TV Channel 51 Frozen
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, August 26, 2011 · 
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Following petitions by the Rural Cellular Association and CTIA-The Wireless Association, the FCC ordered a freeze on broadcast applications for licenses on channel 51. The associations assert that TV signals originating at channel 51 cause interference in adjacent wireless transmissions. Channel 51 is adjacent to the A-block of wireless licenses that operate using spectrum between 698 Mhz – 704 Mhz, and 728 Mhz – 734MHz.
Stations licensed to channel 51 operate at the “top end” of the allocated broadcast spectrum. (Prior to the digital transition in 2009, the channel range had extended further, to channel 69.) In freezing both new and pending applications, the FCC also opens a 60-day window for low-power applicants for channel 51 assignment to amend their application to a different channel.
Stations currently operating either full-power or low-power at channel 51 may apply for waivers to make modifications to their broadcasts.
Despite Industry and Congressional Obstacles, LightSquared Moves Forward
Posted by Steve Fravel on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 · ·
There are several new elements to the continuing pre-launch LightSquared story.
First off, LightSquared filed its formal report on GPS interference at the FCC on June 30. The report indicates that LightSquared will proceed with its network build out via a “plan B.” As we reported a few weeks ago, the new plan requires using spectrum lower in the band, further away from GPS frequencies, and operating at 50% power. In addition, LightSquared is requesting that filters become a requirement for manufacturers of certain GPS equipment.
In a public statement LightSquared said, “The FCC does not face a stark choice between reliable GPS service and a new competitor in the broadband market. In fact, the testing results released today show LightSquared’s proposed solution resolves interference for approximately 99.5% of all commercial GPS devices, including 100%of the 300 million GPS enabled cell phones.”
Second, an FCC working group has also completed testing of LightSquared’s proposed plan for a nationwide 4G LTE network and in the summary noted that, “The LightSquared Terrestrial Broadband Service Will Cause Harmful Interference to Nearly All GPS Receivers and GPS‐Dependent Applications.”
It’s important to note that the working group’s conclusion was derived by testing LightSquared’s initial spectrum utilization plan and not its latest plan B deployment plan. Read more
Few Think Retrans Sharing is Good
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, June 17, 2011 · ·
Internet and media trade publication RBR-TVBR polled TV station personnel to measure the support for local TV stations sharing their retransmission consent fees with the networks whose programming they carry. As one would guess, most participants believe that the stations should not share the revenue gained from multi-video programming distributors (MVPDs).
RBR-TVBR notes that if you combine the next two most popular response categories, the majority feel that the stations should share between 25%-50% of the fees with the networks. Nearly 31% of respondents indicated that 25% of the fees would be okay, while 23% of participants would allow 50% to be shared. Less that 3% thought that sharing 75% of the retransmission fees would be satisfactory.
The FCC is in the process of revisiting retransmission consent rules. The commission has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in consideration of modifying the existing structure. For information, see NTCA’s 2011 federal filings.
FCC Approves CenturyLink/Qwest Merger
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, March 21, 2011 · ·
The FCC today approved the merger of CenturyLink Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. In doing so, the commission imposed a series of conditions designed to protection against the risk of harm to competition, and ensure the merged entity will live up to its commitments to significantly expand its network and launch a major broadband adoption program for low-income consumers.
The merger now needs one final state approval from Oregon. The transaction is still on track to close April 1. Read more
LIN and Dish Reach Agreement
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, March 14, 2011 · ·
After an eight-day blackout period in which 27 stations were dropped from Dish Network, the subscribers in 17 DMAs learned on Sunday that the stations were coming back.
LIN Media and Dish Network announced on March 13 that they had come to terms and would be restoring the missing channels to the Dish Network line-up. In a statement from LIN Media, LIN president and CEO Vincent Sadusky said, ”We are pleased that our negotiations with Dish Network resulted in a fair resolution and a new retransmission consent agreement.”
FCC: 21 Million VoIP Users Nationwide
Posted by Jesse Ward on Thursday, July 1, 2010 · ·
The FCC has released its biannual report on “Local Telephone Competition,” which, for the first time, included comprehensive information about VoIP subscribers. As of year-end 2008, circuit switched POTS was still the dominant form of voice communication.
In total, there were 162 million voice connections at of the end of 2008, with 141 million traditional switched access lines in service, and 21 million VoIP subscriptions serviced by a cable, traditional telco or VoIP provider. Read more
4 out of 5 Do Not Know Their Broadband Speeds
Posted by Jesse Ward on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 · ·
Approximately 80% of broadband users in the United States do not know the speed of their broadband connection, this according to an FCC survey released today on the consumer broadband experience.
When you break the question out by gender, 71% of men and 90% of women have no idea what their broadband speed is. Interestingly, 91% of respondents said they were either “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with their broadband service; the figure drops to 71% for mobile broadband users.
In related news, the agency is looking for 10,000 volunteers to participate in a scientific study designed to provide the commission with quantitative data on broadband speed. Specialized hardware will be installed in the homes of volunteers to measure the performance of the nation’s major Internet service providers across geographic regions and service tiers. Read more