February 22, 2006
Top Story
FCC Wireless Bureau clarifies ULS automatic termination questions
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
A Feb. 13 letter from the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to the Society of Broadcast Engineers seeks to clarify questions surrounding how the automatic termination of wireless radio service authorizations in the Universal Licensing System will affect Part 74 Broadcast Auxiliary Services (BAS).
The letter from deputy bureau chief Cathleen Massey to SBE General Counsel Chris Imlay said that Part 74 BAS is covered by the automatic termination provisions. The SBE previously inquired about whether or not Part 74 was covered because it was not listed in two footnotes of the 2005 Declaratory Ruling establishing the automatic termination.
The letter also clarified the issue of “reversion” after automatic termination. The Massey letter drew a distinction between modifications to an application that seeks to change “parameters on an existing license but does not add frequencies” and those in which frequencies are added or modified. In the former case, no notification of completion of construction filing is required. In the latter, such notification is required.
The letter also stated that it is incorrect for a license to revert to the prior licensed status if a notification of completion of construction is not filed in a timely manner. According to Massey’s letter, there is only a single automatic termination scenario where the license reverts to its previous status. The letter from Massey endorsed a two-step approach the SBE devised to protect existing parameters during the construction period for modified parameters. The SBE recommended that a licensee file an application for a new facility instead of a modified facility and upon constructing the new facility, file a notification of completion of construction and cancellation of the old license simultaneously in a timely manner.
To read the letter, visit http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-334A1.pdf.
Industry News
U.S. HD households to rise to 78 million by 2008, says report
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Nearly 20 million HD sets will be sold to consumers in the United States this year and a cumulative 104 million will be sold by 2008, resulting in 78 million HD households, according to a new study from Kagan Research.
“The State of High Definition Television 2006” an in-depth look at programming strategies, regulatory issues regarding the transition to digital and 10-year forecasts for HD DVDs, digital sets, HD sets and HD subscribers for both cable and satellite operators.
According to Kagan Associate analyst Patrick Johnson, rapid declines in the price of HDTVs and increasing availability of HD programming will drive the number of HD households to 97 million in 2020, or more than 82 percent of all TV households in the United States. By 2010, the average price of an HD set will be $1139, or 38 percent lower than today’s average price, he said.
For more information, visit www.kagan.com/HDTV-2.
Grupo Televisa moves forward with DTV transition
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa has installed eight high-powered DTV transmitters to begin delivering DTV programming in and around Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Tijuana in 2006.
Mexico formally adopted the ATSC standard in October 2004 following years of DTV testing. The Mexican government last year issued an 18-year deployment table that lays out specific DTV transition plans for both public and private broadcasters over six, three-year periods. The first three-year segment of this plan targets major cities, especially those closest to the U.S. border, with private broadcasters launching ahead of public broadcasters.
Grupo Televisa purchased Harris DiamondCD transmitters for the project. They were installed during the fourth quarter of last year.
FCC Actions
Video Division issues guidelines for resolving interference
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The Video Division of the FCC Media Bureau notified 30 licensees earlier this month that their proposed digital operation on their elected channel would result in impermissible interference or that the proposed facility didn’t comply with the requirements for parties to a Negotiated Channel Agreement (NCA).
The licensees have until April 3 to file a Second Round Conflict Decision Form 385 to indicate how they will resolve the interference conflict.
Licensees proposing to reduce technical operating facilities for their proposed elected channel must attach Schedule B to FCC Form 385 to specify their proposed technical parameters.
Those proposing to increase their technical operating facilities to serve larger coverage areas as part of an NCA must amend their proposals, no later than March 3, so that their proposed coverage contour does not extend beyond the coverage contour of their currently certified facilities.
Licensees who are unable to resolve their interference or coverage problems on their elected channel must decide whether to request a contingent channel as their tentative channel designation or to participate in the Third Round.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
FCC report provides snapshot of video competition
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The multichannel video programming distributor, MVPD, market continues to grow with cable’s share of the market at 69.4 percent and DBS operators at 27.7 percent, according to this year’s FCC report to Congress on the video programming delivery market.
The cable figure is down from almost 71.6 percent a year earlier, while the DBS share has grown from 25.1 percent in 2004. The report also found that Verizon and SBC (now AT&T) “hold promise to become a growing presence in the marketplace.”
The figures seem to be consistent with figures from Nielsen Media Research that show growing TV usage, the commission said. The average U.S. television household tuned into television 8 hours, 11 minutes per day between September 2004 and the same month a year later, the highest level since Nielsen Media Research began measuring viewing in the 1950s.
Among the key finding in the commission’s “12th Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming” are:
- As of June 2005, there were 109.6 million TV households, compared to 108.4 million in June 2004. About 94.2 million TV households subscribed to an MVPD service, as compared to 92.2 million as of June 2004.
- DBS operators continue to add local-into-local broadcast television service. In 167 of 210 television markets, covering 97 percent of all U.S. TV households, at least one DBS provider offers the signals of local broadcast stations.
- There are 15.36 million U.S. TV households that do not subscribe to an MVPD service and thus rely solely on over-the-air broadcast television for their video programming, representing 14 percent of all U.S. TV households. The major broadcast networks now provide their most popular programming in high-definition. Hundreds of local stations are using their digital channels to provide multicast programming.
- In 2005, the sale of DTV consumer electronics continued to accelerate with the average price of a DTV set expected to drop to $1189 in 2005 from $1489 a year earlier.
- In 2005, 531 satellite-delivered national programming networks were identified. They included foreign-produced or foreign-language program channels. Of the 531 networks, 116 networks (21.8 percent) were vertically integrated with at least one cable operator. More than 51 percent, or 274, were not affiliated with any cable operator or other media entity.
- In 2005, the commission identified 96 regional networks, the same number as last year. These networks provide programming of local or regional interest and are distributed to subscribers of one or more MVPDs in an area.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
Further Report finds a la carte good for consumers
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The FCC Media Bureau reversed course Feb. 9 finding consumers would be better off under an a la carte model of video service delivery. The ruling was reversed largely because of errors in a report upon which it relied. That report claimed that consumers could not to choose which channels to receive from a paid service because it was not economical.
In issuing its Further Report on the Packaging and Sale of Video Programming Services to the Public, the bureau also explored ways subscribers could benefit by increasing their choices in purchasing programming.
The Further Report describes errors in the Booz Allen Hamilton Study that the Media Bureau relied upon to support the conclusion of the earlier report. According to the Further Report, the 2004 report relied upon unrealistic assumptions and presented biased analysis in concluding that a la carte “would not produce the desired result of lower multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) rates for most pay-television households.”
The Further Report identifies mistaken calculations in the Booz Allen Hamilton Study, which was originally submitted by the cable industry for commission consideration. Booz Allen Hamilton has acknowledged the errors, which other economists also have confirmed.
The Booz Allen Hamilton Study failed to net out the cost of broadcast stations when calculating the average cost per cable channel under a la carte. As a result, it overstated the average price per cable channel by more than 50 percent, the Further Report said.
To read the report, visit www.fcc.gov/mb.
Dateline
Dates and events you need to know
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Meeting of FCC independent Hurricane Katrina panel
Date: March 6, 10 a.m.
Location: Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS 39204
The FCC Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks will meet to discuss the impact of the hurricane, the effectiveness of infrastructure recovery efforts and ways to improve disaster recovery. The meeting may be extended and resume at 9:30 a.m. March 7 if more time is needed for testimony.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference and EXPO
Date: March 13-14
Location: Lansing, MI
The two-day conference and exposition will sessions on engineering, management, news, programming and sales.
For more information, visit www.michmab.com/conferences/glbcmain.html.
DTV Channel Election — Round Three Elections
Date: February 2006
Licensees file Round Three elections with the Media Bureau; public notice lists NCAs, if any, filed in Round Three and set comment dates.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
DTV Channel Election — Round Three Conflict Resolution
Date: March 2006
Commission resolves remaining conflicts among third round elections.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
NAB2006
Date: April 22-27
Location: Las Vegas
For more information, visit www.nab.org.
Texas Association of Broadcasters Convention
Date: Aug. 9-11
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Austin, TX
For more information, visit www.tab.org.
New DTV Table of Allotments
Date: August 2006
Commission issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing new DTV Table of Allotments.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
SBE 22 Broadcast & Technology Expo/National Meeting
Date: Sept. 26-27
Location: Event Center at Turning Stone Casio, Verona, NY
This year’s national meeting will be held in conjunction with the SBE 22 Broadcast & Technology Expo.
For more information, visit www.sbe.org.
RF Products & Reviews
WSFJ improves coverage with new tower, antenna
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Newark, OH-based WSFJ, an independent television station serving the Columbus market, has begun using a uniquely configured, new analog antenna from Dielectric Communications.
Dielectric’s installation, which included a new tower, transmission line and antenna, used an innovative solution for providing vertical polarization that resulted in significant cost savings for the station.
WSFJ’s previous antenna tower was located 40mi away from Columbus, the nation’s 32nd-largest DMA. By installing the new 310ft tower in a more central location on a ridge between Newark and Columbus, the station achieved an increase of about 36 percent in overall coverage and can now be received over the air throughout the entire market.
The tower was erected by Dielectric’s tower operation and is characterized by a T-bar at its peak, with one side holding the new TFU-21JTT-R analog antenna and the other side available for a new digital antenna that the station plans to purchase and install this year.
One of the unique features of the project was that WSFJ wanted to direct about 25 percent of the antenna’s power to vertical polarity. The solution was a combination slot and panel antenna, with the vertical polarization generated by rotating the panel 90 degrees onto its side, resulting in more than $100,000 cost savings over other vertical polarization schemes.
For more information, visit www.dielectric.com.
KCRA acquires Harris NUCLEUS control panel
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
 NUCLEUS offers real-time control and monitoring of any Leitch CCS Protocol-enabled device. |
Hearst-Argyle Television-owned KCRA in Sacramento, CA, has purchased the first Harris NUCLEUS real-time control panel.
NUCLEUS is designed to centralize the operational control of processing, branding and routing products.
Providing user-configured control at the center of station operations, NUCLEUS offers real-time control and monitoring of any Leitch CCS Protocol-enabled device, including the X75 M-PATH multiple-path up-, down-. crossconverter and synchronizer and products within the NEO and 6800+ platforms. The product is configured with an intuitive drag-and-drop wizard.
NUCLEUS provides more knobs for parameter adjustments, more buttons to quickly invoke parameter value changes and an enhanced display to improve overall operation.
For more information, visit www.harris.com.
WXIX automation system marks anniversary
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
WXIX-TV, the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati, OH, recently marked its first anniversary under FastBreak control. Owned by Raycom Media, WXIX-TV broadcasts on Channel 19 to serve Cincinnati and Hamilton County with one NTSC channel and two DTV program streams. The station’s second automation system, FastBreak replaced a spot caching system that stored four and a half hours of commercials. All programming was played back on tape. The new Sundance system controls an Omneon video server that stores 240 hours of programming and commercials plus a mix of analog and digital tape transports.
To ensure redundancy, a Sundance Digital ListSync workstation mirrors the station’s playlists using separate channels on the video server for additional on-air insurance.
For more information, visit www.sundancedigital.com.
Trompeter ships MDM Octopus
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
 The MDM Octopus is compliant with MIL-DTL-83513, a joint services specification. |
Trompeter has begun shipping the MDM Octopus, a multi-interconnect shielded cable assembly featuring multiple Trompeter twinax or triax RF connectors terminated on one end and a single Microminiature D Metal (MDM) multi-pin connector terminated on the opposite end.
The MDM Octopus is a densely packaged multi-pin interconnect that is also a lightweight shielded assembly well-suited for secure communications and box-to-box networking. The MDM Octopus is compliant with MIL-DTL-83513, a joint services specification.
The MDM connector is on 50mil centers and available in various pin counts.
For more information, visit www.trompeter.com.
Ostlund joins DMT USA
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
DMT USA has appointed Terry Ostlund as western regional sales manager.
Ostlund joins the company with more than 22 years of broadcasting experience as a chief engineer and a broadcast sales manager and will work from its Las Vegas office.
DMT USA manufactures TV broadcast and antenna products and operates.
For more information, visit www.dmtonline.us.
Opticomm rolls out optical switching platform
Feb 22, 2006 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Opticomm has introduced the OptiLinx OLX-3000 optical switching platform, which is capable of switching digital signals up to 4.25Gb/s with any of its 144 ports.
The 4RU chassis OLX-3000 is a multi-purpose, non-blocking transparent switch that provides high-speed switching between ports with minimal effect on overall network latency.
It is designed to accept up to three modular port cards with up to 48 Small Form Pluggable (SFP) transceiver modules per port card. Each SFP transceiver module provides the physical ports for one input-output pair.
The Optilinx platform can be used to send VGA video for one application and send SDI video for another. Using remote Linxview "drag and drop" functions, it is possible to broadcast any video signal to multiple locations. The approach minimizes the number of optical transmitters by multicasting and reconfiguring video distribution at any time, on the fly.
For more information, visit www.opticomm.com.
