WASHINGTON—Are the FCC’s estimated costs for the C-band transition too high, too low or just right? The commission is seeking comment from those that will be impacted to find out.

The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is asking for comments to be filed on the 3.7 GHz Preliminary Cost Category Schedule of Potential Expenses and Estimated Costs (Cost Catalog).

The FCC previously approved plans to make C-band spectrum (3.7-4.2 GHz band) available for 5G development. This will include 280 MHz of band available for public auction, while 20 MHz serve as a guard band for the upper 200 MHz, which will be where satellite operators relocate to.

The Cost Catalog is an estimate of the costs that it will cover for eligible satellite operators—Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) space station operators, incumbent FSS earth station operators and incumbent Fixed Service licensees—moving out of the 280 MHz spectrum.

Among the costs proposed to be covered are the expected cost to repack existing satellites for satellite operators; filtering/retuning/repointing costs for Earth stations; fixed service costs; and technology updates. The preliminary Cost Catalog is available for review online for specific price details.

These estimated costs do not include incentive payments that would be available for incumbents exiting the spectrum early.

Comments that the FCC is looking for include whether or not these estimated costs are reasonable, as well as whether or not it covers every situation that may occur during the transition. In addition, the FCC wants comments on lump sums that would be open to various Earth station owners, specifically on the appropriate amount and what class of Earth station should be eligible.

Interested parties must file comments through the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System by May 12. 

WASHINGTON—The FCC has set May 7 as the deadline for comment on the information-collection requirements of its ATSC 3.0 rollout framework.

The commission is required to solicit input per the Paperwork Reduction Act, which charges the Office of Management and Budget with insuring the benefits of the additional reporting requirements of a new reg outweigh the costs.

[ATVA Files Petition for Limited Reconsideration of ATSC 3.0 Order]

OMB will need to sign off on four new requirements: 1) Broadcasters are required to file an application to move its ATSC 1.0 signal to a host station (the FCC is requiring stations to team up in a market, with one delivering both station's signals in the current 1.0 standard and the other delivering both ATSC 3.0 next-gen signals); 2) broadcasters must air consumer notices to inform viewers of changes; 3) broadcasters must provide written notices to MVPDs when they move their ATSC 1.0 signals to a host station; 4) broadcasters must maintain a written copy of any local simulcasting agreement.

The FCC is seeking input on: "Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees."

A politically divided FCC voted 3-2 on Nov. 16, 2017, to allow for the voluntary rollout of the standard. That came over the objections of Democrats on the commission and in Congress, who argued that it was a gift to Sinclair or a rush to a standard that could leave viewers paying for the change through new TV's or equipment of higher cable prices.

[ATSC 3.0 Marches On]

ATSC 3.0 will allow TV stations to do geo-targeted ads and emergency alerts, video on demand and other interactive services using a broadband return path for viewers with Internet access, and provide those high-high definition 4K pictures.

This story first appeared on TVT's sister publication B&C.

For a comprehensive list of TV Technology’s ATSC 3.0 coverage, see our ATSC3 silo.