04 | 25 | 2007 Posted By Brendan Holland

Third Periodic Review on DTV Transition on the Way

At this evening's much-delayed Open Commission Meeting, the FCC acted unanimously to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) proposing procedures and rule changes to complete the transition to digital television.  The NPRM will address a number of the final details regarding how stations will complete the DTV transition.  Although the text of the NPRM has not yet been released, based on the summary provided at the open meeting and in the related News Release, it appears that the Rule Making will include the following proposals:

  • By December 1, 2007, require stations to file a new form with the FCC detailing the status of the station's DTV buildout, the additional steps the station needs to take to complete the transition, and its plan for achieving completion.
  • Limit the grant of future extensions of time to construct digital facilities, and potentially eliminate equipment delays as a basis for an extension, as well as make the standard for a financial hardship waiver much higher.
  • Offer expedited processing to stations applying for a construction permit for their post-transition channel based on the new DTV Table of Allotments.
  • Examine the circumstances in which stations may reduce or terminate analog service to facilitate construction of post-transition facilities.
  • Set February 17, 2009 as the date by which stations returning to their analog channels must complete their digital transition.
  • Set the next extension granted by the Commission as the final date by which stations remaining on their allotted DTV channel must complete their DTV build out. 
The NPRM will also contain details on procedures for the filing, processing, and grant of applications to get stations to their final DTV facilities on their elected digital channels.  A copy of the FCC's News Release issued tonight is available here, but contains few details.  Further information, as well as the opportunity to comment on the FCC's proposed rules will be forthcoming with the release of the text of the NPRM.  Once the text is released, we will be sure to provide complete details, as this information will be critical to full power television stations who have yet to complete their DTV build outs.