The FCC granted a Special Temporary Authority (STA) for low-power TV station WWOO-LD Westmoreland, NH, to test 5G transmission. Low-power television stations are looking to use the NextGen TV ATSC 3.0 transmission standard’s data offload potential that’s being called “5G Broadcast,” according to Next TV.
“Anybody who has been frustrated in a crowded football stadium trying to watch the game on a phone can understand the value of sending out on-demand streams and data via broadcast,” Preston Padden, longtime TV industry executive and chief strategic officer of the LPTV Broadcasters Association has said of the effort to turn low-power TV stations (LPTVs) into turnkey 5G players.
The FCC has given WWOO through January 16, 2024, to conduct testing of 5G broadcasts. The trials will include TV signals that can be received by “smartphones, tablets, and any device (including traditional television sets) with a 5G chip that has been manufactured to permit the reception of 5G transmissions within the broadcast television band,” the FCC said in granting the authority.
But in addition to television signals, WWOO parent Milachi Media and its partner Qualcomm envision relieving congestion on 5G wireless networks. WWOO will broadcast traditional TV signals in 5G as well as work with public safety to provide video and data services to first responders.
Milachi said the tests should not create harmful interference, but has agreed to stop them or cut power if they do, notes Next TV. The FCC experimental license is contingent on noninterference, so the regulator could also pull the STA if that occurs.
“We find that Milachi has proposed a definite program of research and experimentation; stands ready to proceed with such research and is not expected to cause any objectionable interference,” stated the Media Bureau in granting the request. The agency also said, “The experiment is likely to provide valuable information to allow broadcasters to better understand how 5G Broadcast can be used not only for traditional television services, but also new and innovative video and data services.”
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