Four Days and Counting

Four days and counting… and then Switch Off! (To view this link you must have the Windows Media Player or equivalent program on your computer). To date over 784 stations have terminated analog service, six more will terminate between now and June 12 and 974 stations have indicated they will terminate on June 12. According to FCC estimates:

175 will switch off between midnight and 6 a.m.;
200 will switch off between 6 a.m. and noon;
152 will switch off between noon and 6 p.m.; and
447 will switch off between 6 p.m. and 11:59:59 p.m.

The need to serve and help those impacted by the loss of NTSC will continue past June 12. The FCC held an open meeting on June 3 to review and assess the status of the DTV transition. The public/private educational effort was reviewed by panelists who both raised and addressed transition issues. All in all, the national resources are in place with local branches intended to complement, support and supplement individual broadcaster activities to minimize the impact for those who will be affected by the shut-off of NTSC. The major FCC efforts have been through setting up and running a national call center, contracts for installers and a consumer focused Web site. The DTV Transition Coalition efforts have continued and their Web site (http://www.dtvtransition.org/) will provide ongoing support.

The status of the FCC's national call center (1-888-225-5322) was covered during the meeting. There are 4,000 trained operators who are funded to be available through Tuesday June 15 (they expect the calls to peak Monday after the transition). Additional funding ($10 million) from the Commerce department has been requested to enable more operators to be available for the post transition period.

Another major initiative by the FCC is a set of Web-hosted information and tools.

The FCC's DTV Web site http://www.dtv.gov/ contains the following divisions and subsections:.

• Learn About DTV (What is DTV? - What You Need to Know - Publications - Audio & Video - FAQs - Glossary)
  
  
• Get Ready (Will You be Affected? - DTV Shopping Guide - Get a Converter Box Coupon - Buy a Converter Box - Install Converter Box - Fix Reception Problems)
  
  
• Get Help Locally (Local DTV Resources - Locate Support Centers or Events - DTV Reception Maps - Map of All DTV Stations - DTV Stations With Changes in Coverage)
  
  
• Get It Solved (Interactive Troubleshooting Guides - Top FAQs)
  
  
• Get Informed (News - Events - DTV Call Centers - DTV Services) Contracts - DTV Transition Statistics - Transition Partners - Broadcasters Center - Media Toolkit - For Antenna Manufacturers - FCC Contacts)
  
  
• Get Involved (Help Your Community - Contracting Opportunities - DTV Deputy Quiz - Request a Speaker - Outreach Toolkit -Student Outreach)

Among the resources that will be useful longer term is a list of local companies who have contracts with the FCC to provide DTV assistance to consumers (http://www.dtv.gov/contracts_awarded.html). The contractor will provide basic installation of up to two sets free to the consumer. More complex services will be available for additional fees.

The site also contains reception predictions and maps of coverage changes predicted by a methodology similar to one used for allocations/assignments for DTV channels on their post shut-off assignments. The display uses the familiar "bars of strength" to show the calculated power to a television set at a location specified location. Clicking on a station draws a line from the reception site to the transmitter, and opens a window with more technical information. A link to some brief information designed for use by retail staff is included. While the planning factors and calculation methodology have not been made public; it appears that the calculation of the power predicted to be delivered by each station is not as conservative as the calculation done by www.antennaweb.org. Many consumers using antennaweb will be able to get more stations than predicted, and some weaker stations may not be shown at all if reception is determined to be unlikely at the selected location. The FCC site has a more inclusive list, and shows nearby stations even when it estimates they will not be receivable.

Through the Web site (http://www.dtv.gov/dtv_stats.htm) you may access the database containing statistics about the types of calls the call center has received and the overall transition progress. The Web page supports the ability to drill down to the DMA level to see the progress and call center results for selected time periods. After selecting your state, click on the "Detailed Call Type Information" line and enter your market on the DMA line. The data is also available by download as an Excel spreadsheet. The site has information about the coupon program, set top boxes, how to trouble-shoot an installation and even how to build a 12v power supply.

Many stations are shifting their DTV operating channels. Additional flexibility was granted in the FCC's Order adopted June 2, 2009 (FCC 09-47) for stations with new DTV operating frequencies who wish to commence their authorized post-transition digital operations on June 12, 2009. The FCC now will permit certain stations to do so at any time on that date without prior Commission approval. Basically the criteria are occupancy coordination with the prior incumbent of that channel and the interference/protection criteria are per the approved plan.

On Friday, June 5, the FCC updated the DTV coverage maps and list of stations with 2% or greater service loss. The new list includes 55 stations not included in the original list and excludes 19 stations previously included. The additional stations with more than 2% loss can be found at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1274A2.pdf. The deletions are in DA-09-1274A3.pdf. Because the rules require all stations listed in the Signal Loss Report to air service loss notices, stations should consult the list immediately in order to determine whether they are predicted to experience a substantial service loss after June 12. If a station is on the list (in DA-09-1274A1), it must begin to air daily service loss notices, pursuant to the rules, no later than Monday, June 8, and continue to do so until completing its transition. The new coverage maps are available at www.DTV.gov, by navigating to "Get Help Locally" and then clicking "Map of All DTV Stations."

NAB Satellite Uplink Operators Training Seminar
October 5 - 8, 2009 Washington, DC
This four-day course is designed to instruct about uplink operational practices, which minimize the risk of satellite transmission interference. This is an important course since the FCC rules require that a trained operator be present at all times during transmissions, either an earth station site or designated remote control point. Go to the http://www.nab.org/satelliteSeminar/ or Contact NAB Science & Technology Department at (202) 429-5346 or ccolerid@nab.org for information about the NAB Satellite Uplink Operators Training Seminar. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for this event contact NAB Advertising at (800) 521-8624 or advertising@nab.org.

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