In one of the final acts of the Pai Commission, the FCC on Tuesday adopted a Report and Order modifying technical rules to promote the expanded use of distributed transmission systems, or single frequency networks (SFNs), by broadcast television stations.
BE SURE TO FOLLOW RBR+TVBR ON FACEBOOK!
With Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks each approving in part, dissenting in part, and issuing separate statements, the FCC adopted a technical modification to its rules governing the use of a distributed transmission system (DTS), or single frequency network (SFN), by a broadcast television station.
“Consistent with our goal of addressing technical issues that may impede the adoption of DTS technology, we conclude that by modestly easing limitations on DTS transmitters and providing additional clarity in our rules, we can help unlock the potential of DTS at this crucial time when many stations are considering migrating to the next generation broadcast television standard (ATSC 3.0),” the Commission declared.
“As the record in this proceeding demonstrates, affording broadcasters greater flexibility in the placement of DTS transmitters can allow them to enhance signal capabilities and fill coverage gaps, improve indoor and mobile reception, and increase spectrum efficiency by reducing the need for television translator stations operating on separate channels,” it added.
Specifically, the Commission is updating the current restriction that prohibits DTS signals from spilling over beyond a station’s authorized service area by more than a “minimal amount.”
In its place, the FCC will use “a clearer, service-based approach” that allows broadcasters greater flexibility in locating DTS transmitters, so long as, for UHF stations, the
41 dBu F(50,50) contour for each DTS transmitter does not exceed the reference station’s 41 dBu F(50,50) contour.
DTS transmissions will not be entitled to interference protection beyond the station’s authorized service area, the Commission said. “Our decision to replace the current,
subjective spillover standard with a bright-line rule that both expands and clarifies the permissible range of spillover will not only promote DTS use by facilitating more efficient and more economical siting of DTS transmitters, but it also will establish a clearly defined limit that will promote regulatory certainty.”
The FCC also explained that the approach it is now adopting improves upon the proposed rule set forth in a NPRM in which the Commission sought comment on a proposed modification submitted in a joint petition for rulemaking by America’s Public
Television Stations (APTS) and the NAB.
Thus, the requirement that Class A, LPTV, and television translator stations must apply for
DTS facilities on an experimental basis is gone.
And, the FCC is adding a contour-based limit on DTS spillover by such stations that is similar to what it’s adopting for full-power stations, but modified slightly to account for
technical differences between low power and full power services.
In a statement, the expected acting FCC Commissioner — Ms. Rosenworcel — said, “While I appreciate the effort to modernize our policies, I would have preferred a more fine-tuned
approach that would have allowed us to better gauge the effects of these systems on other services that use these airwaves, including low-power television stations and broadband devices using white spaces.”
By not choosing to do so here, the FCC, she says, “could be needlessly restricting new broadband services even where there are no broadcast signals to protect. This strikes me as perverse. In addition, we create ambiguities about what level of protection different signals may be entitled to under the new rules, which could harm investment in new services going forward.”
With Commissioner Starks, Rosenworcel proposed an alternative approach to unlock the potential of distributed transmission systems by using expedited waivers.
That request was denied.
