WASHINGTON—The Hive Group has published a new white paper, “No Safe Harbor: Why the FCC’s Upper C-Band Auction Demands Early Action from Broadcasters” ahead of NAB Show 2026 that examines the implications of the FCC’s planned auction of upper C-band spectrum and sets out what broadcasters need to consider now.

The FCC has scheduled an auction of between 100 and 180 MHz of upper C-band spectrum by July 2027. Unlike the 2020 reallocation, which left some C-band capacity intact, this auction would eliminate the remaining spectrum available to broadcasters, removing the option to stay on satellite without a significant infrastructure change.

For broadcasters that have relied on C-band for decades, this is an even more complex problem than the last transition. The study explains that this time around, there is no direct like-for-like replacement. Alternatives-including Ku-band, managed IP, and hybrid IP delivery each involve trade-offs in cost, complexity, and coverage.

The white paper evaluates these options and makes clear that no single model fully replicates what C-band has provided in terms of reliability, reach, and economics.

“The industry is facing a structural shift, not a routine spectrum reallocation,” said Lorenzo Zanni, lead data analyst, The Hive Group. “There is no safe harbor this time. Broadcasters that delay preparation will find themselves making high-stakes decisions under compressed timelines, with limited leverage. The window to act strategically is now.”

The report also delves into a number of practical challenges broadcasters should prepare for:

• Greater operational risk for live and time-sensitive content during the transition period
• Substantial equipment and infrastructure upgrades required across affiliate networks
• Less predictable cost structures as broadcasters move to IP-based and hybrid delivery
• Disproportionate burden on smaller broadcasters and local stations with limited resources to adapt

To address those thorny challenges, the white paper recommends that broadcasters begin now, starting with infrastructure audits, evaluating alternative delivery models, and engaging vendors early to allow enough lead time for informed decision-making.

Alongside the white paper launch, The Hive Group will host "The Future of Satellite Replacement” executive breakfast on Tuesday, April 21, from 7:30 to 9:30am at The Renaissance Hotel, Las Vegas during NAB Show 2026. The session is designed as an open industry forum bringing together senior leaders from broadcasters, satellite operators, IP transport providers, telcos, and cloud platforms to discuss the practical realities of moving away from C-band.

Topics under discussion will include how broadcasters are managing continued C-band spectrum loss, the operational and economic implications of shrinking satellite capacity, the role of IP terrestrial delivery, fiber, and cloud infrastructure, and what resiliency and redundancy look like in IP-based architectures.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Brad Cheney, VP, Field Operations & Engineering, FOX Sports
• Kenelm Deen, Director, B2B Distribution Solutions, Synamedia
• Thomas Edwards, Principal Solutions Architect, AWS
• Ken Fuller, Vice President, Distribution & Technology, Paramount/CBS
• Alastair Hamilton, SVP, Distribution Engineering & Architecture, Fox Corporation
• David Johnson, Senior Vice President, Technology, The Walt Disney Company
• G Morgan, Executive Vice President of Sales, Globecast
• Michelle Munson, CEO, Eluvio
• Alan Young, VP, Strategic Business Development, Zixi
• Rick Young, SVP, Head of Global Products, LTN
• Deepak Mathur, President, Media, SES Satellites
• Rick Gibson, VP, Vyvx Solutions, Lumen

Download the white paper at https://wearehivegroup.com/future-of-satellite-replacement.

Register for the breakfast event at https://wearehivegroup.com/future-of-satellite-replacement.

COLUMBIA, MD—LTN has announced major enhancements to its purpose-built global IP video network, introducing new capabilities for channel creators as they accelerate their transition from legacy satellite models. The latest innovations are based on the company’s experience completing large-scale migrations for national networks, station groups and sports networks to deliver even better reach, reliability, visibility and operational control.

LTN will showcase the new network enhancements at Booth W2100 in the West Hall of the LVCC during the NAB Show, April 18–22 in Las Vegas.

U.S. federal auctions to free up large portions of spectrum capacity for 5G services are approaching, with up to 180 MHz set to be reallocated in the next auction cycle, expected before the end of July 2027. As broadcasters face severe pressure on the remaining C-Band capacity for content distribution, LTN says it is enhancing the transition to reliable, IP-based alternatives with new capabilities that exceed the performance, visibility and reach of C-band or Ku satellite or protocol-only IP solutions.

LTN’s latest innovations prioritize resilience under real-world conditions, operational visibility, scalable management and flexible deployment—aligning with evolving customer needs as broadcasters expand IP distribution footprints and increase channel complexity, according to Malik Khan, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, LTN.

“We are continuing to invest in the areas that drive clear value for major networks and broadcasters—resilience, visibility, scale and cost control,” he said. “As the C-band spectrum auction approaches, broadcasters are looking for certainty and measurable performance. We’re seeing unprecedented momentum and are innovating to ensure we continue to deliver the market’s leading reliable and intelligent distribution platform. For our customers, this means they can unlock new growth opportunities while also driving meaningful cost efficiencies.”

Enhancements include:

• Reliability and performance: Enhancements include Adaptive Multicarrier Rapid Error Recovery (RER), hitless switching and last-mile improvements, delivering improved stability and consistent performance at scale.
• Visibility and monitoring: New capabilities include historical performance views, enhanced source monitoring and expanded API integrations for advanced reporting and analytics – providing greater transparency across feeds, faster issue identification and improved monitoring across complex distribution footprints.
• Reach and deployment enablement: LTN has introduced expanded network access options, including a gateway capable of receiving 500 channels targeted at headends with large channel lineups and small-footprint gateway targeted at affiliates needing to receive just a handful of full time channels. These enhancements deliver open interoperability, greater reach and faster deployment while integrating seamlessly into existing workflows and technical architectures.
• Edge device integration: LTN is working with the leading edge device manufacturers—encoding and IRDs systems—to integrate LTN Network access directly into those devices. The roster of partners—including MediaKind, Harmonic, Appear, and Ateme—will be demonstrated for the first time at the 2026 NAB Show.
• Control, orchestration and scale: Enhancements include more robust dynamic content routing, advanced distribution group management and centralized portal-based orchestration. Broadcasters can manage hundreds of affiliates, across a hybrid footprint, via a single interface, reducing manual workflows while improving visibility and control as scale increases.

LTN has delivered successful satellite-to-IP migrations for leading organizations, including Tennis Channel, TelevisaUnivision, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, MSG and MovieSphereGold, while expanding innovation for cable, broadcast and streaming networks through new capabilities and partnerships.

The company says its IP distribution footprint surged 200% in 2025, enabling seamless access to every content delivery platform. Today, LTN powers over 80 million hours of live video content annually — including nearly 5 million hours of live news and over 1 million live sporting events.

The National Association of Broadcasters knows the Federal Communications Commission is going to reallocate 100 MHz of the upper C-band, which it is legally mandated to do.

But the association warns that any clearing beyond that minimum threshold poses a significant risk to the nation’s critical broadcast infrastructure.

In its newly-filed reply comments, NAB contended that the upper C-band (3.98 to 4.2 GHz) is currently optimized and lacks the “headroom” for extensive clearing.

[This article was originally published in our sister publication, Radio World. They've also covered NAB’s previous filings during the comment filing period tied to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the commission opened in November. Read one of those stories here.]

The deadline to file reply comments with the commission in Docket 25-59 was on Wednesday.

“Upper C-band is mission-critical to broadcasting and is already operating at its practical limit,” NAB told the commission.

“Insatiable” wireless carriers

The upper C-band is used by earth station operators, including broadcasters, whose operations have already been curtailed by prior auctions of the lower C-band to wireless operators.

The commission is required by statute to auction a minimum of 100 MHz of the upper C-band (2.98 – 4.08 GHz) spectrum no later than July 2027, but the FCC has proposed auctioning up to 180 MHz through competitive bidding.

The spectrum auction is expected to generate billions of dollars.

But NAB contended that outside of the “insatiable nationwide wireless carriers and a small subset of proponents focused on speculative future uses,” commenters in the docket overwhelmingly caution that additional clearing would jeopardize broadcast distribution, increase systemic risk and undermine public-interest services.

Even with the loss of 100 MHz of spectrum, NAB said a repack will inevitably cause some disruption to incumbent users in part because compressing services into less spectrum creates a “Tetris-like” problem.

Keep it in the C-band

SES, the major provider of C-band services to broadcasters in the U.S., previously stated that most incumbent users can be repacked quickly into a reduced C-band if reallocation is limited to 100 MHz.

In addition, repacking all or most users within C-band will be far less disruptive than forcing incumbents out of the upper C-band into other satellite spectrum or alternative platforms, NAB told the commission.

NAB rejected claims from wireless companies that other technologies are suitable “one-for-one” replacements for C-band spectrum. Those alternative platforms include IP, fiber and Ku-band, which broadcasters and satellite operators say “are neither universally available nor functionally equivalent, particularly for point-to-multipoint distribution, rural service, and live event coverage.”

“Relocation out of C-band presents far greater uncertainty. The costs to transition may be many multiples higher,” it said.

NAB said two other major stakeholders in this proceeding – the satellite operators and the aviation industry – agree that clearing any portion of the upper C-band will require significantly longer timelines than the lower C-band transition.

The FCC proposed to clear incumbent earth station operators from the band over a five and a half-year period and, as with the prior migration to the Upper C-Band, the commission will reimburse incumbent earth station operators for their transition costs via money raised from an auction of the spectrum.

The FCC previously stated there are approximately 20,000 registered earth stations used by radio and TV broadcasters to receive satellite transmissions.

Substantially the same

NAB emphasized the FCC should follow precedent set in the order that forced incumbents to relocate from the lower C-band in 2020.

“The Lower C-band Order repeatedly stated that incumbents would be provided substantially the same service, which must again be assured,” NAB wrote in its comments.

“The commission previously rejected an all-fiber (or nearly all-fiber) deployment as carrying a bevy of challenges,” the association continued. “Ku-band, while a valuable improvement over terrestrial fiber, remains more susceptible than C-band to weather-related degradation and would require years of satellite launches and costly retrofits to approach current C-band reliability.

In fact, NAB pointed to the Communications Act, which it says does not permit the commission to substitute “theoretical alternatives for actual continuity of service,” according to NAB.

Merely accessing a different technology that performs adequately under ideal conditions is not acceptable, NAB asserted. It said the commission has long recognized that the act does not permit license modifications that affect a “fundamental change” in a licensee’s authorization.

Section 316 permits license modification, but not fundamental alteration of the essential rights conveyed by an FCC authorization, according to the recent filing.

NAB also asked the commission to implement a direct-pay or upfront reimbursement mechanism to replace the previous framework of the lower C-band transition where operators had to front costs and wait years for repayment.

“Commenters consistently warn that further upper C-band clearing beyond 100 MHz would jeopardize the reliability of the nation’s video distribution infrastructure, impose disproportionate harm on small entities, and undermine services the public relies upon for news, emergency information, and live events,” NAB concluded.

Comments in Docket 25-59 can be read at www.fcc.gov.

[This article was originally posted in our sister publication, Radio World. Their extensive Business and Law coverage is available here]

Last month, the FCC voted unanimously to move forward with proposed rules that would underpin the auction of at least 100 MHz, and potentially up to 180 MHz, of Upper C-band spectrum for 5G and 6G services. The direction of travel is clear: an ongoing push to maximize spectrum availability for mobile connectivity.

While regulators and stakeholders weigh up the implications, broadcasters must act faster than many others to protect their interests and secure reliable distribution pathways, free from the uncertainties of satellite.

The Broadcast Perspective
This latest move intensifies the urgency for broadcasters to secure viable alternatives to satellite as the remaining C-band spectrum is repurposed. Many networks and station groups have already decided to migrate all or part of their distribution to an alternative model using broadcast-grade IP video distribution technology—known as "Transport Stream over Internet Protocol" (IP-TS). IP-TS distribution matches the reliability of satellite with far more flexibility and much-needed cost- and availability-certainty, which will become harder for satellite-reliant broadcasters to achieve as auctions approach.

Some broadcasters, particularly those using multiple transponders, are still relying on long-term satellite operator partnerships or investigating Ku-band capacity – which often experiences unpredictable results due to rain fade issues. Others hesitate due to perceived complexity or assumptions that MVPDs are not IP-ready. Those assumptions are outdated. Nearly all major MVPDs today support IP distribution, with the necessary gateways and operational readiness in place.

The bottom line: broadcasters are asking critical questions. What happens if our transponder contract isn’t renewed? What if the cost of distribution becomes untenable? The answers increasingly point to hybrid or full IP strategies that offer greater control and cost predictability.

IP Distribution is Here, And It's Changing
Market confidence in IP-TS distribution is growing. Just this year, MovieSphereGold, Tennis Channel and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) joined TelevisaUnivision and MSG Networks in moving to a managed IP distribution model. At LTN alone, we’ve seen a 45% annual growth in channel count over the past nine years, now delivering nearly 8,000 channels annually across every US TV market. This has been driven by satellite to IP migrations completed for nearly 2,000 broadcasters, MVPD/vMVPD head-ends, and content owner sites.

The overwhelming growth in satellite-grade IP distribution will come not from retrofitted public cloud or protocol-only IP solutions. It will be driven by managed, purpose-built networks with built-in redundancy, monitoring, and guaranteed SLAs. In live video distribution, reliability cannot be a theoretical metric.

The broadcasters we speak with that want to move from satellite need real confidence. That means contractual assurances that the new is even more reliable than the old. Too often, vendors refer to terms like ‘five nines’ with little to prove it. Many general-purpose IP transport solutions work well as a ‘best effort’ offering, but achieving always-on reliability in mission-critical live scenarios requires managed network technology.

Migration Isn’t 'All-or-Nothing'
Our experience shows us it’s becoming faster and easier to migrate from satellite to IP. The infrastructure is already in place. Broadcasters are increasingly starting with hybrid approaches—dual-illuminating IP and satellite feeds, or moving only a subset of channels initially. MVPDs are now onboarding IP feeds in hours via high-capacity gateways. This shortens the time-to-market dramatically and opens the door to phased adoption without disruption.

And for satellite operators, partnering with IP providers can offer effective ways to reduce transponder loads and provide more flexible, event-specific delivery models. In hybrid scenarios, satellite may carry some feeds while IP enables revenue-generating regionalization opportunities, HDR variants, or international versions.

What Broadcasters Are Asking For
The regulatory imperative is real, but so are the business incentives. Folks are kickstarting IP migrations already, not because they need to, but because it makes commercial sense. IP opens up greater opportunities to deliver customized feeds, support advanced formats like 1080p60 HDR, and simplify syndication across both legacy and digital endpoints.

Many broadcasters are now asking vendors to support in delivering localized versions of the same core feed, with dynamic graphics, custom ad insertion, and multiple languages. Meanwhile, they’re pushing for deeper visibility and monitoring as distribution chains become more complex, spanning traditional and digital platforms, B2B syndication and content sharing models. These are the types of tasks and modern requirements that a legacy satellite model simply fails to deliver.

Although the uncertainties of spectrum repackaging are causing initial anxieties for content providers, I notice a growing willingness to accept the new normal and move forward with transition plans. My message is clear: weigh up your alternatives early, talk to the right partners, ask them to move fast. Demand SLA guarantees. Demand more capabilities, flexibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness than what you already have.

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr said he has circulated a proposal for the agency to auction additional midband spectrum in the Upper C-band to commissioners.

The proposal would allow the FCC to take an important step towards implementing actions mandated in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which restored the agency’s auction authority and requires it to complete a system of competitive bidding for at least 100 MHz in the Upper C-band no later than July 2027.

The commission will vote on the draft notice at its November open meeting.

Few details about the draft are available. It is being circulated among the commissioners, but is not on the agency’s website.

The proposals, however, are likely to be controversial among broadcasters because some of the spectrum in question is widely used for satellite delivery of TV, radio, video, sports, news and other media.

The Oct. 29 draft notice of proposed rulemaking is in addition to a proposal Carr made in February to auction additional spectrum. As part of a notice of inquiry adopted at the FCC’s Feb, 27 open meeting, the agency is seeking comment on the possibility of opening up additional portions of the midband spectrum range known as the Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz) to help meet projected spectrum demand, spur economic growth, and advance American security interests.

If the draft of the newest spectrum auction proposal is adopted on Nov. 20, the FCC will seek comment on a range of options, including auctioning up to 180 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.2 GHz band for next-gen wireless services.

The FCC said it will consider "all options within that range, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the amount of spectrum to be repurposed as generational aviation safety upgrades occur in the adjacent band."

“President Trump has been clear that America is going to lead the world in next-generation technologies,” Carr said in a statement announcing the new proposals on Oct. 29. “That is why the FCC’s Build America Agenda prioritizes the work needed to restore U.S. leadership in wireless. And thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the Commission now has the tools to deliver on that goal. Specifically, the Bill authorizes and requires the FCC to auction prime, mid-band spectrum in the Upper C-Band, and my proposal aims to maximize the amount of spectrum available for 5G and 6G services.”

“Restoring America’s leadership position is important," Carr added. "After all, freeing up spectrum drives down prices for consumers, creates jobs, and increases competition. It also plays a vital role in promoting our national security and geopolitical interests. We’ve seen how the Lower C-band powers in-home and high-speed mobile broadband across the country."

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr is applauding the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and provisions that restore the telecom regulator's auction authority.

The FCC’s spectrum auction authority, which lapsed in 2023, is restored until 2034. The bill also creates a large pipeline of spectrum to be auctioned.

“I want to extend my congratulations to President Trump and Congressional Republicans on securing this big win for the country,” Carr said in a statement. “Restoring U.S. leadership in wireless is key to the nation’s economic and national security interests. And the One Big Beautiful Bill succeeds where past efforts failed. The legislation restores the FCC’s spectrum auction authority after it lapsed in 2023, and it does so by establishing a robust pipeline of spectrum for years to come. This will create jobs, encourage innovation and expand high-speed connections to more Americans.”

In a separate statement, Republican FCC member Olivia Trusty also lauded the restoration of auction authority: “I applaud Congress for restoring the FCC’s auction authority and advancing a robust pipeline of 800 megahertz of spectrum to support American leadership in wireless innovation, economic growth, and national security. I look forward to working with my colleagues at the FCC to move swiftly and responsibly to bring this spectrum to market, helping to close the digital divide and fuel next-generation technologies.”

The bill orders the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the FCC to identify about 800 MHz of spectrum to be auctioned over the next eight years.

Only about 100 MHz of spectrum is specified in the bill; the rest must be selected from a large swath of spectrum from 1.3 GHz to 10.5 GHz. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the auctions could produce as much as $88 billion.

The bill also mandates that the FCC auction 300 MHz of spectrum, including 100 MHz megahertz in the band between 3.98 GHz and 4.2 GHz within two years after the act is passed. (See page 143 of the bill.)

The Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction unused spectrum expired almost two years ago and Congress has failed to extend it.

Former Chair Jessica Rosenworcel called several times for lawmakers to restore the authority. She said in 2023 that auctions “are an indispensable tool for harnessing the promise of new wireless technologies while also spurring economic growth, creating jobs and strengthening our national security and global leadership.”

Rep. Rick Allen (R-Georgia) introduced a bill this month to renew the commission’s spectrum authority.

The situation has not sparked much concern among broadcast industry observers so far, given that demand for a new filing window for AM or FM spectrum appears limited in the near term.

‘Falling Behind’
Congress first authorized the FCC in 1993 to use competitive bidding to grant licenses for the rights to use specific frequencies for commercial wireless communications. It extended the authorization on several occasions before letting it lapse in early 2023.

The FCC says auctions are an effective means to manage spectrum access and use. When Rosenworcel made her remark, the FCC had held 100 auctions and had raised more than $233 billion in revenues.

Brendan Carr, now chair, has talked about a “next broadcast spectrum auction,” according to FCC watchers.

“We’re falling behind without a real plan to get more spectrum out there, so we’ve got to get going,” Carr told an audience of policy experts and industry leaders at a session at last year’s CES, according to Bloomberg.

Many observers say the situation has had little impact on radio.

“There simply isn’t much broadcast spectrum out there to auction off. And, perhaps more importantly, there isn’t too much demand,” said Brad Deutsch, office managing director and principal at Foster Garvey PC, commenting prior to the change in administrations.

“That said, if the broadcast multiple ownership limits, and especially the radio subcaps, were to loosen, which some folks are suggesting might happen under the upcoming Trump administration, that might produce some new demand.”

Attorney David Oxenford, in his Broadcast Law Blog, wrote recently that the lack of auction authority can have a limiting effect on the FCC’s ability to open commercial filing windows.

While the commission can use a points system to resolve mutually exclusive applications in noncommercial windows, he noted, decisions as to who will be awarded a contested commercial frequency are made through auctions.

New broadcast filing windows were uncommon even before the interruption in auction authority.

“There has been no window for new AM stations in well over 20 years, except for special windows to allow applicants for channels where station licenses had been surrendered to the FCC,” Oxenford wrote.

“And no window for new FM translators has been open since 2003, except for the special windows for translators to be used with AM stations, and the last of those windows closed in 2017.”

And he said there has not been a window for filing for new FM stations since 2021, immediately after the pandemic; he said many channels in that auction went unsold and could be reauctioned at some point.

For now the FCC has been relegated to opening windows for applicants not subject to auctions, like the window for new low-power FM stations in 2023.

Oxenford said the difficulty of getting Congress to resolve complex issues in the absence of an immediate crisis or broad industry consensus may play a role in this lack of resolution.

Losing FCC Brainpower?
Gregg Skall, an attorney at Telecommunications Law Professionals and a Radio World contributor, said the issues holding up auction authority don’t have much to do with broadcast. “Spectrum auction authority currently is wrapped up in a broader set of telecommunications- related negotiations in Congress,” he said.

There have been proposals in Congress to extend the authority, but Republicans want to be more aggressive in terms of trying to auction the 3.1–3.4 GHz band, used by the Department of Defense, while Democrats have been more hesitant to move forward quickly on that band, Skall said.

Scott Flick, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, says in the short term the impact from the impasse on broadcasters is small. He too noted that the process for resolving MX groups differs between noncommercial and commercial spectrum.

“This could be an issue if there are mutual exclusive applications for a proposed allotment and the two parties are unable to come to an agreement,” Flick said. “If they can get what they want and engineer a solution and not interfere with each other, you don’t have a need for selecting, and if the FCC doesn’t need to select the auction authority doesn’t kick in. You only get an auction if there are conflicting applications.”

Congress may look to exert more control over the broader auction authority of the FCC, Flick believes.

“Perhaps in the future, if there is ever an auction of FM spectrum the FCC might need to get special authority from Congress to do it,” Flick said. “These are policy decisions, and Congress might want more of a say. That way Congress can specify where it wants the money from the spectrum to go.”

Seth Williams, member at Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth PLC, says nonbroadcast wireless auctions are likely to be the most affected right now.

The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau opened a docket recently to explore how it could use its existing regulatory tools to roll out technologies like 5G. Comments in the record didn’t include any responses from broadcasters.

“The number of wireless auctions has significantly outpaced the number of broadcast auctions in recent years, and the FCC has some ability to get broadcast allotments into use without auctions, such as the NCE and LPFM windows,” Williams said.

Williams said the FCC’s lack of power to originate spectrum auctions doesn’t necessarily weaken the commission.

“It’s probably more accurate to say it weakens the U.S. as a leader in spectrum allocation and management. Ultimately, the efficient allocation of spectrum benefits businesses that depend on spectrum access and their customers across the country.”

Foster Garvey’s Deutsch also pointed out a less obvious consequence.

“The FCC is running the risk of losing its expert auction staff — game theory experts, economists, lawyers, etc.” he said. “It’s an understatement to say that FCC auctions are complicated events, and it requires lots of expert staff to run the FCC auctions properly.”

Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez made that argument in public remarks in October. According to the website Broadband Breakfast, Gomez said the absence of auction authority has hindered talent retention and led to an atrophy in agency expertise and loss of credibility in relation to spectrum management in other countries.

In December, the website quoted House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chair Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) as saying he hopes the authority to conduct spectrum auctions can be restored in a budget reconciliation bill this coming year.

For now, wrote David Oxenford on his blog: “Until this congressional issue is resolved, don’t expect any big windows for commercial broadcast frequencies. Even when it is resolved, there will likely be a backlog of auctions in all FCC services, not just broadcast ones, that will mean that these broadcast windows will likely trickle out over time. Let’s all hope that Congress acts quickly on to resolve the lack of FCC auction authority.”

This article initially appeared on the website of Radio World, sister brand to TV Tech.

In response to a comment on his social media platform X, Elon Musk has called the idea of auctioning off broadcast spectrum to pay down the national debt a “great idea.”

Musk could have an influential role in government regulation if Donald Trump is elected. Trump has promised to put Musk, the billionaire who has become a major campaign donor, in charge of a “government efficiency commission” that would make recommendations for cutting spending and changes in government rules.

Musk has also clashed with the FCC in the past over its denial of subsidies to his Starlink broadband service and could profit from changes in those policies.

Musk made the comments in response to a post from venture capitalist David Sachs, who wrote: The major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) operate on free licenses of public spectrum in exchange for requirements to serve the public interest. They no longer do, and this is an obsolete model anyway. The spectrum should be auctioned off, with the proceeds used to pay down the national debt. Of course, the networks can bid on the spectrum, and they will win if broadcast networks are still the most highly valued use. What’s more likely to happen is that valuable spectrum will be reapportioned to the next generation of wireless applications, unleashing many more interesting options for consumers and businesses. The networks can continue to operate on cable, like hundreds of other redundant channels.”

The posts were first reported by Policyband.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nearly a year after Congress allowed the FCC’s authority to auction spectrum to lapse, Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is calling on Congress to restore the authority, which has produced billions in revenue for the U.S. Treasury and allowed newer technologies like 5G to flourish. 

In another sign of increasing dysfunction in Congress, which is sharply divided on party lines, Congress failed to renew the FCC’s auction authority in March 10, 2023 for the first time ever and has since failed to act on the issue. 

“For more than thirty years, the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction the nation’s airwaves proved to be an indispensable tool for harnessing the promise of new wireless technologies while also spurring economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening our national security and international leadership,” Rosenworcel said. “However, in light of the reality the agency has faced for almost a year, we are now compelled to ask what we can do with our current unassigned spectrum in order to keep innovation moving ahead in a global market for wireless that is not slowing down. I remain hopeful that the FCC’s auction authority will be restored quickly so that this important program is once again able to produce results for consumers and the economy.  The agency stands ready to work with lawmakers to ensure we don’t find ourselves in the same place next year.” 

The Brookings Institution has noted that FCC spectrum auctions have generated more than $233 billion in revenue for the U.S. Treasury since its inception and helped reallocate spectrum for newer technologies such as 5G.  

Given the agency’s current lack of spectrum auction authority, the FCC also reported that it has opened a docket to explore how its existing regulatory tools and current statutory authority could provide the public with access to its inventory of currently unassigned spectrum in bands previously licensed for wireless services through auctions.  

Rosenworcel also noted that she remains committed to working with Congress to restore the agency’s auction authority as originally outlined in Section 309 of the Communications Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel marked the 30th anniversary of the FCC first being given Congressional authority to run spectrum auctions by once again appealing to Congress to renew the authority. 

Five months ago, a deadlocked Congress allowed the spectrum authority to expire for the first time in the agency’s history

The House approved reauthorization in February but the Senate failed to pass the resolution amid disagreement on military spectrum needs.

“FCC spectrum auctions have fueled American growth for three decades,” Rosenworcel said. “The agency has held 100 auctions and in the process raised more than $233 billion for the United States Treasury. It’s not just that these auctions are a good deal; they are a big reason why the United States leads the world in wireless innovation. They are also an essential part of our economic and national security. The current lapse in spectrum auction authority is unprecedented and it puts this leadership at risk. With the World Radio Conference now only months away, it is vital that this authority is reauthorized as soon as possible.”

WASHINGTON—The FCC’s authority to regulate spectrum auctions expired on Friday after a Senate vote to renew its authority failed to pass on Thursday. 

The FCC has had responsibility over the management of spectrum auctions for more than 30 years and in 2017, in particular raised nearly $20 billion in selling off portions of the broadcast spectrum. The House approved reauthorization in February but the Senate failed to pass the resolution amid disagreement on military spectrum needs.

House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), one of two sponsors of the legislation tore into senators on Friday. “For reasons unknown to me, certain senators decided to risk U.S. wireless leadership over a date change,” she said during a hearing. “A date change. That is unacceptable.”

Sen. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the co-sponsor with McMorris Rodgers, was equally critical. 

“Yesterday, for the first time since the agency gained this authority 30 years ago, Congress failed to extend it when the Senate refused to act,” he said. “The House did its work — we unanimously passed a bipartisan bill introduced by me and Chair Rodgers last month to extend the spectrum auction authority to May 19th. Our legislation would have prevented this lapse in authority. I am disappointed that the Senate did not pass the House’s bipartisan bill, but we cannot give up and our work continues.”

In a statement issued on Friday, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged that action be taken to restore authorization.

“For three decades, the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to auction the nation’s airwaves has been an indispensable tool for harnessing the promise of new wireless technologies while also spurring economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening our national security and global leadership,” she said. “Time and time again our auctions have proven to be an enormous engine for market innovation and the flourishing internet ecosystem, and for expanding the reach of next-generation connectivity to everyone, everywhere. To date, the FCC has held 100 auctions and has raised more than $233 billion in revenues and unlocked extraordinary benefits for the American people. 

“It is my hope that the FCC’s auction authority is restored quickly so that this important program is once again able to produce results for consumers and the economy.”

The CTIA warned that the lack of authorization could have a negative impact on the nation’s technological competitiveness.

“Congress has never allowed the FCC’s spectrum auction authority to lapse until now. Since 1994 spectrum auctions have raised over $233B for the U.S. Treasury and the wireless industry has invested more than $265B to put that spectrum to work, generating $825B in GDP annually, and supporting 4.5M U.S. jobs,” Meredith Attwell Baker, president and CEO of the trade group CTIA said. “Without this authority and a pipeline of spectrum to meet accelerating demand for wireless broadband, the U.S. risks falling behind China and other nations to lead globally in new 5G innovations and the industries of the future. We call on Congress to act quickly to restore the FCC’s authority, and schedule the necessary future spectrum auctions so that we can secure our 5G leadership and our nation’s economic and national security.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened bidding on July 29 in its latest mid-band spectrum auction to support next generation wireless services – including 5G.  

“We all know there are gaps in 5G coverage, especially in rural America, and this auction is a unique opportunity to fill them in,” said FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

Auction 108 makes available 8,017 new flexible-use, county-based overlay licenses in the 2.5 GHz band.  These licenses are in areas with unassigned 2.5 GHz spectrum—mostly rural parts of the country—following the disposition of applications filed in the Rural Tribal Priority Window, which has to date resulted in the grant of 335 licenses to serve Tribal communities.

Auction 108, which started at 10am ET on Friday, July 29, utilizes a “clock-1” auction format.  This format is similar to the clock phase of past FCC auctions, but rather than offering multiple generic spectrum blocks in a category in a geographic area, it will offer only a single frequency-specific license in a category in a county. 

The new flexible-use geographic overlay licenses in the 2.5 GHz band (2496-2690 MHz) must protect the operations of incumbent licensees within the auctioned areas, including any licensees that receive their licenses through applications filed in the Rural Tribal Priority Window. 

People can follow what is happening with Auction 108 at: www.fcc.gov/auction/108. 

WASHINGTON—A Congressional committee this week approved the expansion of the FCC’s general auction authority in order to allow the commission to auction off spectrum for a Next Generation 9-1-1 initiative. 

The 52-0 vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee moves the “Spectrum Innovation Act of 2022 (H.R. 7624) to a Congressional vote and is expected to pass. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), would make available additional frequencies in the 3.1–3.45 gigahertz band for non-federal use, shared federal and non-federal use, or a combination thereof. 

The legislation also funds the Secure and Trusted Reimbursement Program and a newly authorized Next Generation 9-1-1 grant program from the proceeds of the auction required under the legislation. A bipartisan amendment incorporating H.R. 7783, the "Extending American’s Spectrum Action Leadership Act of 2022,” extends the FCC’s general auction authority for an additional 18 months, to March 31, 2024.

The committee vote comes nearly a month after the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology  recommended funding the Next Generation 9-1-1 program to the tune of $10 billion. The funds (among other things) would go towards upgrading 9-1-1 call centers nationwide and authorize the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to identify at least 200 MHz in the spectrum band to be auctioned off and alloted for Next Generation 9-1-1 within two years after the legislation’s expected passage.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) commented on the bill, which was one of five pieces of legislation passed by the committee, which also included bills covering health care.  

“Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed five bipartisan bills that taken together will strengthen our nation’s communication networks and improve access to health care,” said “The four telecommunication bills leverage our networks to help keep people safe, bolster service affordability programs, and improve the federal use and auction of our nation’s airwaves. “The health bill will ensure access to medically necessary care for Medicare patients with Lymphedema.  I thank members for their hard work on these bills and look forward to continuing to work together to bring them to the House floor.”

WASHINGTON D.C.—In its ongoing quest to open up more spectrum for 5G, the FCC this week announced qualified bidders for its upcoming 2.5 GHz band. According to the commission, 82 applicants, including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, qualified for the auction while 11 did not.

The auction will get underway Friday July 29 (10 A.M. - 4 P.M. ET) but bidders will get early access on July 22, with mock auctions being held July 26 & 27. Bidding will resume on Monday Aug. 1 (10 A.M. - 12 noon ET and 2 P.M. - 4 P.M.) and continue each business day until the FCC closes the auction. The pace of the auction will be determined by the FCC based on the progress of bidding. 

The 2.5 GHz portion of the spectrum band—the single largest band of contiguous spectrum below 3 Ghz— was once used by broadcasters for ENG Broadcast Auxiliary Services (BAS) but TV broadcasters were moved off of BAS more than a decade ago in a nearly $1 billion transition financed by Sprint. The FCC says the band—which is  currently occupied by educational broadband service (EBS, formerly known as IFTS-instructional television fixed service)—is under-utilized. 

“Much of this band, which is prime spectrum for 5G, has lain fallow for more than twenty years, particularly in rural areas,” the commission said. 

To encourage more participants in the auction, the FCC has eliminated outdated rules preventing this spectrum from being put to its highest and best use, including restrictions on who may be a licensee, restrictions on how licensees must use the spectrum, and restrictions on how licensees may lease spectrum to other entities.

WASHINGTON—Evan Kwerel, Ph.D., Senior Economic Advisor in the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics, has received the prestigious Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal from the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that honors individuals and organizations in the public domain. 

Shortly after arriving at the FCC in 1983, Kwerel wrote a white paper suggesting that the commission allocate scared spectrum resources through auctions. Congress authorized auction of the spectrum in 1993 and the first first-ever simultaneous multi-round spectrum auction was held in 1994, but it wasn't until 2017—after years of debate and lobbying between broadcast and cellular companies (who would be the recipients of the broadcast spectrum being auctioned)—that the first ever auctions of the public airwaves would be conducted. 

The structure of the FCC market-based spectrum auctions of broadcast TV spectrum that took place in 2017 were conceived and implemented by Kwerel based on many of the theories of 2020 Nobel Prize-winning economists Paul Milgrom and Bob Wilson, according to the Partnership for Public Service.

The auctions raised gross revenues of $19.8 billion with $10 billion going to local broadcasters when it wrapped up in March 2017.  

 FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued the following statement:

“You can’t properly tell the story of spectrum auctions without talking about Evan Kwerel.  In 1985, Evan wrote a white paper suggesting that the Commission should allocate spectrum through auctions.  In 1993, Congress gave the FCC the authority to conduct spectrum auctions and Evan drafted the Commission’s rules and led its auction design effort.  In 1994, the Commission successfully executed the first-ever simultaneous multi-round spectrum auction.  Since then, the FCC has completed over 100 spectrum auctions, and this model has been adopted for spectrum auctions around the world.

“In 2002, Evan would again help engineer a first-of-its-kind auction by co-authoring a white paper that outlined what became the broadcast incentive auction.  In 2017, the FCC concluded the world’s first incentive auction, reallocating broadcast spectrum to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband. 

“Words can’t quantify the impact of Evan’s work nearly as effectively as the numbers do.  The spectrum auctions he helped pioneer have added over $200 billion to the U.S. Treasury.  And those very same auctions have helped to unlock more than $1 trillion in benefits for the American people.

“On behalf of everyone at the FCC and of the American people, I thank Evan for his public service, and congratulate him on winning a Service to America Medal.”

WASHINGTON—FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced several initiatives the commission will take up in its next open meeting, scheduled for Sept. 26.

The chairman said he will seek public comment on a proposal to replace the requirement that broadcasters file notices in local newspapers when they file certain applications with the commission and allow them to instead post online notices that would directly link to the applications themselves.

“I am also proposing to simplify the announcements regarding these applications that broadcasters must make over the air, and to have these announcements direct the public to online resources where they can review these applications,” the chairman said in a blog. “This is just another example of how we are modernizing our media rules to reflect the digital age and streamlining them to eliminate unnecessary red tape.”

Also on the agenda is a proposal to extend the commission’s recent efforts to streamline processing procedures for certain satellite to DBS. The commission will also vote to seek comment on draft procedures for an auction of 70 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for 5G, to begin on June 25, 2020. 

GRAPEVINE, Texas—FCC Chairman Pai gave a progress report about the channel repack, touting “great progress” since work began in April 2017. He added that the transition—which involves channel and/or location changes for approximately 1,000 full-power and Class A television broadcasters and about 2,000 low-power and translator television stations—is “ahead of schedule.”

In remarks to the annual meeting of the National Association of Tower Erectors today, the chairman noted the abbreviated timetable for finishing the transition by July 2020 and the resulting pressure on tower companies.

“The limited availability of tower crews capable of doing this work was a big factor in our transition planning from the start,” he said. “We designed a phased transition schedule that allows both tower companies and equipment manufacturers to prioritize stations in early phases and to strategically allocate resources. We built in flexibility to make adjustments so that safety is never compromised.”

At the conclusion of Phase 1, which ended Nov. 30, 2018, 143 repacked stations had already moved off their pre-auction channels, approximately 53 more stations than the FCC had planned to be repacked by the end of Phase 1, according to Pai. More than 20 of the approximately 115 stations assigned to Phase 2, which ends April 12, 2019 have been moved to their new channel.

Pai said that a total of $2.75 billion (including an additional $1 billion authorized by Congress last year) is available to reimburse broadcasters for repack costs, with more than $350 million already approved for reimbursements.

The FCC chairman acknowledged the concerns tower companies have had about availability, weather and deadlines, especially in a period when wireless companies are moving forward with 5G deployments. He encouraged the companies to be proactive.

“Coordination with stations and equipment manufacturers will be key,” Pai said. “Working together, I’m optimistic that we can be as successful as we were in Phase 1 and stay on track to complete this work for full-power and Class A stations by July 2020."

Pai added that tower crews are also helping the recipients of the 600MHz spectrum sold off by broadcasters two years ago deploy new services, citing T-Mobile’s recent progress in this area.

“NATE members are also deploying infrastructure so that wireless carriers can put the licenses awarded to incentive auction winners to use,” he said. “This deployment is now a reality in many places and is underway in many others. For example, one carrier has already lit up service using 600 MHz spectrum in more than 1,500 cities and 37 states, including Puerto Rico. For many of your members, this is intense, ongoing work. For American consumers, this means new competition and opportunities to benefit from 5G.”

For all the latest news and insight on the repack, visit our repack silo.

WASHINGTON—As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, the FCC announced on Thursday that it was suspending most of its operations until the government re-opens.

As it warned earlier this week, the following FCC functions will be available during the lapse in operations:

• Network Outage Reporting System (NORS)

• Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS)

• Public Safety Support Center (PSSC)

• Licensing Management System (LMS)

• Consolidated Database System (CDBS)

• Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)

• Universal Licensing System (ULS)

• Electronic Document Management System (EDOCS)

• Auctions Public Reporting System (PRS)

• Auction Application System

• Auction Bidding System

• Daily Digest, and

• Commission Online Registration System (CORES).

All other commission electronic filing and database systems will be unavailable to the public until normal agency operations resume, the FCC said. The Consumer Complaint Center (including the main FCC Call Center) will not be operating.

Activities related to the broadcast channel repack and the 28 GHz spectrum auctions will continue and content on the agency’s website will still be accessible to the public but will not be updated except news related to the auctions and—as always—“matters necessary for the protection of life and property.”

Any STAs expiring during the suspension are extended to the day after regular commission operations resume except those STAs related to the repack. Emergency STA requests involving potential risks to life or property will be processed through the FCC Operations Center (202-418-1122) while the commission’s electronic dockets and other online resources are unavailable.

The FCC’s Fee Filer System will not be available while operations are suspended, and therefore no regulatory fee or application fee payments can be made through Fee Filer during the shutdown. Deadlines for payments are not being extended; however since the Fee Filer system will not be available, only payments made to US Bank will be processed.

The Commission’s informal 180-day time clock for review of transactions is also suspended. 

For more information, read the FCC's notice. 

CINCINNATI –Cordillera Communications has announced the sale of 15 of 16 of its TV stations to the E.W. Scripps Company and the 16th Tucson station to Quincy Media, Inc. The deal marks the exit of the St. Paul, Minn.-based station group–which is owned by Charleston, S.C. company Evening Post Industries–from the broadcasting business. Cordillera had announced in August that it had planned to sell its stations. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 is valued at $521, and subject to federal regulatory approvals.

The acquisitions in 10 markets grows the Scripps local television station footprint to 51 stations in 36 markets with a reach of nearly 21 percent of U.S. TV households. Scripps is not buying Cordillera’s remaining station–NBC affiliate KVOA-TV in Tucson, Ariz.– because Scripps already operates a duopoly in that market. There are no other overlapping markets.

All but one of the acquired stations rank No. 1 in their markets. It also adds depth to its local media footprint through the addition of three duopolies-–in Helena and Great Falls, Montana, and Corpus Christi, Texas, according to Scripps.

The stations also diversify Scripps’ affiliate relationships, adding more NBC and CBS stations to Scripps’ strong ABC roster.

“Through this transaction, Scripps will operate the No. 1-rated TV stations in a third of its markets, enhancing the durability of our portfolio,” said Brian Lawlor, president of the Local Media division of Scripps. “The acquisition also allows us to go deeper in new markets with the addition of three new duopolies, including two with Big Four combinations.”

After the acquisition, Scripps will have the No. 1 Nielsen-rated TV stations in 11 of its 36 markets with 18 ABC stations, 11 NBC stations, seven CBS stations and two Fox stations. Scripps will operate seven duopolies.

The stations Scripps is acquiring are:

• WLEX, the NBC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky
• KOAA, the NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado
• KATC, the ABC affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana
• KSBY, the NBC affiliate in Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo, California
• KRIS, the NBC affiliate, and KAJA, a Telemundo affiliate, in Corpus Christi, Texas
• KPAX and KAJJ, a CBS affiliate in Missoula, Montana
• KTVQ, a CBS affiliate in Billings, Montana
• KXLF/KBZK, the CBS affiliate in Butte-Bozeman, Montana
• KRTV, the CBS affiliate, and KTGF, the NBC affiliate, in Great Falls, Montana
• KTVH, the NBC affiliate, and KXLH, the CBS affiliate, in Helena, Montana

The 10 Cordillera markets have about 700 employees.

“Our stations are as strong as they’ve been across any point in our 32-year history,” said Terry Hurley, president of Cordillera. “We’ve had a good run, and we’re proud of how our stations have excelled over the years. We’re also heartened to know they’ll continue to be in exceptional hands.”

The company had indicated that it was exiting the broadcast business following the spectrum auctions in 2017, which it said “generated significant interest from established parties throughout the country”

“The two buyers represent the best possible scenario: They are poised to grow the stations and empower them to compete in this changing media landscape, and, more importantly, they will provide a great home and opportunities for the dedicated employees of Cordillera,” Hurley said.

Methuselah Advisors acted as financial advisor. 

SALT LAKE CITY— In March 2017, DTV Utah began plans on repacking six of its eight DTV Utah Stations that were required to change frequencies as a result of the spectrum auction. DTV Utah, LLC is a television transmitter site located in the Oquirrh Mountains above Salt Lake City, Utah, and was the location of a complex, channel repack project involving nine UHF television stations, with eight of the transmitters combined into a community antenna.

DTV Utah, LLC was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit corporation that owns and operates the community television facility. Greg James of Bonneville International originated the concept of a community site for the new digital service.

“The discussion revolved around the problem created for viewers, if stations were dispersed over a wide geographic area,” James said. “As I thought about multipath in the mountainous area we live in, it made a lot of sense to broadcast from a single location.”

[Read: Eight TV Stations On One Stick Ponder Repack]

Other benefits of co-locating the markets transmitters include economies of scale and reduction of intermodulation interference.

The television stations currently in the DTV Utah group include:

• KSL (Bonneville International)
• KUTV and KJZZ (Sinclair Broadcasting)
• KTVX and KUCW (Nexstar)
• KUED and KUEN (University of Utah)
• KBYU (Brigham Young University)

The DTV Utah site is located 9,000 feet above sea level, with limited access via a 10-mile single-lane dirt road, limited space for construction and a limited seasonal construction window of four months due to weather conditions and road access.

The original DTV Utah site consisted of two four-channel Dielectric combiners, connected to either the main Kathrein antenna, or to an auxiliary antenna through a complex waveguide switching network with five modes of operation. In addition, all eight stations could be combined together and routed to any of the three antennas.

COMPLICATIONS ARISE

It was soon discovered that the original WR 1500 waveguide was not going to pass the new frequencies. The existing Kathrein community antenna also required evaluation to determine if it would perform under the new parameters. The repack design was also complicated by the frequencies that were assigned. Channel 34 (KUTV) and Channel 36 (KUEN) did not require change, but as fate would have it, Channel 35 was assigned to KUCW, creating three adjacent channels and potential intermodulation issues.

Other challenges included transmitter cooling at the thin air of 9,000 feet, transmission line performance, and the requirement to stay on the air while creating a seamless transition to the new channels.

The repack design included a patch panel that provided a path for the N+1 transmitter to replace any of the eight transmitters at the input of the combiner.

Marsand Inc.'s Matthew A. Sanderford, Jr. PE and David Sanderford installed the transmitters while Legacy Electric of Salt Lake City did the electrical work. Tower and antenna work was performed by GTI, America and Burk Technology designed the control system. Climate Control (CCI) handled HVAC.

TRANSMITTERS AND COMBINER

Each station decided on the make and model of the eight new transmitters; Five Rohde and Schwarz THU9evo transmitters and three Gates Air Maxiva UXLT transmitters, including the N+1 transmitter were installed along with one Dielectric combiner and six Dielectric WR1800 waveguide switches for nine different combiner/antenna/test load modes.

Each station purchased their own transmitters based on their own evaluations. “Given the complexity of the project, I suggested one installer for all of the transmitters,” James said. “It would have been a nightmare to schedule different crews on each transmitter. The same was true for electrical, HVAC, and so on.”

The new Dielectric, dual four-port combiner was installed in a very tight 20 x 17 x 9-foot space.

How do you keep your station on the air, while removing your old transmitter and installing the new one? All eight stations were operated at lower power into the auxiliary community antenna through the period of construction and transition. The GatesAir N+1 transmitter was delivered with broadband power amplifiers. As the N+1 was placed on the air, the old transmitter was decommissioned and the new transmitter installed, tuned to the original frequency and tested through the combiner/mask filter to a load.

SEVEN-DAY PROCESS

Each transmitter switch-out took about seven days and the process of bringing each transmitter on line was complex. First, engineers had to run transmitter power at the level that delivered the power calculated to meet ERP requirements of the station, when measured at the dummy load at the output of the combiner. They then had to measure the input power to the combiner hybrid; measure transmitter power out, and calibrate that as 100 percent power. This had to be repeated for each of the four profiles in each transmitter.

A spectrum analyzer was used to perform a power-band measurement on the four combined channels to verify spectrum compliance. As a final step, each station’s reflected power spectrum was recorded to determine a baseline for monthly performance tests.

COMMUNITY ANTENNA REBUILD

The original Kathrein antenna (two Kathrein eight tier by three bay antenna systems—48 panels total), was selected because of the extensive use of the antenna in the Swiss Alps. The temperature extremes at the DTV Utah site are very similar to the Alps, with a thermal swing of over 100 degrees winter to summer (-18F to +85F) Grundy Telecommunications Inc., America, was asked to review the existing Kathrein community antenna system and Kathrein Antenna Works sent an engineer who helped in the evaluation. After band sweeping and physical inspection, engineers determined that the existing antenna system would not perform well for the repack system.

The original tower was custom-built to support the Kathrein 70 x 6-foot radome cylinder. DTV Utah considered replacing the antenna with a different make and model, but structural modifications to the tower would have made replacement cost prohibitive. Kathrein was asked to develop a replacement antenna system … since the radome cylinder supported the antenna, it seemed possible to remove the old antenna system and replace it with a new one.

The next step was demolition and rebuild of the antenna system. Grundy removed main power dividers, cabling harnesses, tier power dividers and panel mounts—some three tons of it—in less than a week. The crew then began installing the new antenna, and six weeks later the rebuilt antenna system was ready for testing.

Katherine field engineers did a proof-of-performance; results were good with the lower antenna showing 28 dB return loss on the lower antenna and 30 dB return loss on the upper; this equates to a VSWR on the upper in the 1.08:1 and the lower antenna at 1.1:1.

OTHER SYSTEMS

For the Burk remote control system, equipment was specified and truth tables developed for interlocking. In some of the modes, reduced power is required. The Burk unit can talk to the transmitters based on the selected mode and ensure that their power levels are correct. If not, the it will shut the offending transmitter down and alert the operator.

Transmission line arc protection was provided by South-Tek Systems, N2-GEN, nitrogen generators.

RESULTS

After a month and a half of construction, all transmitters were installed and operating on the old frequencies. Once all transmitters were installed, commissioned and tested, the new transmitters were retuned to the new frequencies and switched into the refurbished community antenna.

Mario Hieb is a professional broadcast engineer based in the Salt Lake City area.

For all the latest news and insight on the repack, visit our repack silo.

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—The Great TV Channel Auction and Repack is now underway, with television and FM radio broadcasters doing the necessary work to change frequency assignments and install new equipment. It is a lot of work, but progress is being made daily.

In addition to the repack project work now underway, the FCC is currently asking for comments about the repack process and reimbursement for affected Class A stations, low-power TV stations, translators and FM broadcasters; deadline is Oct. 26. In addition to the full-power repack, as many as 1,000 smaller stations are being moved in 10 phases, which will cause dislocation and incur some expenses for LPTVs and translators that were not protected in the repack. This also affects some FM stations colocated on TV towers.

In the event you’ve been lost in space for the past two years, the Channel Auction and Repack exists to shift TV broadcasters to VHF and lower-UHF channels, with the goal of freeing up spectrum for wireless services for mobile devices. A distant model was the BAS Relocation program from 2005 to 2010, which also had broadcasters giving up a slice of spectrum for the benefit of a cellphone company.

Since the process began in the spring of 2017 after a spectrum auction that yielded approximately $20 billion to the federal government, more than 120 full power and Class A television stations have moved off their pre-auction channels, according to Jean Kiddoo, chair of the FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force.

“Approximately half of those stations chose to move before the first formal transition deadline,” she said. “The other half consists of stations that won incentive payments during the auction but elected to continue broadcasting by sharing a channel with another station, and have now implemented those channel-sharing agreements.”

NOW UNDERWAY

By the time you read this article, the first formal phase of the Channel Auction and Repack is now underway. Kiddoo said that the testing period for Phase 1 of the repack began Sept. 14 and ends Nov. 30. There are 82 full-power and Class A television stations scheduled to transition during Phase 1.

[Read: Transitioning To New Channels—Phase 1 Deadline Looms]

Obviously, re-assigning channels of TV broadcasters and radio stations is an expensive proposition, fraught with complex engineering challenges as well as concern about changes in propagation and coverage. Congress appropriated funds to pay for this work, and broadcasters have been receiving reimbursement.

“The initial reimbursement fund totaled $1.75 billion, and as of April 16, 2018, virtually all of that [$1.742 billion] has been allocated by the FCC,” Kiddoo said. “That represents 92.5-percent of total estimates for each station. “Stations have been able to draw down against their allocation by submitting invoices for eligible costs incurred since October 6, 2017.”

As for the remaining 7.5-percent of the projected costs and additional expenses, it appears to be on the way.

“Congress provided additional funding in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by full power and Class A broadcasters as well as previously-ineligible LPTV/TV translator and FM stations,” Kiddoo said. “The rulemaking to adopt rules and procedures to reimburse the latter is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.”

How does this translate to the real world of actual broadcasters going through the repack work? Dale Scherbring, a regional director of engineering for Sinclair Broadcast Group and the company’s repack manager, said the project is keeping him busy.

“The Sinclair Broadcast Group’s engineering team has been working on 100 repacks for the company-owned stations and fulfilling contracts with our partner stations,” Scherbring said. “Phase 0 stations and one Phase 1 station have made the transition and are on the air.”

Phase 0 stations on the air include:

• WCHS (Charleston, W.Va.)
• WDSI (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
• WICD (Champaign, Ill.)
• WNUV (Baltimore, Md.)

The only Phase 1 station moved so far is KJZZ (Salt Lake City).

Scherbring said that the company’s Phase 1 stations currently in progress for repack work are:

• KBTV (Beaumont, Texas)
• KFDM (Beaumont, Texas)
• KMEG (Sioux City, Iowa)
• KPTH (Sioux City, Iowa)
• KMPH-CD (Fresno Calif.)
• KRXI (Reno, Nev.)
• WNWO (Toledo, Ohio)

“The remaining 88 stations are in various stages of equipment order, tower studies and overall planning,” he said.

MASSIVE SCOPE

There has been a lot of discussion about the massive scope of this project versus the relatively small size of the broadcast equipment manufacturing industry. In other words, would the manufacturers of transmitters, antennas and ancillary components be able to build high-quality and reliable equipment for the repack in the relatively short time frame for which the project is scheduled? Then, will there be sufficient crews to properly install it?

“The overall planning for our projects is showing no major issues,” Scherbring said. “The implementation of some projects is running into major weather delays for the tower crews, some vendor-delayed shipping issues, and in some cities major delays with local zoning permits.”

The NAB keeps its eye on the big picture across the country. Dennis Wharton, executive vice president of communications for the NAB, said that he is giving special attention to project timing—especially in the latter stages of the work.

“We remain concerned that the 39-month timeframe created by the FCC is simply insufficient to accommodate all the stations that have to be moved,” Wharton said. “It’s going to be especially difficult for stations in later phases that may not have already contracted for repack work. The tragic loss of four talented tall-tower workers reduced an already small pool of qualified tower dogs. In addition, the first couple phases have fairly long transition periods—132 days in the case of Phase 2. However, Phases 3 and beyond are very compressed—just 34 days in Phase 5—and any unexpected delays will affect scheduling like a stack of dominoes.”

Wharton also noted that many stations are linked with one or more other stations and cannot transition until those other stations have also transitioned. And due to cold weather and dangerous weather conditions, there are only so many months of the year that tower work is feasible in the northern states.

NEXT GEN TV

In the past couple of years, there has been a lot of discussion of ATSC 3.0 and Next Gen TV, and stations across the country are keeping this in mind now that repack work is upon them.

“I believe many stations being repacked will upgrade to equipment that can more easily transition to Next Gen TV,” Wharton said. “Some of this new equipment can move from the current standard to Next Gen TV transmission with the flip of a switch, so it does present an opportunity for stations to upgrade for the future.”

Sinclair Broadcast Group has been a avid proponent of ATSC 3.0, so the question came up as to what the company might be doing for the repack to prepare for an ATSC 3.0 future.

“Sinclair has maximized stations’ signal reach and included some vertical polarization elements in all the new antennas that are being purchased,” Scherbring said. “This will enhance ATSC 3.0 [operations], but the costs of these items are not reimbursable, so they are an extra cost to each station.”

STILL NOT CLEAR

There’s no question that the channel auction and repack is big—really big. In addition to the repack at full-power stations (which is fairly well known and documented), the FCC said that the number of affected low-power, translators and FM broadcasters is still not clear.

“We do not yet know how many FM or LPTV and translator stations will be affected by the repack,” the FCC’s Kiddoo said. “To date, construction permits for more than 1,500 of the roughly 2,100 LPTV/translator stations that filed applications in the special displacement window have been granted. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that the commission adopted in early August sought comment on eligibility requirements and reimbursement procedures for those FM and LPTV/translator stations that incur costs as a result of the repack.”

Therefore, it remains to be seen exactly what the costs and time schedule will be to complete all repack work. In the meantime, work is proceeding quickly across the country.

When asked if the repack was a good thing or just another regulatory nuisance, one broadcaster replied philosophically.

“We can all be armchair quarterbacks on Monday morning,” Sinclair’s Scherbring said. “These are the new rules we broadcasters must live with—we will make it happen.”

For all the latest news and insight on the repack, visit our repack silo.

As the Nov. 30, 2018 deadline for stations assigned to Phase 1 of the FCC’s Incentive Auction approaches and stations complete plans for the transition to their new channels, I thought other broadcasters and viewers may be interested in the signal levels I’ve been using to compare coverage from different facilities and optimize antenna designs.

During the transition, many stations will be forced to use auxiliary facilities with reduced ERP, lower height or both, which will impact their coverage while their main antenna is replaced with one for the new channel.

I’ve been working on methods for mapping the coverage loss from auxiliary facilities. I’ll describe one of them here.

REQUIRED SIGNAL LEVELS FOR RELIABLE RECEPTION

Outdoor antennas are now a rare sight compared to 50 years ago, although indications are that interest in them is increasing. For most over-the-air TV viewers in and around urban areas, indoor antennas are more popular.

Some studies have been done to determine the field strengths required for indoor reception. One I’ve relied on was presented several years ago based on field measurements by consulting firm Meintel, Sgrignoli & Wallace (MSW). It showed a field strength of 75.5 dBμV/m, on average, was needed for UHF TV indoor reception.

I use that number in my coverage comparisons, but also check coverage at a higher field strength, 88 dBμV/m, for what I call “easy indoor” reception. An “easy indoor” level means the viewer doesn’t have to spend a lot of time optimizing the antenna location or orientation in order to be able to receive the station. This number provides over 10 dB extra margin compared to the MSW findings and is 40 dB greater than the level required for FCC “Community Grade” DTV coverage.

I use a field strength halfway between the 48 dBμV/m FCC Community Grade level and the 88 dBμV/m “easy indoor” level for what could be called “easy outdoor” or perhaps “indoor with effort” coverage. This signal level takes into account the loss from outdoor antennas lower than 30 feet used in the FCC planning factors, and allows for some loss for antennas installed in attics or sub-optimum locations. It can also work for indoor reception if the antenna is in a window facing the right direction and high enough to clear nearby obstacles outdoors.

While these numbers were originally designed for UHF, I’ve been using them for high-VHF coverage as well. Even though the FCC service contour for high-VHF uses a signal level 5 dB lower than that for UHF, VHF reception is usually more challenging, especially for indoor reception, due to RF noise in the house and lower antenna gain.

“Channel 48 Main Coverage Thresholds” (Fig. 1) shows Washington D.C.’s WRC-TV main transmitter facility coverage plotted with these thresholds. Green areas are “easy indoor,” above 88 dBμV/m. Yellow-green areas extend indoor coverage to the 75.5 dBμV/m field strength. The blue areas are those where the predicted field strength is between 68 and 75.5 dBμV/m. Finally, the purple areas extend coverage to the FCC noise limited threshold. Cells with no service due to signal level aren’t shaded and cells with interference (there are 33 of them) are red. This map was created using the “coverpts.shp” files from TVStudy and the open source QGIS GIS.

A simpler way to find a station’s predicted field strength at a location is to use the FCC’s excellent DTV Reception Maps at www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps. Enter a zip code or more precise location and click on the station’s call sign for the predicted field strength from that station. This page only displays the facilities currently on the air.

To see a “rainbow” coverage map for any FCC authorized or applied for facility, use RabbitEars at www.rabbitears.info. Enter the call sign of the station on the first page; scroll down until you see the details on the station; click on “Technical Data” and then “RabbitEars TV Query.” On the new page, scroll down to the facility you want and click on “Longley-Rice Coverage Map” at the bottom of the technical details. RabbitEars is more generous than I am, considering signal levels above 80 dBμV/m “easy indoor” and above 51 dBμV/m “easy outdoor.” (Fig. 2.)

The TV Fool website provides many options for displaying signal power in dBm and noise margin in dB on maps and in tables. Using these values instead of field strength makes it easy to calculate the impact of adding antenna gain or amplification on reception. In many cases, however, adding an amplifier will increase the noise and interference along with the signal level and provide no benefit or even worse reception.

Measuring signal level can be done using any number of signal strength measurement instruments.

A bit of time with your favorite search engine will turn up several options. I’m not going to describe them this month, but will provide a tip on an easy and inexpensive way to measure a TV signal’s power in dBm. The Hauppauge WinTV dualHD USB tuner uses a Silicon Labs Si2157 tuner. The Linux “dvb-fe-tool” will display the signal power in dBm of the station currently tuned to in another program, such as Kaffeine, when run as “dvb-fe-tool-m” in a terminal. The program is available for Ubuntu in the “dvb-tools” package. It is also possible to derive MER (Modulation Error Ratio) from the WinTV dualHD using the “femon” command line program, but I haven’t verified the accuracy.

COVERAGE LOSS FROM TEMPORARY REPACK FACILITIES

Many stations will have to use auxiliary or interim facilities while doing antenna and tower work necessary to switch to their new channels. Stations not changing channels on a tower with stations changing channels are likely to be impacted as well. I’ve been looking at some methods to visualize the impact of the use of these facilities on viewer reception. I recommend stations begin operation on their new channel at full power to insure viewers catch the channel during the market rescan even if this results in coverage loss on the original channel prior to the transition.

The map “Channel 48 Aux Facility Coverage Comparison” (Fig. 3) is an example of a comparison of the main WRCTV facility and the auxiliary WRC-TV facility. Areas where the signal levels from the aux facility are within 6 dB of the main facility or equal to greater than 88 dBμV/m are shown in green.

Areas where the aux facility is over 12 dB weaker than the main facility are shown in gray. In these areas viewers are likely to have more difficulty seeing the aux facility, perhaps requiring an outdoor antenna if they weren’t using one before or upgrading an existing one.

Finally, areas where the main facility has FCC predicted service and the auxiliary facility does not, either due to signal below threshold or interference, are shown in red. For details on how to create such maps, see my article in the fall 2018 edition of IEEE Broadcast Technology or contact me.

If your TV station is operating at reduced power or on an auxiliary antenna during the repack process, I’d be interested in your opinion on whether the thresholds I’ve used for this analysis match your real-world experience. The example I used in IEEE Broadcast Technology had a narrower threshold (+/–3 dB) for equivalent reception since I’ve heard very few viewer complaints when a station has had to go to 50 percent power. Is 6 dB too generous?

As always, your comments and questions are welcome. Email me atdlung@transmitter.com.

For more information on the repack, visit TV Technology's repack silo.

WASHINGTON--The Federal Communications Commission today proposed rules to reimburse some low-power TV stations, TV translators and FM stations for costs resulting from the 2017 spectrum incentive auction, following up on a recent Congressional directive known as "The 2018 Reimbursement Expansion Act."

The act “expanded the list of eligible entities to include LPTV, TV translator and FM stations, provided additional funds to be used for this purpose, increased the funds available to reimburse full power and Class A stations and MVPDs and provided funds to be used for consumer education purposes,” the FCC said today. The statute also created a deadline of March 23, 2019, for the commission to adopt a Report and Order.

According to the NPRM (MB Docket No. 18-214; GN Docket No. 12-268), reimbursement will be available for LPTV stations and TV translators, “if (1) they filed an application during the commission’s Special Displacement Window and obtained a construction permit, and (2) were licensed and transmitting for at least nine of the 12 months prior to April 13, 2017.”

[Read: FCC Will Open April Window For Auction-Displaced LPTVs]

Additionally, the order says the Media Bureau should engage a third-party contractor to assist in the administration of the fund and also directs the bureau to determine cost eligibility and the reimbursement process. However, “the Media Bureau will consult with the Office of General Counsel and the Office of the Managing Director,” the order says.

The order also shares plans to use the $50 million provided by the REA for consumer education. According to the order, the commissioners “anticipate, among other initiatives, hosting a dedicated consumer service call center to provide consumers technical support and assistance on such matters as rescanning and other means to resolve potential reception issues. We also intend to perform targeted outreach to specific communities about rescanning, and we may use advertising spots to disseminate rescanning information. Consumer education funding could also be used in developing additional online resources...”

The NPRM also notes that the additional REA funds must be used no later than July 3, 2023.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said, “I’d like to thank Congress for passing legislation which provides additional reimbursement funds for full power and Class A stations, reimbursement funds for newly-eligible LPTV, TV translator, and FM stations, and funds for the commission to use for consumer education purposes.” Pai also thanked the commission staff who worked on the notice.

In his own statement, Commissioner Michael O’Rielly emphasized that he agrees with the reimbursement plans in general but thinks further input is needed before action. Specifically, he said, “While Congress carefully outlined how it intended FY18 monies to be spent, it provided less clarity for FY19. Should these funds be allocated similar to FY18 funds? Should television stations have priority? The answers to these questions will affect how interested parties are reimbursed for relocating during the repacking process...”

Additionally, O’Rielly questioned the validity of the “graduated reimbursement system” based on the idea that time equals money and asked for feedback and alternative proposed system(s) to allocate money.

O’Rielly also cautioned that the educational efforts should not duplicate “efforts undertaken by broadcasters or other stakeholders, or take on initiatives outside of [the commission’s] expertise, such as producing advertising spots.”

Finally, O’Rielly wrote, “I support edits in this item that will mitigate the use of delegated authority, as well as remove the tentative conclusion that third parties who made funding arrangements with LPTVs prior to the passage of REA are ineligible for funding.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel did not release a statement, but the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (FCC 18-113) indicated her approval and that of Commissioner Brendan Carr, whose statement was still pending as of writing.

[Read: FCC Allocates Additional $742 Million For Repack Expenses]

The NPRM “tentatively concludes that both full power FM stations and FM translators that were licensed and transmitting on April 13, 2017, using the facilities affected by a repacked television station, are eligible for reimbursement.” This includes “FM stations that incur costs to permanently relocate, temporarily or permanently modify their facilities, or purchase or modify auxiliary facilities to provide service during work on a repacked television station’s facilities.” Also, the NPRM recommends that the reimbursement process be “substantially similar to” that already used to reimburse full power and Class A licensees and MVPDs.

NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton released a statement saying, “Earlier this year, Congress wisely authorized additional funding to ensure that tens of millions of Americans will not lose access to news, entertainment and lifeline information during the broadcast industry ‘spectrum repack.’ NAB is encouraged by the FCC proposal adopted today that closely mirrors the intent of Congress. NAB will be actively engaged during the rulemaking process to preserve live and local broadcasting on hometown radio and television stations, low power TV stations and TV translators."

For more information on the repack, visit TV Technology's repack silo.

WASHINGTON—The FCC has voted to launch its first 5G spectrum auctions targeting 6,000 licenses in the 28-GHZ and 24-GHz bands. The vote was unanimous, though FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn concurred, which was short of full-throated support given some concerns she had with portions of the item.

The vote was on a public notice seeking comment on the proposed application and bidding procedures for the spectrum.

The auction for 28-GHz spectrum will begin Nov. 14, with the 24-GHz auction following immediately after the first auction's conclusion. The FCC also asks whether and what particular rules should apply to the auctions, such as prohibiting certain communications, for example. The 5G auctions will be the first since the broadcast incentive auction freed up TV spectrum for wireless broadband.

Clyburn's less-than-enthusiastic support stemmed from several concerns she has around issues including which auction should come first and whether to permit parties to apply for the second auction before the first is closed.

FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel suggested it was about time the FCC held such auctions. "[I]t is troubling that this agency has watched as South Korea, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Romania have already announced plans for 5G auctions," she said. "Today, thankfully, this agency takes steps to put ourselves back in the running. I’m glad my colleagues are ready to get back on track. Today we schedule our first 5G auction and finally get out of the starting gate."

FCC chair Ajit Pai suggested that the timing had to do with an obstacle not of the FCC's making.

[Read: Pai Signals FCC To Start New Spectrum Auctions This Year]

"It’s important to mention that we will be able to commence spectrum auctions later this year because of recent legislative action," Pai said. "I’m grateful to Congress for passing, and the President for signing, legislation fixing a technical problem involving upfront payments by auction bidders for spectrum."

He said that was what had stood in the way of holding the auctions, and said he was "grateful that we were able to roll up our sleeves and work together with Congress and the Executive Branch to remove this roadblock."

Pai was referring to a provision in FCC reauthorization legislation that included a "fix" allowing the FCC "to deposit upfront payments from spectrum bidders directly with the U.S. Treasury," without which the FCC would be unable to conduct future spectrum auctions.

“Charter applauds the Federal Communications Commission for continuing to prioritize spectrum availability for the next generation of wireless connectivity that will position the U.S. to compete on the global stage in the race to 5G," said the company. "Today’s Public Notice seeking comment on procedures for upcoming auctions in the 28 GHz and 24 GHz bands is an important step towards increasing the amount of spectrum commercially available for 5G. 5G represents the next generation of wireless technology that together with our advanced high speed network will enable Charter to ultimately provide our customers a truly ubiquitous connected experience powered by ultra-fast, low latency broadband.”

“AT&T commends the FCC for moving forward with mmWave spectrum auctions later this year," said AT&T EVP Joan Marsh. "The 24 GHz and 28 GHz bands, which are the focus of today’s Spectrum Frontiers public notice, are an important piece in the mix of spectrum that will be required to make 5G a reality. We are encouraged by the Commission’s commitment to make this necessary spectrum available, and we are hopeful similar auction rules for the 37 GHz and 39 GHz bands are soon to follow.”

“CTIA applauds the FCC for moving forward with the first high-band spectrum auctions for 5G use," said CTIA SVP Scott Bergman. "Spectrum availability is a key input in the readiness and ability of the U.S. to win the global race to 5G. We look forward to working with the Commission on implementing these critical auctions and on identifying and auctioning additional bands, including mid-band spectrum, to power the wireless networks of the future.”

This article originally appeared in Broadcasting & Cable.

Throughout the 35-year history of this magazine, there have been numerous contributors who have put the “technology” into TV Technology. Perhaps no other writer exemplified this fact than Charles W. Rhodes.

“Charlie,” as he was known to friends and colleagues, passed away on March 20 from complications after a fall in his home. He was 88. When the news hit, the tributes came forth. Calling him one of “television’s great engineers,” the NAB said that “Charlie had a tremendous role in leading the transition from the analog system of the 1950s to the digital television system we know today.”

Mark Aitken, vice president advanced technology for the Sinclair Broadcast Group and recipient of this year’s NAB Television Engineering Excellence Award (which Charlie received in 1996), said, “the industry just lost one of its greatest friends and valiant warriors. Charlie was a friend and a mentor.”

[Read: Charlie Rhodes' "Digital TV" columns]

For more than 30 years, Charlie wrote about, analyzed and offered his keen insight into the broadcast television engineering issues of the day in the pages of TV Technology. His first article for the magazine appeared in August 1985 on the European MAC standard. During his time with TV Technology, he covered the entire course of the digital TV transition from its beginnings all the way to interference issues resulting from the current channel repack. He was truly an “engineer’s engineer” and his influence on the television industry was felt from the local station all the way to the halls of the FCC.

Charlie got his start at Tektronix where he was responsible for numerous products including the RFA 300 8VSB measurement set. In 1987, he was hired as the Chief Scientist by the board of the newly formed Advanced Television Test Center and this is perhaps where he made his biggest impact on our industry.

Peter Fannon, former president of the ATTC and recently retired from Panasonic, called Charlie an “extraordinary scientist and just the right one at an extraordinary time, helping write the future of television and speeding the onset of the digital communications age.”

Fannon remembered how Charlie’s influence extended worldwide. “When visiting equipment vendors and development labs in Japan and China before the ACATS testing had begun, he was treated as a ‘rock star’ by scores of TV and RF engineers in those countries, most of whom had watched and learned from Charlie on a series of instructional tapes about TV test and measurement tools and techniques,” Fannon said. “Some of the asked him to autograph their treasured copies.”

Fannon said that Charlie’s tests were rarely ever wrong, but that he was “old school in his approach, rigorously probing any and all areas of uncertainty—yet totally open-minded to new information and so always ready to recognize and accept it.”

Charlie’s work over the years was deservedly recognized, with a Technical Emmy for his efforts in developing vertical interval test signals as well as the SMPTE David Sarnoff Award in 1992.

Charlie never really retired, conducting interference tests in his lab in Washington state and reporting on his results in the pages of TV Technology right up until last year. Last November, he notified me of his decision to end his column.

“At the end of 30 years writing for TV Technology, I have decided not to continue writing. One reason is that for the next three years, I believe that there will be very little to report to broadcasters. Furthermore after July 2020 when all stations will be settled in new channels, whatever interference is discovered, there will be nothing to be done about it that I have not already covered.”

That was typical of him—testing and analyzing right up until his final days.

Farewell, Charlie. TV Technology is immensely proud to have given you the opportunity to share your engineering genius with the television industry for so many years.

It’s a given that there is going to be considerable “channel shuffling” after the upcoming television broadcast spectrum auctions. There also will be a lot less in the way of channel slots to choose from in the subsequent station repacking action. In 2014, the FCC adopted methodology for predicting interference between TV broadcasters and broadband wireless transmitters that are operating either in co-channel or adjacent-channel frequency slots. The commission termed their interference-prediction methodology, which is based on the Longley-Rice propagation model, “ISIX.”

Fig. 1: Derived from Fig. 23, page 453 of FCC document 14–50 dated May 15, 2014 by Stanley Knight
Click to Enlarge Looking at some cases where ISIX interference cases may come into play, suppose your station were to be allocated Channel 28 (center frequency = 557 MHz) in Scenario 7 (see Fig. 1). Your general manager might ask you to become a fortune teller and tell him whether this is a robust channel or a not so robust.

An ISIX interference situation may result if there two strong signals whose center frequencies are F1 and F2 and your center frequency is below F1 by the difference in frequencies F2–F1. IM3 falls in Channels N and N+3, if there are strong undesired signals on Channel N+K and N+2K. (K is an integer, either positive or negative).

For example, if there is a signal on Block A 619.5 MHz, (N+K) and a second signal is centered at 682 MHz, (N+2K) then F2–F1 = 62.5 MHz. Subtracting 62.5 MHz from F1 = 557 MHz, the center of your channel.

In this example F1 is in the blue area, meaning F1 is being radiated by a base station. F2 is in the yellow area, meaning this signal is being radiated by a cellphone.

INTERFERENCE CAUSES NOT ALWAYS APPARENT
Base stations radiate most of the time and their effective radiated power (ERP) approaches 1,000W. Cellphones briefly transmit and their ERP is less than 23 milliwatts. ISIX interference may result only when both F1 and F2 are transmitting simultaneously. Moreover, in this example F2 will be strong only if the cellphone is extremely close to the DTV receiving antenna. If either F1 or F2 is not strong, there can be no ISIX. However there are many base stations serving a given community, and many base stations will be found near interstate and other major highways.

Many viewers rely on an indoor antenna so your received signal power from these indoor antennas may be quite weak even when the receiver is not near your noise-limited coverage perimeter. Base stations are generally only a few miles apart. Therefore ISIX may be found around base stations.

While the first 600 MHz auction will auction 5 MHz blocks, after that most successful bidders will have acquired two or more blocks of 600 MHz spectrum. I expect that many of them will bid for contiguous blocks of 600 MHz spectrum so that they wind up with 10 MHz “super blocks,” which will be far more profitable than individual 5 MHz Blocks.

Fig. 1 shows that the spectrum for uplinks and down-links are equal for a given scenario. For Scenario 7, there are seven 5 MHz blocks for uplinks (cellphone Tx) and seven more for down-links (base station Tx).

This would allow up to three 10 MHz super blocks plus one 5 MHz block; or two super blocks and three 5 MHz blocks; or one super block and five 5 MHz blocks. For example, there could be three super blocks: A*B, C*D, E*F and one 5 MHz block, G. Or there could be super blocks B*C, D*E and F*G with one 5 MHz block A. There are many other combinations of 5 MHz blocks and super blocks 10 MHz wide.

The LTE signal bandwidth is 4.5 MHz for a 5 MHz block, and it will be 9 MHz for a super block of 10 MHz width. This means that the effective radiated power of a super block of 10 MHz is 3 dB greater than for a 5 MHz block. There is another subtle difference between the 5 MHz blocks to be auctioned initially, and 10 MHz super blocks. ISIX interference generated in a receiver is spread over 3*4.5 = 13.5 MHz. A 10 MHz super block will generate ISIX interference spread out over 27 MHz.

So the problem of ISIX interference to the reception of an ATSC signal will be far greater with super blocks (10 MHz wide) than with 5 MHz blocks for these reasons. However the FCC does not consider ISIX except for co-channel interference (CCI) or adjacent channel interference (ACI). Broadcasters should be concerned with the fact that ISIX interference can arise from signals offset in frequency by more than 6 MHz because the FCC will not consider offsets between DTV signals and LTE signals greater than 6 MHz. Two super blocks of 10 MHz each may generate third-order distortion products spanning 27 MHz! This is well known, but not recognized by the FCC as causing “harmful interference.” Where it happens the affected receive cannot look to the Commission or broadband operators for relief. This was pointed out in my June column “FCC ‘Harmful Interference’ Definition Gives Wireless a Pass” on www.tvtechnology.com.

ANOTHER INTERFERENCE EXAMPLE
Looking again at Fig. 1, you will note that the frequencies of LTE signals for a given block vary with the scenario number. Therefore you will need to know what blocks will be radiating LTE signals in your community. Whether the FCC will identify the scenario it applies for your market and your new channel number or just your channel number remains to be seen.

We will start with super block D*F whose center frequency is 639 MHz. F2 = 639 MHz. F1 is equally distant between Channel 28 and the center of super block E*F. So F1 = 0.5(639–557) = 598 MHz. This is in the green portion of the 600 MHz band, which for Scenario 7 is a TV channel (Channel 35). So here we have a hybrid of undesired signals, one LTE signal on super block E*F and DTV signal on Channel 35. Channel 35 will not cause CCI or ACI to Channel 28, so it is quite probable that there may be both Channels 28 and 35 in the repacking scheme for your community. But, there also may be ISIX to your Channel 28 signal from this combination of super block E*F and Channel 35 signals, however the FCC does not recognize such interference as being harmful interference.

With these facts, you will be able to answer questions about how your station will fare after repacking.

Charles Rhodes is a consultant in the field of television broadcast technologies and planning. He can be reached via email atcwr@bootit.com.