LPTV INDUSTRY NEWS - THU. - JAN. 7, 2016
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TODAY'S NEWSLETTER SPONSOR
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COMMENTARY
LPTV FIRST AGAIN
FIRST 4K OTA BROADCAST - 2015 FIRST ATSC 3.0 OTA BROADCAST - 2016 FIRST SINGLE FREQUENCY NETWORK TEST - 2016
Why is it that LPTV stations have been first to broadcast both 4K and ATSC 3.0? Because they have available suitable spectrum which the primary full powers do not. So what will happen post-auction when the full power and Class A herd has been culled, and those that wanted out and sold in the auction are gone, fat, and happy? Will there be the "extra" LPTV spectrum available for testing and for the ATSC 3.0 roll-out?
Or will the evil plan hatched by NAB, PBS, and the wireless companies to regionally repack just the auction eligible stations wipe out the major market LPTV stations, so no licensed spectrum is available to use testing of 3.0?
This is why the draft legislation from New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. is so dangerous. Not only does it give the FCC entirely new "delegated authority", which will enable the FCC to totally bypass the rulemaking process of past 1400+ days. But it forces a quick five month repacking plan to be designed. AND ALL WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF ANY AND ALL OF THE LPTV RULES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN LEGALLY PASSED!
Now we can support the Pallone legislation if and only if channel relocation funds are made available to licensed LPTV and translators, AND, that the regional repacking plan INCLUDE all licensed LPTV and translators. Now you can see that we did not include new CPs, construction permits. They are back of the bus no matter what unless they build before the auction.
By including licensed LPTV and translators in the "repack" build-out does not in any way, shape, or form, interfere with the auction. All that it does is to make sure that the promise Congress and the FCC have made to LPTV to not wipe it out in the auction process.
ISN'T IT BAD ENOUGH THAT LPTV IS NOT IN THE AUCTION, NOR GETS RELO FUNDS, AND NO REPACK PROTECTION?
Any attempt to use new FCC delegated authority for a regional repack which excludes us will result in these legal terms becoming very important: Futility, Ultra Vires, DeFacto, and Mandamus. Since no public FCC rulemaking will be made, we reserve the right to bypass the petitions route, and will go straight to the Court.
So LPTV is already in court about the definition of secondary status, whether we should have be allowed in the auction, and because the FCC has not followed the Administrative Procedures Act. We will probably also have to go to court about the vacant channel rulemaking. And if the Pallone end-around the rulemaking bill passes without us in it, that also.
Now, why the frak is Congress, the FCC, NAB, and the wireless industry, oh, and those horrible silicon valley unamerican tax-dodging MicroGooApp, why are they all doing these legal moves against LPTV? What have we ever done to them? No, they want what we got (low band spectrum, and a frak of a lot of it), and they do not want to pay us for it, nor want us to succeed as competitors (NAB). They all covet what we got. And they are not stopping until they get it.
Just one more thing about Congressman Pallone. He represents the NJ 6th District, which is right across from the New York City metro area. He is concerned about what happened after the horrible Sandy storm, and wants to make sure emergency alert systems and broadcasters can be there when needed. There are no LPTV or translator licensees within his District, but it is covered by at least 10 NYC LPTV stations, with dozens of diverse channels of content, which we are sure his constituents all get for free.
And one thing everyone forgets and conveniently does not mention is that all LPTV and translators have EAS public service obligations. If we are not repacked at the same time in a regional repack, albeit without protections, then our public service obligations will be in jeopardy.
Pallone's proposed legislation has the FCC doing a new repacking plan within 5 months after the auction, just one month before the licensed LPTV and translator displacement window. This all needs to be coordinated if the EAS system is to be kept intact.
INCLUDE LPTV AND TRANSLATORS IN ANY REGIONAL REPACKING PLAN!
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Communications Law Attorneys representing clients before the FCC, the federal courts, and other regulatory, and governmental agencies on communications matters.
Chip Grange & Wray Fitch (703) 873-7349 - www.gg-law.com |
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COALITION COMMENTARY
Just like last year when another LPTV station in Las Vegas was first in the USA to air 4K TV, this year, KHMP-LD, a newly licensed and built facility, creates history by being the first OTA station in the USA to broadcast ATSC 3.0. The licensee of KHMP-LD is DNV Spectrum Holdings, which is one of the broadcast companies long time LPTV operator, Dr, Vince Castelli of Atlanta. Good job Vince in putting LPTV back into the technology innovation lane.
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INTERESTING VIDEO
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KARMA SUCKS
IT WILL BE FUN TO WATCH
THE FULL POWER
NAB MEMBERS END UP IN THE DUPLEX GAP - HA!
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PBS FAILS TO STOP ITS LOCAL AFFILIATES FROM JUMPING INTO THE AUCTION
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National Digital Distributors offers three unique channels. Moxie, a 24/7 movie channel, Oldie Goldie, a classic TV channel, and La Mega Mundial, a Latin/Tropical music channel. Each is delivered to your station via the Internet, and is proven to generate revenues. www.nationaldigitaldistributors.com |
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If you would like to be part of our collective effort to make sure LPTV and TV translators are treated fairly in the Incentive Auction and channel repacking JOIN US today!
Mike Gravino
Director
LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition
(202) 604-0747
http://www.lptvcoalition.com
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