April 20, 2006
Industry News
FCC issues Memorandum Opinion and Order on tower petition
Apr 20, 2006 12:01 PM
A moratorium on the construction of new communications towers in the Gulf Coast region is not justified nor must owners of about 5900 existing towers submit supplemental or new environmental assessments, according to a new FCC Memorandum Opinion and Order.
The order issued April 11 denies in part and dismisses in part a petition filed in August 2002 by the Forest Conservation Council, the American Bird Conservancy and Friends of the Earth, which alleged that the construction of communication towers in the Gulf Coast region violates various environmental statutes.
The groups claimed in their petition that the FCC’s tower construction policies in the Gulf Coast region violated several federal environmental statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The FCC found that the petitioners had failed to justify their request for a moratorium under the applicable legal standard and that such a moratorium would harm the public interest.
Regarding the request for new or supplemental environmental assessments for the existing 5900 towers, the FCC found that the petitioners failed to make any specific allegations relating to individual towers as required under the FCC’s rules. The FCC denied the petitioners’ remaining claims as unsupported by the record before it but noted that many of the same issues are being considered in a separate FCC rulemaking proceeding.
The FCC plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding in the near future examining the effects of communications towers on migratory birds.
For more information visit www.fcc.gov.
Harris names Thorsteinson to head Broadcast Communications Division
Apr 20, 2006 12:16 PM
Harris this week named Tim Thorsteinson president of the company’s Broadcast Communications Division.
Thorsteinson, a 15-year veteran of the broadcast industry, had been serving as president of the Leitch Technology business unit in the Harris Broadcast Communications Division. Harris acquired Leitch in October 2005.
He succeeds Jeremy Wensinger who is being promoted to a senior leadership position within the Harris Government Communications Systems Division.
Mr. Thorsteinson joined Leitch Technology as president and CEO in November 2003. He led the company’s financial turnaround and expansion through organic growth and acquisitions. Prior to joining Leitch, Thorsteinson was vice president of Grass Valley products for Thomson Broadcast & Media Solutions.
For more information visit www.harris.com.
NAB, CEA question California Energy Commission mandatory regulation
Apr 20, 2006 12:18 PM
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the NAB issued a statement last week objecting to the imposition of mandatory regulatory power consumption requirements on digital-to-analog over-the-air converters by the California Energy Commission.
In January, the commission proposed that digital to analog (D/A) converters be subject to California’s mandatory standard of 8W power dissipation on 1W standby. The commission is expected to respond soon to public comments requesting the regulation be rescinded. Such D/A converters will be necessary for owners of conventional sets to continue to receive television once analog service is switched off April 19, 2009.
In the statement, the associations “strongly urged” the commission to withdraw its energy regulations from covering D/A converters. If imposed, the regulation may limit the availability of such converters and raise their cost “potentially leaving millions of Californians on the wrong side of the digital divide.”
While both associations acknowledged the importance of saving energy, the commission’s regulation “misses the point,” they said in a statement. “The digital television transition itself will save energy as broadcasters stop running both analog and digital transmitters.” The statement also pointed to development of multifunction consumer electronics devices “that combine the operations once performed by a series of products into one converged device” as evidence of the industry’s efforts to reduce overall energy consumption.
The joint statement also quoted Charles Jablonski, former vice president of broadcast and network engineering at NBC, “It is unconscionable that any agency with a mandate to work for the public interest could be foolish enough to place any unilateral impediment or single out the last key enabler of this long anticipated transition with an arbitrary rule like this."
USDTV plans network-wide MPEG-4 AVC rollout, slates demo for NAB2006
Apr 20, 2006 12:27 PM
U.S. Digital Television announced April 10 that it plans to convert its entire network to MPEG-4 AVC with completion of the project scheduled for this summer.
USDTV will demonstrate the first live MPEG-4 AVC broadcasts over its digital terrestrial network during NAB2006 at the ATSC DTV Hot Spot in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
MPEG-4 AVC technology enables USDTV to more efficiently use the digital spectrum leased from its broadcast partners, creating increased revenue opportunities through expanded content and service offerings. The company is developing low-cost themed content packages for subscribers in addition to the basic USDTV service. MPEG-4 AVC is a significant step forward for USDTV in strengthening the broadcaster's digital platform in the home.
USDTV has designed a small MPEG-4 conversion device that upgrades its existing MPEG-2 set-top boxes. The company will convert its entire network to MPEG-4 AVC and begin offering customers additional content choices this summer.
For more information visit www.usdtv.com.
Japanese broadcasters to build 1968ft tower as part of digital conversion
Apr 20, 2006 12:28 PM
Japanese broadcasters in Tokyo plan to build a new 1968ft radio and TV transmission tower by 2010, according to a report from the Kyodo news agency. Japan Broadcasting (NHK) and five commercial television broadcasters are responsible for the undertaking.
The tower, dubbed the New Tokyo Tower, will be almost double the height of the Tokyo Tower and 154ft taller than the CN Tower in Toronto, according to the report.
Mobile DTV Alliance doubles size
Apr 20, 2006 12:32 PM
Since its founding earlier this year, the Mobile DTV Alliance has more than doubled in size.
The new contributor and associate members represent companies from across the value chain, and include ATI Technologies, Axcera, Broadcom, DiBcom, Newport Media, PacketVideo, Penthera Technologies, RfStream, Roundbox, RRD and Terayon Communication Systems. These new members join the founding sponsor members Intel, Microsoft, Modeo, Motorola, Nokia and Texas Instruments.
The Mobile DTV Alliance is an open industry consortium that focuses on promoting the best practices and open standards to deliver broadcast television to mobile devices in North America. The alliance is seeking to build broad industry support for DVB-H as the dominant standard for transmission to mobile DTV handsets.
For more information visit www.mdtvalliance.org.
FCC Actions
FCC order establishes BRS, FS relocation procedures
Apr 20, 2006 12:34 PM
The FCC adopted the Ninth Report and Order April 12 establishing procedures for Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) licensees to use in relocating incumbent Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Fixed Microwave Service (FS) operations.
According to the FCC, the procedures will promote the rapid deployment of broadband, voice and data services to the public by new AWS licensees and minimize the disruption to incumbent BRS and FS licensees during the relocation process.
The relocation rules affect existing BRS operations in the 2150MHz to 2160/62MHz band and FS operations in the 2110MHz to 2150MHz and 2160MHz to 2200MHz bands. The commission also established cost-sharing obligations for AWS and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) entrants that benefit from the relocation of FS and BRS operations in these bands.
The relocation procedures in this item generally follow the commission’s Emerging Technologies relocation policy, with modifications to accommodate BRS and FS operations.
The adoption of relocation procedures for BRS also permitted the commission to issue an order dismissing as moot a petition for reconsideration of the service rules for AWS.
For more information visit www.fcc.gov.
Commission modifies rules for BRS, EBS spectrum
Apr 20, 2006 12:39 PM
The FCC adopted an order April 12 intended to facilitate the deployment of educational and commercial wireless services using the 2496MHz 2690MHz Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service (EBS) band.
The order modifies and enhances the commission’s July 2004 BRS/EBS Report and Order, which restructured the 2496MHz to 2690MHz band. Specifically, the FCC modified the process for transitioning to the new BRS/EBS band plan by changing the transition planning area from Major Economic Areas to Basic Trading Areas.
The FCC also allowed BRS and EBS licensees the option to self-transition to the new band plan in markets where a proponent has not come forward or a proponent withdraws an initiation plan.
Regarding leases entered into under the FCC’s secondary market rules, the commission held that EBS licensees are permitted to enter into excess capacity leases for a maximum of 30 years, but leases with terms of 15 years or longer must include a right to review the educational use requirements of the leases every five years starting at year 15.
In addition, the FCC established a mechanism for eliminating overlaps between grandfathered EBS E and F channel licensees and co-channel BRS licenses by geographically splitting the overlap area. The FCC also affirmed that BRS and MSS operators can share a segment of this band at 2496MHz to 2500MHz.
For more information visit www.fcc.gov.
Dateline
Dates and events you need to know
Apr 20, 2006 12:42 PM
NAB2006
Date: April 22 - 27
Location: Las Vegas
For more information visit www.nab.org.
MDTV Informational Dinner
Date: April 24
Location: Las Vegas
The Mobile DTV Alliance will present the group’s latest achievements and provide information about the DVB-H standard. The dinner is by invitation only.
For more information visit www.mdtvalliance.org/en/events/mdtvdinner-042606.asp.
FCC filing window for LPTV and TV translator digital companion application
Date: May 1 - 12
Applicants must electronically submit a short-form application (FCC Form 175), as well as technical data from FCC Forms 346 or 301-CA, to specify their proposed digital companion channel.
ATSC Annual Meeting
Date: May 9 – 11
Location: Westfield Marriott in Chantilly, VA, near Dulles International Airport
For more information visit www.atsc.org.
Texas Association of Broadcasters Convention
Date: Aug. 9-11
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown in Austin, TX
For more information visit www.tab.org.
New DTV Table of Allotments
Date: August 2006
FFC will issue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for 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 in 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
MiraVid rolls out TeleSight real-time analyzer
Apr 20, 2006 1:00 PM
MiraVid has unveiled the TeleSight real-time analyzer, an automated real-time MPEG conformance analyzer that supports H.264/AVC and up to 20 streams at the same time.
Designed for the media distribution industry, including content providers, broadcasters and IPTV providers, the analyzer supports all MPEG video standards. It offers real-time decoding, displaying and analysis for all MPEG streams with support for TS conformance, including STD verification, video and audio bit-stream conformance, video quality, video bit rate and audio level monitoring.
TeleSight complements MiraVid's existing MSight Analyzer. The combination of the two products offers a solution for monitoring and validating large volumes of digital media down to inspecting and debugging any problems encountered at the bit-stream level.
For more information visit www.miravid.com.
KGW-TV launches use of six-channel Sundance Digital automation system
Apr 20, 2006 1:09 PM
KGW-TV, the NBC affiliate in Portland, OR, is using its new six-channel Sundance Digital Titan automation system. KGW-TV joins 13 other stations in the Belo Television Group that operate with Titan at their digital core. Belo, one of the nation's largest media companies and owns 19 television stations, six of which are in the 15 largest U.S. broadcast markets.
Titan is a scalable automation system able to control many hundreds of channels in a facility or remotely manage playlists at multiple geographically separated locations. KGW-TV currently operates six Titan channels, one of which is a spoke for Northwest Cable News originating from Belo’s KING/KONG duopoly in Seattle.
The KGW-TV installation marks the first time Belo has integrated Titan with the new full HD/SD version of the Grass Valley K2 video server, giving the station immediate HD/commercial capability and providing a path to growth as the station migrates towards high definition and an increased channel count.
For more information visit www.sundancedigital.com.
Harris acquires Optimal Solutions
Apr 20, 2006 1:19 PM
Harris has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Optimal Solutions, a privately held provider of airtime sales, traffic and billing software systems to more than 350 call-letter broadcast stations in North America.
Optimal Solution’s Windows-based platform can support a single call-letter station or scale to support the largest station groups and network/affiliate relationships with one software installation.
Optimal Solutions was founded in 1996 and is based in Kansas City, MO.
For more information visit www.harris.com.
Rohde & Schwarz introduces R&S FS315 spectrum analyzer
Apr 20, 2006 1:33 PM
The new Rohde & Schwarz FS315 spectrum analyzer comes with a built-in tracking generator to allow precise measurements from 9kHz to 3GHz with settable resolution bandwidths from 200Hz to 20MHz.
Additionally, the tracking generator can be used as a separate signal source. The compact instrument is well suited for a wide range of measurements in labs, service and production.
Return loss and transmission measurements on RF components, such as filters, amplifiers, antennas and cables, are doable. Since any frequency offset can be entered, measurements on frequency mixers can be performed as well. The R&S FS315 has been enhanced by max/min peak, sample, average and RMS detectors.
For more information visit www.rohde-schwarz.com.
TBS turns to Pathfire Direct for content delivery
Apr 20, 2006 1:36 PM
Turner Broadcasting System will implement multiple Pathfire Direct systems to move content between its Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Atlanta, GA facilities.
Recently, Turner migrated its Latin American broadcast services from its headquarters in Atlanta to a new facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It originates 11 network feeds for Latin America directly from Buenos Aires.
Using Pathfire Direct, Turner Broadcasting will move numerous hours of content each day between Atlanta, where the content is produced and Buenos Aires, where it is broadcast. Pathfire Direct allows TBS to move digitized files over IP-enabled terrestrial networks. By managing the distribution of files, Turner Broadcasting will eliminate the costs associated with linear satellite transmission or tape delivery and also reduce the time required to distribute content.
For more information visit www.pathfire.com.
