The FCC wants to remind broadcasters the rules of the road as the September 14 testing period approaches for those stations in Phase 1 of the channel repack. Repacked stations may not begin testing or operation on their new channel until 12:01 AM (local time) on their testing period start date, according to the Media Bureau and the Incentive Auction Task Force.
During the test, period stations can transmit on their new channel to test the viability of their new equipment in their air chain. They can begin permanent operations on their new channel once they’ve vacated the old one. The agency does not want stations to simulcast their signals.
Many broadcast engineers have told Inside Towers there’s almost no give in the repack schedule, which is a concern as cold weather approaches. The Commission says remedies stations can use to try to remain on the air if they can’t move by their repack date, include filing for an STA to use a temporary channel by themselves or temporarily sharing a channel. Stations may also seek an STA to remain on the old channel beyond their phase completion deadlines.
However in the Monday notice, the agency is clear it won’t approve exceptions as a matter of routine: “We will not grant an STA that would authorize a station to operate on its pre-auction channel beyond the end of the 39-month transition period. While we have provided several tools to provide relief to stations that are unable to satisfy certain transition deadlines, failure to timely initiate a construction project or undertake necessary steps to meet transition deadlines, including due to a pending application, or the amount of any reimbursement allocation, will not be weighed favorably as a factor in considering such grants of relief.”
The test period for stations in Phase 1 is slated to end on November 30. The testing period for Phase 2 stations immediately ramps up on December 1.
August 28, 2018
