Federal Communications Commission FCC 03-198 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Amendment of Parts 73 and 74 of the ) Commission’s Rules to Establish Rules for Digital ) MB Docket No. 03-185 Low Power Television, Television Translator, and ) Television Booster Stations and to Amend Rules ) for Digital Class A Television Stations ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING Adopted: August 6, 2003 Released: August 29, 2003 Comment Date: [60 days after publication in the Federal Register] Reply Comment Date: [90 days after publication in the Federal Register] By the Commission: TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraph I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 II. BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................... 3 III. ISSUE ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 9 A. Permissible Service.......................................................................................................................... 9 1. Digital Television Translator Stations....................................................................................... 9 2. Digital Low Power Television Stations................................................................................... 18 B. Channel Assignments..................................................................................................................... 26 C. Interference Protection................................................................................................................... 31 1. Protected Digital Translator and LPTV Service Contour........................................................ 31 2. Protection Standards and Methodology .................................................................................. 34 a. Broadcast Station Protection............................................................................................. 34 b. Protection of Land Mobile Radio and Other Primary Services ........................................ 58 D. Other Technical Issues................................................................................................................... 61 1. Power Limits ........................................................................................................................... 61 2. Out-of-Channel Emission Limits ............................................................................................ 62 3. Other Transmission System Facilities Issues .......................................................................... 71 4. Modification of Transmission Systems................................................................................... 80 E. Station Operation ........................................................................................................................... 82 1. Time of Operation ................................................................................................................... 82 2. Unattended Operation.............................................................................................................. 84 3. Station Identification ............................................................................................................... 85 F. Authorization of Digital LPTV and TV Translator Stations.......................................................... 91 G. Digital Booster Stations ............................................................................................................... 118 Federal Communications Commission FCC 03-198 H. Remaining Issues ......................................................................................................................... 123 1. Digital Call Signs .................................................................................................................. 123 2. Fees........................................................................................................................................ 124 3. International Coordination Provisions................................................................................... 125 4. Use of Broadcast Auxiliary Service Frequencies.................................................................. 126 5. Digital Class A TV Area for Locally Produced Programming.............................................. 127 I. Petition for Rule Making by the Association of Public Television Stations, the Public Broadcasting Service, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting........................................... 128 IV. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ...................................................................................................... 132 V. ORDERING CLAUSES..................................................................................................................... 138 APPENDIX A: Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis I. INTRODUCTION 1. With this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, we seek comment on rules for digital low power television (“LPTV”) and television translator stations, and consider issues related to digital television booster stations. Translators and LPTV stations will play a significant role in furthering the transition to digital television. Viewers in many communities depend on the services of TV translator and LPTV stations for their over-the-air television service. Through our rules, policies and application processes, we seek to provide flexible and affordable opportunities for low power digital service, both through the digital conversion of existing analog service and, where spectrum is available, new digital stations. We seek to develop interference protection rules and methodology that will provide spectrum for new digital stations without undermining established interference protection rights. The Notice also addresses key issues relating to permissible service, spectrum for digital low power service, protected service area, equipment and other technical and operational requirements, and authorization of digital service. It seeks comment on the impact of our proposals on television broadcast and other primary services, particularly those in the 470-512 MHz band and the new services in the 698-806 MHz (Upper and Lower 700 MHz) bands. 2. Our goals in this proceeding are to establish a regulatory framework that will hasten the transition of LPTV and TV translator stations to digital operations and to do so in a manner that minimizes disruption of existing service to the consumers served by analog LPTV and translator stations. We are mindful of the challenges presented by limited spectrum availability for new digital stations in certain areas of the country and the limited budgets of many stations in the LPTV service. In this proceeding we seek comment on a number of measures to facilitate the availability and permitted use of TV channels for digital operations, particularly with regard to the transition of existing analog service. For instance, we consider replacing the analog LPTV contour protection methods with the more flexible digital television (“DTV”) interference prediction methodology. We also seek comment on flexible means for digital translator operations, for example, the combining the signals of two or more DTV broadcast stations on a translator’s transmitted output channel, provided such operation is technically and economically feasible. We propose to permit digital LPTV stations to provide ancillary and supplementary services upon meeting a minimum video program service requirement. To expedite authorization of service, we propose that LPTV and translator operators be permitted convert to digital on their existing analog channels by applying for a minor facilities change at any time. We seek comment on filing procedures for new digital stations that would facilitate the transition of existing LPTV and translator service and quicken the authorization of digital service. The Notice invites comment on these and other technical, legal, and policy issues. Additionally, we seek comment on any other issues that may be relevant to this proceeding. 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 03-198 II. BACKGROUND 3. The Commission created the low power television service (Subpart G of Part 74 of the Commission’s Rules) in 1982.1 The low power television service consists of low power television, television translator, and television booster stations. Stations in the low power television service are authorized with “secondary” frequency use status. These stations may not cause interference to, and must accept interference from, full-service television stations, certain land mobile radio operations and other primary services.2 As the name suggests, low power television service stations have lower authorized power levels than full-service TV stations.3 Unlike full-service stations, stations in the low power television service are not restricted to operating on a channel specified in a table of allotments. 4. LPTV Stations. The Commission created low power television stations to bring television service, including local service, to viewers “otherwise unserved or underserved” by existing service providers.4 LPTV stations may originate programming and retransmit the programs of full-service television stations. Currently, there are approximately 2,100 licensed LPTV stations.5 These