> **DA 08-2264**
>
> **Released: October 10, 2008**

**Television Stations Reminded To Update Their FCC Form 387 -**

**DTV Transition Status Report by October 20, 2008**

In the *Third DTV Periodic Review Report and Order*,[^1] the Commission
announced that all television stations must file a DTV Transition Status
Report using FCC Form 387 on or before February 19, 2008.[^2] The
Commission also stated that stations must update these forms as events
warrant[^3] and, by October 20, 2008, if they have not by that date
reported the completion of their transition, *i.e.*, that they have
begun operating their full facility as authorized by the post-transition
DTV Table Appendix B.[^4] By this Public Notice, the Media Bureau
reminds television stations of their obligation to update their DTV
Transition Status Reports by October 20, 2008.

All television stations that have not reported on their DTV Transition
Status Report that their post-transition DTV facilities are "fully
operational," must update their DTV Transition Status Report by October
20, 2008. Stations should report the current status of their efforts to
complete their post-transition DTV facilities and should report any
change to the information contained in their previous DTV Transition
Status Report, including a change in the station's (1) transition plans,
(2) construction or operational status or (3) existing service (e.g.,
reduction or termination of analog or pre-transition digital
service).[^5] In addition, stations that have not already reported such
filings, must report if they have filed or plan to file: (1) an
application for extension of time to complete construction of their full
authorized post-transition digital facility; (2) any and all
applications for digital construction permit (including applications for
post-transition digital operation, modification or maximization); (3) a
request for STA for "phased transition;" (4) a notification of or
request to reduce or terminate analog or digital operations before
February 17, 2009; and/or (5) a petition for rulemaking to change their
post-transition DTV channel.

Although detailed explanations concerning the DTV transition status may
be filed as an exhibit, stations must complete all relevant boxes on
their DTV Transition Status Report. For example, stations with
post-transition DTV facilities that are not yet fully operational must
provide the "Expected Operational Date" in Section III, Question 2 and
"Expected Construction Date" in Section III, Question 3. These dates
should be the date the station expects to actually complete construction
and begin operating its post-transition DTV facility and not the
station's current construction deadline, unless these dates are the
same. This information is important in order to determine whether
stations are on track to complete the DTV transition on time.

Stations are encouraged to use this opportunity to indicate in Section
VI of their Form 387 if they anticipate that their digital coverage area
will no longer cover all of the viewers served by their analog signal.
If such a result is anticipated, stations may estimate how many or what
percentage of analog viewers will not be within the station\'s
authorized digital contour and whether any of these viewers will have
digital service from another affiliate of the same network. Stations can
also use Form 387 to report if they anticipate that new digital
interference will prevent digital service to their current over-the-air
analog viewers.

In order to continue to track the construction efforts of all television
stations, we encourage all television stations that have reported that
their post-transition DTV facilities are "fully constructed" but that
have filed a maximization application, to update the status of their
construction efforts on their Form 387.

Stations must continue to file updates until their post-transition DTV
facilities are "fully operational" and such has been reported on their
DTV Transition Status Report.

Form 387 must be updated electronically using the Commission's
Consolidated Database System ("CDBS") Electronic Filing System via the
Internet from the Media Bureau's Web site at:
<http://www.fcc.gov/mb/cdbs.html> or
<http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbs_ef.htm>.

For more information, contact the Media Bureau's Video Division: Nazifa
Sawez, <Nazifa.Sawez@fcc.gov>, at (202) 418-7059, or Shaun Maher,
<Shaun.Maher@fcc.gov>, at (202) 418-2324. TTY: (202) 418-7172.

\--FCC\--

[^1]: Third Periodic Review of the Commission's Rules and Policies
    Affecting the Conversion to Digital Television, MB Docket No. 07-91,
    *Report and Order*, 23 FCC Rcd 2994, ¶34 (2007)(*Third DTV Periodic
    Review Report and Order*).

[^2]: The original filing deadline of February 18, 2008 was extended by
    one day because February 18, 2008 was a federal holiday. *See*
    "Third DTV Periodic Report and Order Published in Federal Register
    Today," *Public Notice*, 23 FCC Rcd 906 (MB 2007).

[^3]: The Commission also reminded stations that they are responsible
    for the continuing accuracy and completeness of the information
    furnished in their form and that whenever that information is no
    longer substantially accurate and complete in all significant
    respects, the station must file an updated form as promptly as
    possible and in any event within 30 days to furnish such additional
    or corrected information as is appropriate. *See Third DTV Periodic
    Review Report and Order*, *supra* at ¶35 citing 47 C.F.R. § 1.65(a)
    and 47 U.S.C. § 308(b).

[^4]: *Third DTV Periodic Review Report and Order*, *supra* at ¶35.

[^5]: Stations should note that changes to analog service must be
    reported in Section V -- Analog Service and, if necessary, in an
    explanatory exhibit. Changes to the station's pre-transition digital
    service should be reported in an explanatory exhibit. Stations
    planning a service (analog or digital) reduction or termination
    within the last 90 days before the February 17, 2009 transition date
    (i.e., after November 19, 2008) must report this plan on their Form
    387. We note that such reductions or terminations may be done
    without prior Commission approval provided that at least 30 days
    notification is given to the Commission and the station airs viewer
    notifications for 30 days before the service reduction or
    termination. *See Third DTV Periodic Review Report and Order*,
    *supra* at ¶¶133-134.