II DC Facsimi!a: (202) 466-2042

MEMORANDUMi

Date: May 22, JOOI

To: Fred Casebolt

FI'OkD: Jolm A. Lundin Direct Line: (941) 3~!J."'11 ..-mail: [email protected]

Subject: Los Angeles DTV

Thi~ memo will report aD the mJclies you J:eqUC5tGd far the Los Angeles, Califomi.. TV market. II CQncerDS digital television (DTV) alJoanents on channels 60 through 69. and the possibility offinding altemalive channels in the channels 2 through 59 band.

)1I lhe la~ Angeles marlccl there appear to have been 5 DTV allotments made on chumels 60 through 69. DTV operatia~ an: either' auth0ri.2ed or proposed on these channels. An appear to have transmitter sitCH located in the Mount Wilson area. These channels 60-69 DTV assignments are:

Station Channel Aw1L Trarwnirting papiljtic.~

KCBS-DT, Lo:l AnBclc..", CA DTV~O Lie: 469 kW-DA, 1087 m

KSCI-DT, Long Beach. CA DlV-61 CP 148 kW-DA, 948 m KSCI-DT. Long Beach. CA DTV-61 App. 256 kW-DA. 950 m

XTrV-DT, Los AIlgeJes. CA DTV-6S CP 680 1cW-D"'-, 902 m KTIV-OT, Los Angeles, CA DTV~65 App. lOOOkW-DA. 902 In

KCOP-DT. Los Angeles) CA DTV-66 CP 371 kW-DA., 888 m

KRCA-DT, Riv~5ide. CA DTV-{;8 CP 200 kW-DA. 922 m

A search ofthe 'IV band from channel~ 2 through S9 was undertaken. Alternative OTV channels were sought re:gardless of the amOLlnt ofreplication to the .respective 8D8Jog (NTSC) olJClralions. For purposes ofthe search we have assumed the site proposed by KPXN-DT at Mount Harvard (near Mount Wilsao). The follQwing is a $ummary showing the primary assignment precluding DTV use of tho channel, not neces$lfi!y the onJy problem with the channel. The bearing and separation from tbe scilKh rdel'enec; point (proposed KPXN-DT Site) to the precluding assignment are given.

, ..~---_ .._-----_.. _-----_.._-- LA.DTV Page 2

Channel Primary Alsi;mmcnt Precluding UK ofChannel Bgriog Separatism

2 KCBS-TV. Los Apge!e&. CAr NTSC-2 335 deg. 2.3 km 3 VCR. elC., Avoid due to KNBC an. NTSC-4 4 XNBC. Los Allgeles, CA, NTSC-4 343 0_8 S KTLA-TV. Los Angele.CiI• CA, NTSC-S 346 1.S 6 NCE-PM. Need." detailed smdy 7 KABC-TV. Los ADge_, CA. NTSC-1 344 1.6 8 Possi~, KFMB-TV, San Diego, CA, NTSC-8 154 170.2 9 KCAJ....TV, Los Angeles. CA, NTSC-9 343 1.6 10 PosSible, KGTV, San Diego, CA, NTSC-IO 154 170.1 11 KTTV. 1.0" Angeles. CA. NTSC-ll 353 1.3 12 Possible, Needs more detailed study 13 '((COP-TV. Los Angel.s, CA, NTSC-13 342 1.B 14 LMRS, Los Angeles. CA, Ch.l4 15 LMRS. Los Angeles, C~ Ch.14 cit 16 16 LMRS, Los Angeks. CA, Cb.16 17 LMRS. Los Angeles, CA, Ch.16 18 ICSO. LoaS Beach, CA, NTSC-l$ 1.6 19 LMRS, Los Angeles, CA, Ch.20 20 LMRS, Los Angeles, CA, Ch.20 21 LMRs, Los Angeles, CA, Ch.20 22 KWHY-TV. ~ Angeles, CA. NTSC-22 343 1.6 23 KTBN·DT, Santa Ana, CA. DTV-23 356 1.2 24 XVCR-TV, San Bernardino, CA, NTSC-24 111 16.8 2S Possible. Needs more deWled smdy 26 KVCR-DT. San Bernardino, CA. DTV-26 III 16.8 27 Possible. Needs more detailed study 28 KeE!. Los Angeles, CA, NTSC-28 356 1.2 29 Possible., Needs more det~iled ~tudl' 30 K~XN, San Bernardino. CA. NTSC-30 95 33.5 31 RTLA-DT. Los Ange!e§. CA. DTV·31 346 1.5 32 KDOC-DT. Anaheim. CA, DTV-32 344 1.6 33 Pg~$ib1c::. Nceda mOte detailed study 34 KMEX-TV, Los Angeles, CA, NTSC-34 345 l.S 35 KMEX-DT. Lo~ Angele,;, CA. DTV-35 343 1.6 36 KNBC-DT. Los Angeles. CA. DTV-36 348 1.4 37 R.adio Astronomy 38 KPXN·DT. San Bernardino, CA. DTV-38 0 0.0 39 KVEA-DT, COlOna, CA, DTV-39 3SS 1.2 40 KTBN·TV. Smua ADa, CA. NTSC-40 356 1.2 41 KLCS-DT, Los Angeles, CA, DTV-41 188 0.7 42 KWHY-DT, Los Angeles. CA, DTV-42 343 1.6 43 KCAL-DT. Los Angeles. CAo DTV-43 343 1.6 LA-MV Page 3

Chapnel Primary AWgnupnt Pl$:ludinS Usc of~1 Beying Sl!p8I'!tioq.

44 KHlZ-DT, Bartow, CA, DTV-44 58 cIeg. 83.7 Jan 45 Possible, Needs more detailed study 46 KHSC-TV, Ontario, CA, NTSC-46 344 1.6 47 KHSC-DT. Ontario. CA, DTV-47 345 1.6 48 KOCE-DT, Huntington Bc:ach, CA, DTV-48 344 1.6 49 KJLA-DT, Ventura, CA. DTV-49 344 1.6 50 KOCE-TV, HuotingtoD Beach. CA, NTSC-SO 159 28.7 51 KRPA-DT. Rancho Palos Verde, CA. DTV-51 344 1.6 52 KVEA, Corona,. CA. NTSC-S2 355 1.2 53 KABC-DT, lAs Angeles. CA. D1""-53 344 1.6 54 IaDN-DT, AValon, CA. DTV-S4 344 1.6 55 Possible, Needs mole detailed study :56 XDOC-TV. Anaheim, CA, NTSC-S6 344 1.6 57 KJLA. Ventura. CA. NTSC-S7 279 89.5 S8 KLCS, Los Angeles, CA, NTSC-S8 3SS 1.2 S9 ICCET-DT, Los ADge1es, CA, DTV-S9 356 1.2

All of the channels ate obviously eliminated as possible DTV aln:matives e"cept channels 6. 8. 10. 12,25,27.29,33.45 and 55. Mo~ detailed interference calculations will need. to be performed on these channels (ie, using aST"(s9 program) to determine what ERP may be permitted in the VariOU5 directions withoUt exceeding the FCC's interference swadards. We believe cbanne16 will probably nol be a pos:libiJity r;!ua to non-cornmerc1aJ, cdocaUonal (NCE) FM operations on me adjacent cbannc).

We will report on the results ofthe more derailed studies as soon ~ they are completed.

Ifyou have qUe3tions or nud additional information. please communicarc.

dLR:2667.8388