CTIA Working with L.A. Stations on Spectrum-Sharing Trial
CTIA and Los Angeles TV stations KLCS and KJLA unveiled plans Tuesday for a pilot project to test the “technical and legal arrangements” necessary to put in place successful channel sharing. Channel-sharing could potentially free up more spectrum in the TV incentive auction, since TV stations that share channels could sell part of their spectrum for use by carriers. The two TV stations must get FCC permission to do tests, which are expected run through the first quarter of the year, CTIA officials said Tuesday.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
KJLA is a commercial station offering bilingual programming through the LATV network; KLCS is a PBS station. “We think this is the first time that a commercial and noncommercial station have attempted channel sharing,” CTIA Vice President Scott Bergmann said in an interview. “At the end of the day the technology is moving so quickly that we really thought a sharing project would be helpful right now to share the capability that cutting edge technology can bring. We think the conversation has evolved a lot.” CTIA wants to see “as much information out there and as many attractive options as possible for broadcasters,” he said.
"Under the channel sharing agreement, KLCS and KJLA will conduct a series of tests that will culminate in KLCS ‘hosting’ KJLA’s content and transmitting a shared stream that will combine the two stations’ primary and multicast content,” CTIA said. “KLCS and KJLA will also attempt a variety of HD and SD video feeds to confirm the feasibility and technical limits of channel sharing between two unaffiliated broadcast stations. There will be no impact to KJLA’s and KLCS’ viewers during this test.” The test is designed to show that “channel sharing would allow over-the-air broadcasters to continue providing -- and enhancing -- quality content without impacting their viewers while reducing infrastructure costs,” CTIA said.
The stations plan to file Tuesday a request at the FCC asking for special temporary authority (STA) to perform the tests, Bergmann said. “There are some unknown variables and one of them will be timing for the FCC action [on the STA],” he said. “We certainly hope that the FCC will recognize the public interest benefits associated with this. If the FCC approves the request we think we can move forward pretty quickly.”
"Sharing stations get to continue broadcasting and get a big check -- what’s not to like?” asked Preston Padden, executive director of the Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition. Free State Foundation President Randolph May said in a blog post the announcement is welcome. “Ultimately, the success of the spectrum incentive auction depends on having broadcasters decide to offer up some of their spectrum for auction, which spectrum then would be available to be auctioned for use by others,” he said (http://bit.ly/1eem8hK). “If spectrum sharing along the lines contemplated in the pilot project proves feasible, then the chances for a ‘win-win-win’ in the incentive auction increase substantially."
"We look forward to any new information arising from this pilot program,” said NAB Executive President Dennis Wharton. “The industry already has a good deal of technical experience with channel sharing, as many stations multicast today, which is channel sharing under another banner."
"Channel sharing represents a unique option for broadcasters that wish to continue to broadcast over-the-air programming, while also taking advantage of the incentive auction’s once-in-a-lifetime financial opportunity,” said an FCC Media Bureau spokesman. “We welcome this pilot project proposal, and look forward to reviewing it closely.” House Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., issued a statement welcoming the news.