Regularos get hot during dog days

[Gregg Lengling]

The FCC got busy in August.   In a Report and Order resulting from the Second Periodic Review of the DTV transition, the commission ditched the simulcasting requirement and established a channel election process, full power deadlines and PSIP requirements.

The channel election process-modeled after a previous MSTV proposal-started on August 3rd, when the commission froze certain TV applications that could potentially interfere with the process.  While the freeze is enforced, the FCC's engineering data-base will be brought up to speed.  Broadcasters have until October 1st to verify the accuracy of their technical information in the database.

The first round of DTV channel elections will commence in December, when stations with two in-core (2-51) channels will have to settle on which one they will ultimately use for DTV.  Licensees with one in-core and one out-of-core chanel will make a likewise selection.

In July 2005, stations with no in-core channel will have an opportunity to pick up leftovers from round one.  Then in January 2006, stations that still have no channel assignment and those assigned Channels 2 through 6 will get to pick from second round left-overs.  (Channels 2-6 are poorly suited for DTV because of interference  and/or power issues.)

The FCC will provide updates between rounds on what channels are protected,  which are in conflict and which are available.

The commission also set deadlines for kicking up the power on DTV signals, ending a low-power loophole created in 2001.  As of July 2005, ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC stations in the top 100 markets will have to crank up the digital power relative to their analog coverage (Hear that Fox6???).  By July 2006, all other stations must go max power.

The use of PSIP was olso codified in the Report and Order.  PSIP is a data stream in the DTV signal that tells receivers to act on certain commands, including channel identification, closed captioning, program guides and V-chips.

In a separate action, 13 new broadcast flag comopliant copy protection technologies were approved, including one from TiVo that would allow PVR users to share digital programming over the Internet.  "TiVoToGo" allows digital files recorded on a TiVo to be distributed to nine registered users, and is expected to be introduced on TiVo boxes later this year.

"This is a partial listing of FCC news from Tv Technology Magazine".