SBE summarizes 'Trucker TV' debate in white paper

The Society of Broadcast Engineers has published a three-page white paper explaining its point-of-view on efforts by Clarity Media Services seeking to change FCC rules to allow the launch of a multichannel video service for truckers, which the SBE has dubbed Trucker TV.

The white paper lays out the background on Clarity's efforts to launch service using low-power base stations at Flying J truck stops. Clarity is a subsidiary of Flying J. SBE has opposed Clarity because it seeks to use the re-farmed 2025MHz to 2110MHz TV Broadcast Auxiliary Service Band for 14 6MHz-wide digital channels.

The paper discusses the scope of Clarity's plan, which may encompass all 221 Flying J truck stops nationwide, as well as reviews the history of Clarity's preliminary tests of the system from base stations in Frazier Park, CA, North Salt Lake City, UT, and Ogden, UT.

The SBE document also discusses the regulatory history of Clarity's efforts, which began with the experimental demonstrations and subsequent filings, including Clarity's filing Part 78 CARS applications, and the SBE's opposition.

To read the white paper, visit www.sbe.org/documents/TruckerTVwhitepaper.pdf.