# Presentation: 545684

## NTA 2006

- _[KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov](mailto:KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov)__  FCC Media Bureau           (202) 418-2607_

**Notes:**
Hello Broadcasters
Hello Community Broadcasters
Pleasure to be here – thanks
Will all broadcasters stand and be recognized
Exciting time – much to talk about

## GREETINGS TRANSLATOR OPERATORS !

## The Digital Translator/LPTV Transition is Underway!   

- The Digital Translator/LPTV Transition is Underway!

- Roads to digital conversion

- Station construction

- Up and running

## The DTV Transition

## Slide 5

## DTV Stations on Air         Source:  FCC Video Div.  March 2006

- *

- *  Total includes single-channel DTV operations

**Notes:**
Build out mile stones have passed.
About 75% of 1688 allotted DTV stations are on the air.
An increase of more than 700 on-air stations since your last convention.

## DTV Regulatory Developments

## Distributed Transmission System                             Single Frequency Network

- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in MB Docket No. 05-312

- DTS for translators, LPTV & Class A TV ?

- On-channel DTV boosters?

## WWW.DTV.GOV

## Roads to Digital Conversion

- Translator operators heading to the digital frontier

## Roads to Digital Transition’s End

## F

- L

- A

- S

- H

- C

- U

- T

- 45

- Analog

## Digital

## On-channel Digital Conversion (“Flash-cut”)

- Minor change application (No filing fee)
- Ordinarily, may file at any time, BUT
- May not file until after conclusion of digital companion channel window (6:00 pm June 30, 2006)
- Electronically file FCC Form 346 (February 2005 version)
- May make other facilities changes if analog and digital contours overlap

## Slide 15

## 45

- Companion Channel

- Analog

## Slide 17

## Digital Companion Channel Filing Window June 19-30, 2006

- Digital companion channel paired with station’s analog channel
- Must eventually give back one of the paired channels per future FCC determination
- Nationwide window (U.S. & its territories)
- Eligibility restricted to permittees & licensees of TV translator, LPTV and Class A stations
- Stations with digital licenses, permits or pending applications related to flash-cutting are not eligible for a companion channel

## Digital Companion Channel Filing Window June 19-30, 2006

- File electronically as minor change – no filing fee
- File FCC Form 175 + technical data from
- Form 346 (LPTV & translator applicants) or
- Form 301-CA (Class A applicants filing for an LPTV digital channel)
- May operate paired analog and digital facilities at different locations provided some overlap of analog and digital protected contours

## Slide 20

## Digital signal input to analog signal output

- D/A Converter Box

- 45

**Digital in Analog out**

## Digital

-         Digital Transition’s End

- Where digital’s the only game in town !

- HDTV

## Digital Conversion of TV Translator, LPTV & Class A Stations (per the FCC’s Digital LPTV Report & Order)  

- Based on Section 309(j)(14) and 336(f)(4) of Communications Act (as of September 2004)
- stations must ultimately cease analog  transmissions
- FCC may set more distant analog shutoff date than that for full-service stations
- A later date would be less disruptive to communities served by translator, LPTV and Class A stations
- Goal of “achieving transition end-date at, or soon after, the end-date of the full-service transition” (then 12/31/06)
- Analog shutoff date will be considered in FCC’s next DTV periodic review, **unless preempted by Congressional action**

## Deficit Reduction Act of 2005(Digital Television Transition and                     Public Safety Act of 2005) 

- Section 3002  Analog Spectrum Recovery
- Termination of Analog Licenses and Broadcasting – The Federal Communications Commission shall take such actions as are necessary --
- (1) to terminate all licenses for full-power television stations in the analog TV service, and to require the cessation of broadcasting by full-power stations in the analog television service by February 18, 2009; and

## Section 3002 (Continued) 

- (2) to require by February 18, 2009, that all broadcasting by Class A stations, whether in the analog television service or digital television service, occur only on channels between channels 2 and 36, inclusive, or 38 and 51, inclusive...

## Section 336(f)(4) of Comm Act

- ISSUANCE OF LICENSES FOR ADVANCED TELEVISION SERVICES TO TELEVISION TRANSLATOR STATIONS AND QUALIFYING LOW-POWER TELEVISION STATIONS...
-        Such new license or the original license of the applicant shall be forfeited after the end of the digital television transition period, _as determined by the Commission_.  A licensee of a low power television station or television translator station may, at the option of the licensee, elect to convert to the provision of advanced television services on its analog channel, but shall not be required to convert to digital _until the end such transition period_.

## Digital Translator & LPTV Transition

## So, what do you do? 

- The flash-cut approach?
- Financial and technical resources to convert to digital?
- Viewers who can receive digital signals?
- Existing channels to  spare for digital?

## What to do? 

- The companion channel approach?
- Available channels?
- Resources to construct and begin operating the companion digital stations?
- Sufficient time with dual analog & digital operation for DTV receiver penetration levels to build in the community (e.g.,  as people replace old TV sets with those with digital tuners or acquire sets more quickly to watch your digital channels)?

## What to do?

- Digital-to-analog conversion at the translator?
- Ensures continuity of TV service until the majority of your viewers are equipped to receive digital signals, up until when you may be required to flash-cut
- After 2009, you _might_ be able to find channels to enable dual analog & digital DTV rebroadcasts for some period of time, if permitted by the Commission

## You Must Choose the Road to Your Digital Conversion

## Digital Station Construction

- Time to construct
- Translator modes of operation
- Transmitter requirements
- Modification of existing analog equipment for digital operation

## Digital Station Construction

- Three years to build station from issuance of construction permit
- Extension of time may be granted when delay is justified (for example, due to equipment, work crews or zoning delays or demonstrated financial inability)
- Media Bureau may grant two six months extensions; further extensions require action by the full Commission

## Digital Translator Modes

- Both types are permitted – regenerative is preferred

- DTV Input

- Translator Output

## Digital Power Limits

| Channels | Heterodyne Output Power | Effective Radiated Power |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2-6 | 3 watts | 300 watts |
| 7-13 | 3 watts | 300 watts |
| 14-69 | 30 watts | 15,000 watts |

## Signal Coverage

- UHF digital translator:  1000’ above average terrain

- 25 watts

## Transmitter Requirements

- New digital translator and LPTV transmitters must be FCC certificated

## Transmitter Performance Criteria for Certification

- Output signal that can be satisfactorily viewed on receivers designed for FCC 8-VSB DTV transmission standard
- Heterodyne translator output power must not vary by more than 1 dB for input signal strength variations up to 30 dB
- Digital average output power must not exceed maximum rated value under any condition
- Digital power metering

## Transmitter Performance Criteria for Certification

- Out-of-channel emissions at output terminals (including all output filtering) meet at least the attenuation requirements of the “simple” mask
- Local oscillator frequency of RF upconverter must be maintained within 10 kHz
- Temperature range between 0 and 40o Centigrade
- Main power supply voltage variations between 85 and 115 percent

## GPS Protection From 2nd and 3rd Harmonic Emissions

- GPS frequency bands:  1164-1215 MHz, 1215-1240 MHz and 1559-1610 MHz
- Affects only TV channels 22-24, 32-36, 38 and 65-69
- For FCC certification, transmitter must employ filtering that attenuates harmonic emissions in the GPS bands by at least 85 dB

## Modification of Transmission Systems

- Permit modification of existing analog equipment for digital transmissions (*e.g.*, final RF amplifiers)
- FCC certificated manufacturer field modification kits, including installation and testing procedures and new FCC transmitter identifier label
- Custom modifications also permitted

## Modification of Transmission Systems

- Heterodyne output power limits must not be exceeded
- Digital output power may not exceed 25% of previous peak sync NTSC output power unless  power amplifier has been replaced or retrofitted for higher power operation
- Transmitter must be performance-tested and demonstrated to comply with transmitter certification requirements

## Modification of Transmission Systems

- Station licensee must notify FCC upon completion of modifications (and certify that any custom modifications comply with technical requirements)
- Licensee must maintain records of the nature of the modifications, test procedures and results for period of two years

## GPS Protection From 2nd and 3rd Harmonic Emissions

- On channels where protection is required, an external filter with at least 85 dB attenuation in the GPS bands may be field-installed on an existing transmitter
- Field measurements of the second or third harmonic output of transmitters so equipped are not required

## Equivalent Mask Compliance for Digital Conversion of Analog Transmitter 

- Total Average In-Channel Power

- 6 MHz Channel

- 46 dB down is required

- For example:  a 6 dB shortfall at shelves of simple mask

## Equivalent Mask Compliance for Digital Conversion of Analog Transmitter

- 800 w

- 11001001  10010011  11100110  11110100 10101100  10101011

- 11001001  10010011  11100110  11110100 10101100  10101011

- 11110100 10101100  10101011 1110

- 11110100 10101100  10101011 1110

- Up & Running

## Digital Station Operation

- Unattended operation

- No minimum hours of operation

- No required station identification at present

## Operations on Channels 52-69

- Must cease use of channels 60-69 per public safety coordinated use agreement, _but can now operate after the end of the full-power station transition if no public safety or commercial wireless issues_
- Existing or future wireless licensee may serve digital translator or LPTV licensee a notice of potential conflict within 120 days before commencing new or modified operation

## Channels 52-59

- Digital translator or LPTV station must cease operating within 120 days of receiving notice unless
- start  of wireless service is delayed
- agreement is reached with wireless licensee or
- FCC request for stay is granted
- Station licensee may seek replacement channel on a priority basis

## Permitted Digital Translator Signal Alterations 

- Limited local insertions
- Emergency warning messages
- Public service announcements & messages related to funding translator operations; not to exceed 30 seconds per hour
- Necessary adjustment of PSIP information
- Multiplexing of two or more DTV stations on single output channel per agreements with all affected stations

## Hybrid Translator Rebroadcasts & Program Origination Are Permissible

- Digital station must be licensed as an LPTV
- Should be closely coordinated with your primary DTV station to match video formats
- Use portion of the bit stream for rebroadcast and remaining bits for a locally inserted program stream(s)
- As examples:  local weather updates, school announcements and events, adult education classes

## HDTV Wonders

## Translator-delivered HTDV 

- Translator-delivered HTDV
-  is coming to your community

## My very best wishes as you bring digital TV to your communities

## NTA 2006

- _[KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov](mailto:KEITH.LARSON@fcc.gov)__  FCC Media Bureau           (202) 418-2607_

**Notes:**
Hello Broadcasters
Hello Community Broadcasters
Pleasure to be here – thanks
Will all broadcasters stand and be recognized
Exciting time – much to talk about