FM6 stations have until Jan. 29 to officially state their intention to continue service and to confirm their operational parameters to the FCC.

These stations are the low-power TV broadcasters that operate as radio stations on frequencies just below the FM band, a practice that earned them the nickname Franken FMs.

Last summer, the FCC ruled that 14 such stations in nine states can continue to provide these analog radio services. They essentially have been grandfathered in, resolving the longstanding regulatory issue.

Many of the stations are in or near major markets, so this outcome essentially means that several big U.S. cities now officially have one more FM station for the many consumers whose radios can pick up the frequencies.

The authorized stations are KBKF(LD), San Jose, Calif.; WMTO(LD), Norfolk, Va.; KXDP(LD), Denver; WTBS(LD), Atlanta; WRME(LD), Chicago; KZNO(LD), Big Bear Lake, Calif.; KEFM(LD), Sacramento; WEYS(LD), Miami; WDCN(LD), Fairfax, Va., near Washington, D.C.; KRPE(LD), San Diego; KGHD(LD), Las Vegas; WPGF(LD), Memphis; and WNYZ(LD), New York. 

The FCC also permitted WVOA(LD) in Westvale, N.Y., near Syracuse, to provide FM6 service subject to certain requirements. That FM6 went back on the air in December at 87.7 MHz.

The commission will not allow new FM6 entrants or the return of other legacy analog FM6 stations that ceased or never previously provided radio service. “Effective immediately, the bureau will not process STA extension requests filed by any FM6 LPTV stations … The bureau also will promptly dismiss any STA requests for new FM6 operations.”

The Media Bureau has set Jan. 29 as the deadline for the 14 stations to notify it of their intent to continue to provide FM6 service and to confirm their operational parameters.

The bureau said all FM6 LPTV stations with unexpired STAs or pending STA extensions will be considered in compliance with its rules as long as their operations adhere to the recent order. Once an operational notice is received, the bureau will add a notation to each LPTV station’s license to reflect that it is permitted to provide FM6 operations as an ancillary or supplementary service. 

These stations are required to maintain online public inspection files for their FM6 service. The FCC also reminded them that television stations that offer feeable ancillary or supplementary services are required to submit an annual report and pay a fee on the revenues from those services. If an FM6 LPTV station offers such services it must pay the fee. 

Details and instructions for the stations are outlined in the order (read it here).

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand Radio World. 

Saying it wants to bring “final resolution” to the Franken FM issue, the Federal Communications Commission has opened a notice of proposed rulemaking.

The debate over whether to allow FM6 stations could have a much broader impact than expected, depending on how the FCC ultimately acts. Because among the questions it is asking are these two: whether to allow future FM6 operations beyond those that currently have STAs; and more dramatically, whether to license additional NCE FM radio stations on 82–88 MHz in areas where Channel 6 LPTV and full-power stations are not operating. The latter idea has been proposed by NPR.

FM6 stations are the low-power digital television stations whose audio can be heard on many radios at 87.75 MHz — just below the official FM broadcast band — and which are essentially operating as FM stations. Thirteen stations currently have special temporary authority to do so.

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel had indicated that the commission would take some action on the matter this month. But the FCC did not wait for that meeting, it has opened the NPRM asking for comments on whether it should allow FM6 as an ancillary or supplementary service under specified conditions.

It is also asking whether it should eliminate or revise the television Channel 6 distance separation rules for low-power FMs, noncommercial educational FMs, Class D (10 watt) FMs and FM translators that operate on reserved band FM Channels 201–220, which is 88.1 to 91.9 MHz.

Background
The commission thinks that nearly 30 FM6 stations existed prior to the digital TV transition. But many in the industry expected the question of Franken FMs to go away once LPTVs were required to go digital in the summer of 2021, because the digital portion of their signals could no longer be received by FM radios.

However, as has been documented on in a series of articles on TV Tech, FM6 stations have sought to maintain their service in the new digital TV age, arguing that they provide an important service.

As long ago as 2014, the FCC noted, Venture Technologies Group proposed to use an ATSC 1.0 digital television transmitter on Channel 6 and a separate analog radio transmitter tuned to 87.75 MHz to simultaneously operate a digital LPTV station on Channel 6 and an analog FM radio-type service. It asked the FCC to treat the analog FM audio transmission as an “ancillary or supplementary” service under the commission’s rules.

That year the commission took industry comments on the concept. A coalition of broadcasters supported it, while FM broadcasters, including National Public Radio and other noncommercial educational FM broadcasters, as well as full-power television stations licensed on Channel 6 opposed it, citing interference concerns. In 2019 the commission took another round of comments, again without taking final action.

But the LPTV digital transition was completed in July 2021. Shortly beforehand, Venture filed a request for STA to convert its Channel 6 TV station in San Jose, Calif., to ATSC 3.0 digital and to operate an ATSC 3.0 transmitter and a separate analog FM radio transmitter on 87.7 MHz in an analog format as an ancillary service. The Educational Media Foundation, which provides programming to the station, supported that request.

The Media Bureau granted its STA subject to a number of conditions. The station must operate in ATSC 3.0, not 1.0; it cannot create interference; it must file regular written reports; the audio and video coverage must reach similar populations; and the station must provide at least one full-time stream of synchronized video and audio programming on the ATSC 3.0 portion of the spectrum. There are several other requirements as well.

Twelve more STAs have since been granted under the same stipulations.

NPRM
The FCC now is asking:

• Whether FM6 operations serve the public interest and should be authorized to continue in any capacity.
• If existing FM6 operations should be authorized as “ancillary or supplementary” services and, if so, be subject to a rule that contains provisions similar to those in the 13 current STAs.
• Whether the FCC can or should limit FM6 operations to only those LPTV stations with active FM6 STAs right now.
• Whether to adopt NPR’s proposal to license additional NCE FM radio stations on 82–88 MHz in areas where Channel 6 LPTV and full-power stations are not operating.
• Whether to eliminate or revise the TV6 distance separation rules for LPFM, NCE, Class D (10 watt), and FM translator stations operating on reserved band FM Channels 201–220.

Those are the broad-brush questions. Among the many specific issues being raised in the FCC NPRM are these:

• Is it an efficient use of spectrum to use a 6 MHz television channel to provide a 200 kHz aural service?
• Could FM6 programming be delivered in a more spectrum-efficient way, e.g. as a digital audio-only stream on one of the LPTV’s multicast channels, through the internet or via traditional FM or LPFM licenses?
• How is analog use of a digital channel “consistent with” the digital technology mandated by the FCC for the provision of advanced TV services?
• Should the FCC limit LPTV stations providing FM6 operations from modifying their facilities?
• Should it limit such stations from being transferred while FM6 operations are being conducted, to avoid license speculation?
• Does the fact that stations are using ATSC 3.0 change the potential for analog FM6 to interfere with or disrupt the station’s digital TV service?
• Should FM6 stations be held to the rules that require public inspection files, border frequency coordination and other aspects of Part 73?
• If FM6s are allowed, should they be subject to a 5% fee, as required of certain digital TV ancillary or supplementary services?
• If the FCC decides to limit FM6 only to stations that currently have STAs, should it “grandfather in” any LPTVs that have pending applications for CPs that conducted FM6 operations in the past?

Since 1985 the FCC required FM stations on the reserved band to protect Channel 6 stations. In the NPRM it noted that four years ago, in weighing tweaks to the LPFM rules, it had considered whether to change that requirement, the idea being that the current provisions “significantly overprotect” TV6 stations and could be reduced with little impact. But it didn’t act.

So now that “analog television is … truly a legacy service” and the industry has experience with respect to digital TV6, the FCC asks again about the continued need for TV6 interference protection rules, including the possible impact if FM6 operations are retained — “that is, if FM6 and LPFM and NCE FM stations are allowed to come into closer proximity if the TV6 protection rules are eliminated, would that increase concerns about interference from FM6 to LPFM/NCE FM stations — an important factor in our FM6 considerations?”

The deadlines to comment in MB Docket No. 03-185 have not yet been published.

You can read the full NPRM here.

This article originally appeared in Radio World. 

FRESNO, Calif.—KMCF-LD Channel 6 in Fresno, Calif., has launched NextGen TV on VHF Channel 6 and expects to offer a full-power FM service at 87.7 on the radio dial. Once approved by the FCC, the hybrid service from the Cocola Broadcasting-owned low-power TV station would be among the first in the nation to offer a so-called “Franken FM”—TV stations that offer audio services via the 87.7 MHz audio carrier— enabled by ATSC 3.0. 

Fresno-based Cocola said “an early start on securing the equipment and FCC permission” allowed the company to be one of the first in Fresno to launch ATSC 3.0 and added that, unlike its full-power counterparts currently offering ATSC 3.0, it will broadcast in 4K.

“Programming for KMCF will be 4K productions including super high-definition NASA programming,” the company said in a statement. “There is a limited supply of 4K programming available at this time but with the launch of ATSC 3.0 now, Cocola Broadcasting will be able to add new 4K programming as it becomes available.”

The “Franken FM” would broadcast the signal of Fresno’s KJOI—known as "Your All Time Favorites"—through Channel 6. The FM signal doesn’t require special equipment but to watch the video portion of ATSC 3.0 requires a TV, tuner box or DVR designed to broadcast the upgraded signal to take advantage of the audio and video improvements.

Cocola Broadcasting was founded in the early 1980s by broadcasting veteran Gary Cocola who operates 56 channels in Fresno and 18 in Bakersfield. The launch of ATSC 3.0 is the latest example of Cocola Broadcasting embracing the most up-to-date technology to ensure the best digital service for local viewers. When Cocola launched his initial television station in 1985—Channel 59—it was the first TV station in Fresno to broadcast in stereo.

“I have always tried to be on the cutting edge of new technology,” Cocola said.

Franken FM is on the agenda at the FCC.

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has released a list of topics for the commission’s June meeting and FM6 is on it.

“We’re asking about preserving established local programming for radio audiences,” she wrote.

“For years, some low-power television stations licensed on Channel 6 have provided listeners local radio programming that was picked up on the FM dial, so-called FM6 stations. These stations sought to maintain this service to their existing audiences after the LPTV digital transition by seeking commission approval to provide their analog radio service as ‘ancillary or supplementary services.’”

Rosenworcel said the commission will consider a proposal to allow these broadcasters to continue their existing FM6 radio service, “provided that they meet certain conditions, including interference protection and the provision of a synchronous TV service to consumers.”

The Educational Media Foundation has been among those pressing the FCC for approval and clarification on policies around FM6 stations.

Tv Tech contributor James O’Neal has an ongoing series of articles on these stations; the first provided an overview, the second focuses on the tech behind the stations in the era of ATSC 3.0.

NEW YORK—The latest of the new wave of hybrid DTV/analog FM radio stations—WNYZ-LD—took to the air on March 22 as a fully-licensed “NextGen TV” station in the New York City borough of Queens, and in doing so, bested the full-power TV operations for the title of being the first in the Big Apple to air ATSC 3.0 broadcasts.

The 3 kW ERP TV Ch. 6 (82-88 MHz) station is licensed to Sound of Long Island Inc. (SOL) and transmits Korean language TV and radio broadcasts to the metropolitan New York City area and eastward towards Long Island, using a directional antenna in order to avoid interference with a full-power Ch. 6 operation in Philadelphia, southwest of WNYZ-LD’s transmitter location.

(Read: Next-Generation ‘Franken FMs’ on the Rise, Part I & Part II)

According to Clarence Beverage of Communications Technologies, Inc., the consulting engineer who set up the station, it’s one of a dozen or so second-generation hybrid TV Ch. 6 DTV/FM stations that had previously operated as analog “Frankens” for a number of years before the FCC sunset all remaining analog LPTV broadcasts last July. 

Beverage said that Young Kwon, SOL’s president, knew about the Venture Technologies' team in California and their groundbreaking work employing the new NextGen TV broadcast TV transmission standard, developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), which enables broadcaster to deliver an array of new services and enhanced content features to consumers. 

Beverage observed that he gives a lot of credit to Venture, as they looked very carefully at FCC rules and realized that the implementation plan for ATSC 3.0 was not to just allow for television, but for other signals such as data, narrow-band audio, and the like as well.

He explained that Mr. Kwon had followed the progress of Venture Technologies in licensing their KBKF-LD former analog Ch. 6 LPTV for ATSC 3.0 and in obtaining an STA in early June to allow it to transmit an analog FM signal on their former analog TV 87.75 MHz audio carrier.

“When Mr. Kwon saw KBKF’ s success, he felt it was time to go forward to order equipment and formalize a lease for the new facilities for the [NYC] Ch. 6 DTV with ancillary audio signal,” said Beverage. “KBKF, in receiving their approvals, gave the SOL team a basis to begin to move things forward and allowed Mr. Kwon to plan to use the facility to provide separate minority-focused program content, 24 hours per day, for both television and radio signals. “ 

Beverage noted that WNYZ-LD’s transmission setup closely mirrors that used by Venture Technologies’ KBKF-LD with an equipment package provided by the Italian firm, SYES.

“There were really a limited number of people talking about manufacturing equipment for this application,” said Beverage. “SYES started early for the operation in California, and we thought they were the best choice. When we were ready to place the order, SYES was the only company with a station on the air with this configuration.”

He added that key to implementation of any NextGen TV operation is the ATSC 3.0 encoding gear, and the current price tag of around $80,000 for this technology has made it prohibitive for many low-power TV broadcasters.

“SYES worked with an encoder manufacturer to produce an encoder without a lot of bells and whistles,” said Beverage. “This one was $40,000, but is able to be expanded.” He added that many people probably are not aware of what it takes to put an ATSC 3.0 TV station on the air, and that unlike some of their earlier analog TV Franken precursors, the current stations are designed and operated to fully comply with extremely specific FCC rules and regulations.

“This is a really professionally-engineered no-interference very, very controlled implementation.”

WASHINGTON—Insinuating a connection between Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, National Public Radio wants to see an end to low-power television Channel 6 stations from using analog FM radio services and has asked the FCC to refuse future authorization of such use of what are called “Franken FM” stations.

NPR filed its comments in response to the FCC Media Bureau’s request for feedback on whether analog LPTV stations should be able to continue to program an analog radio service—available on the FM dial (87.7)—after the final digital television conversion deadline.

NPR says that LPTVs’ use of radio airwaves can occupy 30x the spectrum a traditional FM station would use and would cause problems if permitted to continue to operate on analog.

“Franken FMs pose an ongoing threat of harmful interference to public radio stations operating in the immediately adjacent FM band reserved for noncommercial educational broadcast stations,” NPR’s comments to the FCC read. “Moreover, the grossly inefficient use of spectrum adjacent to the NCE reserved FM band ultimate prevents public radio stations from expanding their signal coverage or otherwise offering a multiplicity of additional public service programming for the American public.”

LPTVs believe that these concerns are exaggerated.

“There [are] currently over 20 LPTV stations transmitting analog audio carriers available on 87.7 FM, yet the LPTV-C is not aware of any outstanding (not resolved to satisfaction of the listener) complaints about actual interference between the audio signal transmitted by these analog LPTV stations and nearby FM stations on Channels 201 or 202,” the LPTV Group's Mike Gravino told the FCC. “However, if the commission chooses to be overly cautious, it can adopt both contour overlap restrictions and prohibitions on actual interference that would eliminate any theoretical risk of interference between 87.7 FM audio carrier and nearby NCE FM stations. In everyday, real-world operating conditions, the current or proposed expanded 87.7 FM services will not cause impermissible interference to other broadcast licensees in their markets.”

LPTVs also have argued that their stations benefit unserved or under-served audiences, though NPR counters that these stations typically offer country, contemporary, Spanish language, religious and sports programming, areas that it says are well served by FM radio stations.

This can all be traced back to the digital conversion of 2009. At that time, full power stations were required to go all digital, but the FCC allowed LPTVs to continue to broadcast in analog until 12 months after the completion of the post-incentive auction repack. The auction is currently scheduled to be completed on July 3, 2020, giving LPTVs until July 3, 2021, to switch completely to digital.

NPR, in its argument, says that its position of ending operation of Franken FMs is supported by the Communications Act, FCC regulations and federal communications and spectrum policy. If LPTVs were allowed to continue Franken FM operations, “[the FCC] would have to develop additional rules to govern these Franken FM services to avoid interference to adjacent reserved band NCE FM stations and to assure reception of the LPTV’s primary video service by DTV receivers.”

NPR concludes the commission would better serve the public by reaffirming the DTV conversion deadline.