DTV Station Status

By Doug Lung
published

DTV Station Status per FCC CDBS – March 26, 2008

LICENSED (LIC) 1231 (-0-)
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT:(CP) 438 (+87)
CP Modification (CP MOD) 292 (-4)
STA (All variations - authorized)1028 (-6)
STA (Modifications) 163 (-1)
APPLICATIONS (minus rule making and
channel/service elections) 467 (+158)

Rule making - Digital channel changes
PENDING APPLICATIONS 17 (-0-)
GRANTS 156 (-0-)
(Change from March 12, 2008 listing)

The number of DTV applications filed and construction permits granted continues to surge as stations file for their post-transition DTV facilities and the FCC moves quickly to grant the applications. Over the past two weeks a total of 158 new DTV applications appeared in CDBS while the number of special temporary authority (STA) listings dropped slightly. I’ve noticed STA records have remained in CDBS after stations have begun operation under permanent authorization so this drop may only be housekeeping to clear out no longer needed STA.

Note: These totals do not include digital class A TV, low-power TV or TV translator entries. The total will be greater than the number of DTV stations as some stations have licenses, construction permits and applications on file. Some stations also have licenses, construction permits or applications for backup facilities (auxiliary broadcast). Subtracting the STA Modification number from the number in STA (All variations) will give a more accurate indication of the number of DTV stations operating under STA, although STA records sometimes remain in the CDBS long after the licensed facility is operational. Entries with the call sign “TEST” are not included.

A spreadsheet (dtvdb.zip) showing all DTV entries (including digital LPTV and translator) in the FCC CDBS TV engineering database files as well as a spreadsheet (tvdb.zip) showing the entire TV engineering database (large file - over 2 MB) extracted from the CDBS will be available at www.xmtr.com/fcc/. Look for the new spreadsheets within a few days. They should carry a file date of March 27, 2008 or later.

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Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.