WASHINGTON—Broadcasters potentially stand to gain millions of NextGen TV over-the-air viewers thanks to FCC rule changes and clarifications released Jan. 19 that expand the permissible range of signal spillover from DTS (distributed transmission system) transmitters.

The impact of the rule changes will be significant when it comes to the number of people and devices able to receive ATSC 3.0 signals and services, said Erik Langner, president of Public Media Group (PMG), a NextGen TV infrastructure company that will partner with broadcasters to operate ATSC 3.0 facilities.

Estimated population gains for broadcasters in five markets illustrate what the rule change may mean. Comparing big stick transmission to a DTS NextGen TV network received by devices indoor at a height of 1.5 meters, PMG estimates OTA population gains of 4.3 million in Los Angeles; 3 million in Boston; 2.7 million in Miami; 2.5 million in Dallas; and 1.5 million Detroit.

“We have worked with multiple public and commercial broadcasters in various markets to design single frequency networks, and the impact is significant in terms of the number of people and devices that will receive ATSC 3.0 signals and service,” he said.

The 1.5-meter height was selected because consumers are more likely to use an indoor antenna or watch on mobile devices than mount a rooftop antenna at 10 meters, he added.

The new rules remove nebulous language that described permissible spillover beyond a station’s authorized service area as a “minimal amount” and replace it with precise language. 

For UHF stations, the rules now mandate the 41 dBu F(50,50) contour for each DTS transmitter in use not exceed the reference station’s 41 dBu F(50,50) contour. The corresponding values for low VHF are now 28 dBu and for high VHF 36 dBu.

Langner isn’t alone in the upbeat assessment of the rule change. Both America’s Public Television Stations and NAB, which asked the FCC to make the rule change, lauded the action.

“America’s Public Television Stations applaud the action taken today by the FCC, a welcome endorsement of changes in the current rules that will allow broadcast television stations to unlock the benefits of NextGen TV through DTS operations that better serve their viewers and preserving their commitment to localism,” said Lonna Thompson, executive vice president, chief operating officer and general counsel of APTS. 

The FCC Report and Order, released Jan. 19 and adopted Jan. 13, follows a petition for rulemaking submitted by APTS and NAB, which prompted the agency to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking leading to the changes.

“NAB applauds the Commission for adopting rules that will allow broadcasters to offer improved service to viewers,” said Ann Marie Cumming, senior vice president, Communications, at NAB. “The balanced approach taken by the order represents a fair compromise that will provide greater certainty to stations seeking to deploy NextGen TV. We particularly appreciate the hard work of the Commission staff in this technical proceeding.”

Pearl TV, which last fall began SFN testing in Phoenix as part of the model market project, welcomed the news.

“We're pleased that the Commission adopted this change to the rules on Single Frequency Networks [a synonym for DTS networks], since it will help broadcasters roll out NextGen TV more quickly and more efficiently,” said Pearl TV Managing Director Anne Schelle. 

The rule changes will enable ATSC 3.0 to fulfill its potential, said Jerald Fritz, executive vice president at ONE Media 3.0.

“The promise of 3.0 is the ability to provide robust services—video and data—to all parts of licensed service areas,” he said. “SFNs will enhance that enterprise, and the new DTS rules will enable those new service nodes. So, we are pleased the Commission allows us to enhance our services to more parts of our licensed service areas.”

Merrill Weiss, DTS pioneer and owner of Merrill Weiss Group, sees the rule changes as a positive development.

“The DTS Report and Order goes a long way toward overcoming the most serious limitation that has held back DTS implementation over the dozen years that DTS has been in the FCC’s rules. It will enable providing higher and more uniform signal levels throughout stations’ service areas,” he said.

“It will allow designs of DTS networks to be created with knowledge on the parts of their designers that their designs will be acceptable for authorization. It also will expand the use of DTS to more types of digital stations on a routine basis, now including Class A and Low Power stations in addition to full-power stations.”

WASHINGTON—The FCC released an update to its DTS (distributed transmission system) coverage rules to expand the permissible range of signal spillover and replace the subjective “minimal amount” language used to describe spillovers as a way to promote ATSC 3.0 reaching its full potential.

The change gives broadcasters more flexibility in placement of DTS transmitters. For UHF stations, the rule change mandates that the 41 dBu F(50,50) contour for each DTS transmitter in use does not exceed the reference station’s 41 dBu F(50,50) contour. The corresponding values for low VHF are now 28 dBu and for high VHF 36 dBu.

The Report and Order, adopted Jan. 13, explained that the agency’s actions are intended to afford “broadcasters greater flexibility in the placement of DTS transmitters …” that will “allow them to enhance signal capabilities and fill coverage gaps, improve indoor and mobile reception, and increase spectrum efficiency by reducing the need for television translator stations operating on separate channels.”

The change gives no protection to DTS transmissions beyond a station’s authorized service area. It also removes the requirement for Class A, LPTV and TV translator stations to apply for DTS facilities on an experimental basis. The new DTS contour-based limit for these broadcasters is similar to the change adopted for full-power broadcasters but is “modified slightly to account for technical differences …,” it said.

“[O]ur adopted approach will allow broadcasters to improve coverage in their service areas, without causing more spillover than necessary to promote DTS deployment,” the R&O said.

While the change increases the permitted area for DTS spillover, it does not change a station’s area of interference protection, the R&O said.  “Specifically, such spillover will be subject to a bright-line limitation …”

By relaxing and clarifying how much DTS spillover is allowed at the fringe of a full-power station’s coverage contour, stations will be permitted to deliver a stronger signal to viewers located at the edges of their service areas and where terrain hampers delivery, it said.

The R&O was prompted by a petition for rulemaking filed by America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and NAB. The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment.  

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Brendan Carr supported the rule change. Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Stark approved in part and dissented in part. 

More information is available on the FCC website. 

WASHINGTON—A day after the APTS and NAB offered their comments requesting the expansion of Distributed Transmission Systems, tech groups—specifically New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge—are making their case as to why DTS spillover signals at this time should be considered unlicensed.

The FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that has resulted in these comments is proposing an expansion of the commission’s rules regarding DTS. However, OTI and PK are supporters of TV white spaces, the spectrum between TV stations and wireless broadband. The expansion of DTS would decrease the spectrum available for wireless broadband, they argue.

In the joint APTS, NAB comments, they say that expansion of DTS will help with the deployment of the ATSC 3.0 standard. OTI and PK counter by saying it is premature to take such action on that since there are few ATSC 3.0 services available to the public and the benefits aren’t yet known.

“At this early stage in the development of ATSC 3.0, the commission should not rely on promises of future services as the basis for another massive giveaway of spectrum to broadcasters,” the comments read.

Other potential issues with the current proposal is the possible creation of a DTS “Interference Area” more than twice the size of the current licensed coverage area of a broadcast station licensee, the tech groups claim. To help against this, the two organizations urge the FCC to not grant signal interference protection.

“Upgrading the status of spillover signals beyond DTS station’s areas to primary or secondary status could effectively grant broadcast licensees twice as much spectrum without even requiring that the license use the free spectrum to deploy services promised when ATSC 3.0 was authorized,” OTI and PK write.

Granting interference protection could also deny neighboring communities of other services, including TV white spaces, which could deter the use of vacant TV band spectrum to help try to close the rural connectivity divide, per the comments.

“DTS spillover signals should be considered unlicensed and should not confer interference protection rights against other licensed or unlicensed operations,” OTI and PK conclude.

The full comments are available through the FCC’s ECFS. 

WASHINGTON—America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and the NAB are calling on the FCC to allow them greater use of Distributed Transmission Systems, while subsequently arguing that any proposal creating rights for unlicensed and secondary services to use DTS should be rejected.

These stances come from comments filed jointly by APTS and NAB regarding a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by the FCC on changing its rules governing DTS.

APTS and NAB state that initial comments to this NPRM are supportive of the amendment that would have the FCC permit greater use of DTS. They say there are public interest benefits to amending the rules that would enable broadcasters to provide superior coverage, including at the edge of stations’ service areas. It is also argued that such amendments should be done as quickly as possible as it could have an impact on deployment plans for stations transitioning to ATSC 3.0, the NextGen TV standard.

“Swift approval of the requested changes will improve service to viewers, encourage investment and speed the rollout of ATSC 3.0 services,” the comments read. “We urge the commission to move forward quickly with an order amending the existing DTS rules.”

The two groups acknowledge what they call the “sole opposition” to the DTS proposal, advocates for unlicensed and secondary services who are asking for the FCC to provide them with new spectrum rights. However, the National Translator Association has also shared its opposition to new DTS rules to the FCC via filed comments.

Specifically in its comments though, APTS and NAB name Microsoft, New America’s Open Technology Institute and Public Knowledge that are pushing against changes to DTS rules because of the potential for such changes to diminish opportunities for the use of TV white space technology to close the rural broadband gap.

“These arguments are inconsistent with commission rules and precedent and lack any sound basis in public policy,” the comments read. “The commission should reject the invitation to use this proceeding to create unprecedented and legally unsustainable rights for unlicensed and secondary services.”

In fact, APTS and NAB make the case that expanded DTS operations could result in more opportunities for white spaces as it would help reduce dependence on TV translators operating on different channels to reach difficult service areas.

“Broadcasters have proposed very targeted changes to the existing DTS rules that will allow them to realize substantial public interest benefits associated with DTS deployments,” the comments conclude. “The only opposition to this proposal comes from parties with secondary or non-existent spectrum rights that ask the commission to provide them with unprecedented and unwarranted protections that will have the effect of constraining innovation. The commission should reject these requests and allow broadcasters to provide better service to viewers through more robust in-home and mobile coverage and enhanced spectrum efficiency.”

The full comments are available on the FCC’s ECFS. 

WASHINGTON—Broadcasters want to take a closer look at the FCC’s rules when it comes to Distributed Transmission Systems, aka single frequency networks, and its service limits.

This is the early take away from comments filed in regards to a joint petition from APTS and the NAB that specifically asks the FCC to amend its rules regarding DTS for the ATSC 3.0 rollout. Nearly all of the comments submitted to the commission’s ECFS are in support of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the subject, the only dissension thus far comes from Microsoft.

The computer company is the only commenter as of yet to outright oppose the joint petition. Even so, its comments explain that it supports the idea of using SFNs to better utilize the ATSC 3.0 standard, it just does not feel new rules are needed.

“[W]e believe the commission was fundamentally correct in its Next Generation Broadcast Television Standard Report and Order when it concluded that ‘the rules the commission already has established to authorize a DTS station generally are adequate to authorize an ATSC 3.0 SFN station.’ Thus, while we support the use of DTS, we do not support the rule changes proposed in the petition, which appear to go well beyond what is needed to fill coverage gaps within broadcasters’ service areas,” Microsoft wrote. It was the only submitted comments to outright oppose the joint petition.

Ark Multicasting Inc., while ultimately supporting the petition, also warned against “unintended consequences that could freeze technology and markets.”

Most of the comments support the concept that SFNs will be better suited to provide better reception for ATSC 3.0.

“The NEXTGEN TV rules adopted by the FCC build upon an existing license framework that, while perhaps reasonable for ATSC 1.0 transmissions, needlessly limits the ability of broadcasters to take full advantage of the next-generation standard,” Nexstar’s comments read. “The Commission should take this opportunity to remove that limitation and provide broadcasters with the flexibility to fully embrace single frequency networks to expand the delivery of local content and maximize the efficiency of their assigned spectrum.”

All of the filed comments can be read on the FCC’s ECFS page.