Full-Power Broadcasters Disagree With Microsoft, LPTV on ATSC 3.0 DTS Petition

Full-power broadcasters and ATSC 3.0 boosters clamored for the FCC to relax rules governing distributed transmission systems (see 1910110040), in comments posted through Wednesday in docket 16-142. Microsoft and low-power broadcast entities have interference concerns. NAB and America's Public Television Stations' petition is “premature,” said the National Translator Association. “3.0 is incompatible with the present system, and the public’s paramount interest must be to preserve interference-free TV for present reception.”

Nexstar, Meredith, the Pearl TV consortium, One Media and others disagreed. They urging the FCC to relax limitations on DTS systems “promptly.” Rules “restrict broadcast stations deploying Next Gen TV in combination with [single frequency networks] to provide amplified coverage levels near the edges of their service,” One Media said. “Minor changes to the DTS rules proposed by the Petitioners would significantly improve the ability of television stations deploying ATSC 3.0.” Requested changes “will not impact any current interference protections either caused by or received by DTS systems and will minimize the potential impact to stations in adjacent markets,” said Public Media Group.

The proposals add up to free spectrum, Microsoft said. “Allowing broadcasters to claim interference protection beyond their service contours, wherever they could reach with their DTS signal, would amount to giving away a tremendous amount of spectrum without following any of the legally required procedures.” Find ways to accommodate broadcasters under the existing rules, the company said. “If each broadcaster were permitted to increase the geographic area of its interference protection by one third -- all with no auction or other assignment process -- already scarce White Spaces spectrum would be taken off the air, especially in rural area.” Explicitly say it won't permit this outcome in any rulemaking proceeding stemming from the petition, asked the software maker.

The petition's proposed rule changes could create more LPTV regulatory uncertainty, said Ark Multicasting. Ark supports new DTS rules but said changes that affect LPTV “should be incremental and should advance the interests of the public and of the entire industry, not just some segments at the expense of others.” LPTV outlets should be protected from displacement or interference from DTS systems, Ark said.

A proceeding on relaxing rules for DTS should address interference risks to spectrum adjacent noncommercial educational stations from DTV channel 6 stations, NPR said. NTA sought a 41 dB protected contour for 3.0 translators and LPTV stations. “An increased protected contour for these stations will make a more efficient use of the spectrum with single-frequency distributed technology,” NTA said.