First steps in the ATSC 3.0 switch could be delayed by lack of an FCC license application form for the new standard, said Spectrum Consortium President John Hane at America's Public Television Stations Summit Tuesday, responding to our questions. SpectrumCo has over a dozen markets that could begin to transition by late summer, but that's unlikely if the document isn't released in the next few months, Hane said.
America's Public Television Stations will seek an additional $50 million in federal funding for public television in 2019, and is aiming to secure a $100 million total increase over the next 10 years, said APTS President Patrick Butler at the group's Public Media Summit Monday. It will seek $100 million in additional funding from states, and a third tranche of $100 million from renting out spectrum through ATSC 3.0, Butler said.
The FCC has shifted stances in its draft repacking reimbursement order and proposes using FY 2019 reimbursement dollars to pay back low-power TV, translator and FM stations as well as using the $200 million from FY 2018. The draft order was released Friday along with the tentative agenda. It includes items on spectrum horizons and other 5G changes, a proposal for new 911 wireless location accuracy requirements, a draft order setting intermediate carrier standards for rural call completion and rules on reauthorization of broadcast satellite stations.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s call for restrictions on e-cigarette ads isn’t likely to lead to direct FCC action, said e-cigarette industry officials and broadcast and First Amendment attorneys in interviews (see 1902140063). Rosenworcel isn’t necessarily aiming for an FCC rule against such ads, said broadcast attorneys and an aide in her office. “All I’ve done is called for the idea that the FCC, FTC, and [Food and Drug Administration] should come together, look at what laws are on their books, and identify if there are things we can do,” Rosenworcel said in a news conference last week. Commissioner Brendan Carr has said he would oppose such a move.
The FCC will vote on a repacking reimbursement order for low-power TV, FM stations and TV translators at its March 15 commissioners’ meeting, an FCC official told us. A media modernization item on broadcast satellite stations is also expected to be on the agenda (see 1803220027), the officials said.
TV broadcasters and NAB apparently resolved differences over what should happen to the national ownership cap and asked FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to pursue the association's proposal (see 1811270062) to keep the current 50 percent cap for UHF stations and extend it to VHF's, said an ex parte filing. NAB President Gordon Smith and representatives from factions that previously offered differing national cap plans -- including Nexstar CEO Perry Sook and Graham Media CEO Emily Barr -- brought the consensus to Pai Feb. 11, said a filing posted Thursday in docket 17-318. Lack of industry consensus was making it difficult for the FCC to act (see 1811010041).
The FCC’s media modernization effort should be scrutinized for ignoring “foundational statutory obligations” and bypassing policies “truly in need of modernization,” said new Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in an extended statement at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting. Starks and Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel voted “concur” on a unanimously approved order eliminating redundant midterm equal employment opportunity reports (see 1901180043). They urged the FCC to restore long-stalled collection of employment data on diversity. The agency will issue an Further NPRM on broad EEO enforcement within 90 days, Chairman Ajit Pai said.
Repacking delays won’t get worse in later phases as broadcast gear manufacturers claimed, said FCC Media Bureau Video Division Chief Barbara Kreisman at an FCBA Mass Media Committee event Tuesday. She said the FCC has been doing all things representatives from Dielectric, Stainless and other companies suggested, and the agency’s actions will prevent delays from snowballing down the line. “All their suggestions for flexibility are things we’re already being flexible on,” Kreisman said.
The FCC is on track to issue a reimbursement plan for low-power TV, translators and FM stations in March, said industry lawyers. A public notice and progress report Monday announced allocation of additional repacking funds and reported the repacking is “ahead of schedule.” Broadcast officials told the Incentive Auction Task Force last week that repacking delays are worsening and could degrade further due to a lack of tower crews (see 1902080059).
A compromise FCC kidvid rule revamp is looking more likely, given several recent developments. Industry officials believe Democratic control of the House could be a factor, and not all of the proposals in the NPRM will make it to the final order. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, who led the proceeding, "is looking for a compromise that provides flexibility for broadcasters and benefits children," said an aide. Broadcasters are unlikely to get “everything they want,” one lawyer said.