The Digital Transition: The Rubber Meets the Road IOWA June 28, 2007

The Digital Transition:The Rubber Meets the Road

IOWAJune 28, 2007

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadThe Deadline

• Full service analog TV stops:

February 17, 2009, at 11:59PM and 59 seconds

• LPTV, Class A and Translator Stations may continue analog operations– Economics may require you to move

129 Weeks

Until the End of the Transition

600 days

Television SpectrumTelevision Spectrum

Ch. 52 – 69TV Ch. 2 - 51

Future TV Band after DTV Transition

Returned TV Channels

Current TV Band Ch. 2 - 69

Auctioned for wireless services & public safety use

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road The Deadline

• Date Unlikely to Change– Spectrum (channels 52-69) will be

auctioned• Budget imperatives in Washington• Pressure from auction winners

– Public safety (channels 63, 64, 68 & 69)• Homeland security• Interoperability with police and fire

– Consumer education campaign

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road

• Can the entire analog system turn off on February 17, 2009?

• Are we ready?

• What needs to be done?

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road

• Alternative “phase-in” market-by- market may be problematic

– Interference to surrounding stations

– Supply of equipment and tower construction crews

– Consumer demand and supply of DTV receivers and digital-to-analog converter boxes

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadMajor Hurdles • Regulatory Status

– FCC and NTIA

• Station Coordination– Station must wait for another station in its

market or adjacent market to move before moving to final channel

– Move early may interfere with surrounding stations

• Equipment Demand and Supply

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadMajor Hurdles• Regulatory Status

– DTV Tuner Rules & DTV Set Supply

– NTIA Converter Box

– Channel Election Process

– Third (Periodic) Biennial Review• Analog power reduction• Side mount Issues

– Digital Carriage Issues

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Status - FCC

• DTV Tuner Rules Effective March 1, 2007• Estimated 110 million sets with tuners by 2009

– 2007-2009 expect sales of 60 million sets and set-top boxes with tuners

– 2002 – 2006 50 million sets and set-top boxes sold

• DTV sets outsold analog by 57% in 2006• HDTV sets sold 11.2 million in 2006• HDTV penetration 30% (cable and satellite)• Antenna sales increasing

(Source: CEA/LG)

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Status – DTV Tuners

• Prices Dropping (projected 2007)– All DTV 26.7 million units @ $819 (avg.) – LCD 11.2 million units @ $742 (avg.)– Plasmas 2.9 million units@ $1,499 (avg.) – Digital Projection 2.4 million units @

$1,352 (avg.)– Digital Direct View (CRT) 6.6 million units

@ $303 (avg.)

(Source: CEA)

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Status – DTV Tuners• New Labeling Requirement for Analog-Only Sets:

This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: www.dtv.gov.

http://www.dtv.gov/

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - NTIA

• NTIA Converter Subsidy Box Program– Consumer Coupons

• Two coupons per family• Each coupon worth $40 (no cash value)• Can only be used for eligible converter box• Request and redeemed between January 1,

2008, to March 31, 2009• Expires 3 months after issuance• Electronically traceable (like gift cards)• Transaction verified point of sale

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - NTIA

• Converter Box Program– Funding total $1.5 billion– Split Funding

• First $900+ million for all consumers• $500+million for OTA homes if needed

– Dispute in Congress Over Funding• Nearly 70 million over-the-air only sets• Amount funds about 33 million set-top boxes

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - NTIA• Converter Box Disqualifying Features

– Digital-to-Analog Only: Any device which does more than convert over-the-air digital signals to analog does not qualify

– No Additional Features: VCR, DVD, HDDVD, Blue Ray, etc.

– No Digital Outputs: No DVI, Component Video (YPbPR), HDMI, (VGA), USB IEEE-1394, Ethernet (IEEE-802-3) or Wireless (IEEE802.11)

– Can’t sell if conditioned on purchase of additional equipment (e.g., smart antenna)

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - NTIA• Required Features for Converter Boxes

– Minimum quality standards (A-74+)– Receives channels 2-69

• Permitted Features for Converter Boxes• Electronic program guide (PSIP based)• Smart antenna interface• 300 OHM connector• NTSC “pass-through” switch• S-video output• Stereo capability• Software modifications

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - NTIA• Permitted Features for Converter Boxes

– Programmable universal remote– Direct keys to provide access to closed captioning– May operate on battery power– May provide additional cable such as RCA connectors– May display signal quality information– May comply with EPA Energy Star Requirements

• “Family” of Set-top Boxes with DTV Tuners

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadRegulatory Activity - FCC• Channel election process complete

• New DTV table released for public comment: Seventh Further Notice, MB Docket No. 87-268, FCC 06-150 (October 20, 2006) Table in Appendix B Important!

• LPTV digital window opened last year. FCC will decide soon

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewBuild-out Status • 1702 Stations in All Markets Have CP (98%)• 1603 Now Broadcasting

– 1215 licensed or program test authority– 388 with STA

• Top 30 Markets– 119 top four networks on the air (9 STA)– Market 1-10: 40 top four networks (2 STA)– Market 11-30: all 79 top four networks (4 STA)

• 752 Stations Ready to Complete Transition

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewRules to Guide the Transition

• Focus on Construction of Post Transition DTV Facilities

• Rules Differ Based on Categories– Stations remaining on DTV channel (1178)– Stations going back to analog channel (517)– Stations getting new channel (117)– Stations that will flash cut (137)

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewMajor Issues• Status Report Form: December 1, 2007

• Reduction and termination of analog service

• New flash cut proposal

• Construction and “Use It or Lose It Rules”

• Ability of stations to transition early

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewMajor Issues • Alternative build-outs• Continued use of temp DTV channel • Channel priority • Rules & procedures for CP and license to cover• Request to expand facilities• Interference standards• Changes in receiver requirements• PSIP• Station identification• Coordination with other services

FCC: Third Biennial Review

• Reduction and Termination of Analog Service: Current law expanded– Out-of-Core Band Clearing Agreements

• Extends relaxed rebuttable presumption to all out of core channels 52-69

– In-Core Analog Service (case by case)• Reduction in service• Early termination of service


• Reduction of “In Core” Analog Service– Presumption (proposed criteria)

• Reduction is directly related to construction of DTV facility and would ensure that station met the deadline

• Less that 5% of service area or population served• No loss top four networks or NCE service• No unreasonable loss of number of services, e.g., fewer than

5 full power signals• Deliver signal to cable or satellite• Commits to on-air education campaign

– If criteria not met, case by case• Should FCC allow increased analog loss closer to transition• Deliver to cable and satellite headends • Commit to on-air campaign


• Digital side mount, analog top mount – May allow a station to keep digital side mount,

providing it meets 100% of replicated coverage area– If so the, station can wait until Feb 17, 2009, to move

to digital to top mount and operate at full facilities– Focus on how much of replicated coverage area

served by side-mounted digital– FCC will consider reduction in analog service if it is

necessary to have digital service on or after transition

• Solution may not work for many stations


• Termination of In-core Analog Service– Apply a stricter standard to early termination– Consider factors mentioned above– Is reduction an acceptable alternative?– Look at loss of service, e.g., top-four affiliates,

loss of only NCE, reduction in signals below five, etc.


• Flash Cut Requests ( Early Return of Pre- Transition DTV Channel)– Is DTV channel out-of-core (52-69)?– Is station a top-four affiliate?– Is pre-transition channel allotted to another

station for post transition use?– Financial hardship?– Concern: Public interest in turning off your

digital channel

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewConstruction Extension• Construction Deadline Order

– FCC granted 140 requests for extension of time to construct

• 107 stations which will stay on channel have an additional 6 months

• 29 stations who are moving have until 30 days after new rules adopted in Third Periodic

• 4 stations facing unique challenges (side mounts)• 5 requests denied

• New construction permits must build checklist facility that conforms to DTV table


• Going Forward Construction Rules For Stations Changing Final DTV Channel– No further construction of temp DTV channel

required!– Feb 17, 2009, construction deadline for final

DTV facilities– Must file new construction permit and build

facilities based on DTV Table in Appendix B


• New Standards for Future Waivers of DTV Construction Deadline– Old Standard: (1) zoning, FAA clearance; (2) lack of

equipment; (3) costs exceed financial resources– New Proposal: Eliminate lack of equipment criterion– New Proposal: Revise financial justification to (1)

bankruptcy or (2) severe financial hardship (audited)– New Proposal: Consider requests where a station is

waiting for FCC, court or international action or actions beyond stations control


• Post Transition Extension of Time Waivers– Filing modification will not toll construction deadline – Apply “Tolling Standard”

• Act of God• Grant subject to administrative or judicial review • Delay because of pending court action (e.g., zoning)• Must notify FCC

– International delays not grounds for delay, except:• Request sent to Canada and Mexico and no response• Protecting Mexican or Canadian DTV would not allow US

station to serve viewers currently served by analog community

FCC: Third Biennial ReviewUse It or Lose It Order• Use It or Lose It: Interference Protection

Carry Over to Final DTV Channel• Use It or Lose It Order

– 102 stations staying on channel; they get extra 6 months from release of the Order

– 30 stations moving to final channel, get an extension to 30 days after decision in third DTV review

– Further waiver requests subject to stricter standards


• Going forward “use it or lose it” rules for stations changing channels– Stations granted waivers will not lose interference

protection• If unbuilt, turn in digital channel to FCC and flash cut• If DTV channel is operational

– Discontinue further construction– Cease operating temporary DTV facility and obtain flash cut

authority– Stations that wish to continue to build may do so, but must

meet construction deadlines

– 7 Stations denied use it or lose it waiver: Since focus is on final channel, FCC will reevaluate


• Applications/modifications for stations remaining on their current DTV channel– Station facilities that do not match facilities in

table must file CP modification or new CP application

– Stations operating on STA or have not built full facilities must compete construction and may have to apply for new CP or modification

– Stations that do not want to build to full facilities must modify CP or license


• Early Transition– Can stations moving to third channel

commence operations before Feb 17, 2009?– What would constitute impermissible

interference?• 2% to analog TV• Cannot cause additional interference to post

transition stations• May operate on less then full authorized facilities


• Temporary Use of In-core DTV Channel– Can continue to use in-core DTV and not move to final in-core

channel, provided:• Serve same area and population that receives current analog TV

and DTV service• Do not cause impermissible interference to other stations (0.5% to

other post transition stations)– Request made via the STA process– How long should this continue? Alternative Build-out– Permit stations to request STA, build less than full stations,

provided they serve the same population area of their analog station

• STA Build-out– Permit stations to request STA, build less than full stations,

provided they serve the same population area of their analog station


• Channel Priority– If conflicts, stations should coordinate– Authority to operate on channel must be

consistent with appendix B as of February 17, 2009


• Application to construct or modify• FCC only accepts modifications for

facilities specified in DTV table– Will not accept applications/modifications to

expand facilities at this time– Seek comment on whether this can be done

without delaying the DTV transition– Will allow later on

• Impacts equipment purchases


• Expedited Processing– Stations obligation to timely file– FCC will process within 45 days of the rules

adopted in Report and Order• Does not seek expansion beyond Table• Does not deviate from Table more than 0.5%• Process within 10 days of filing• Does not mean expedited grant


• Program Test/License to Cover CP– Must not commence tests until ready to begin

post transition operations under program test authority

– Coordinate with affected stations– Upon completion of construction as

authorized by CP, may commence program test upon notification to FCC, provided license to cover From 302 is filed within 10 days


• Pre-transition interference standards– Applications for analog and new DTV stations will be

processed consistent with the freeze rules– Retain existing interference standards

• Analog: New or modified analog application may cause no more than 0. 5% to DTV stations or allotment

• Digital: 2%/10% rule for new DTV station interference to analog station, DTV station or digital allotment

• OET 69 using 1990 Census data


• Interference Standards for Post Transition Modifications/Applications– Use engineering criteria for permissible interference

(not geographic separations) in applications• 0.5% of protected stations service contour• Nor necessary to have a 10% cap• No increases allowed where amount currently exceeds 0.5%

– OET 69 analysis with 2000 census data– Should FCC use variable D/U ratios for adjacent

channel interference?• Use geographic spacing for new DTV to DTV

allotments and changes to the table


• Going Forward Interference Protection– Protect to parameters of Table B until station

has a CP or license for post transition operation, at which point interference is limited to authorized coverage area

– Maximization requests must protect new DTV Table Appendix B


• DTV Transmission Standard A/53-E– Should broadcasters be required to use

Active Format Descriptors?• Rules do not require AFD• If AFD is sent, it must meet ATSC

– Specifications for enhanced VSB• Higher immunity rates for certain channel

impairments• Improves Active Format Description (AFD)


• Program System Information Protocol (PSIP) A/65-C– Should broadcasters be required to populate

Event Information Tables?– Is PSIP information being passed through to

cable and satellite subscribers?


• Station Identification– Stations required to identify the main channel– Are rules sufficient with multiple program

streams?

• Coordination With Other Multi-channel Video Providers (MVPD)– Issues related to MVPD readiness– Can MVPDs receive signals (headend issues)– What about hotels, etc.

Regulatory Activity: Post Transition Digital Carriage Issues• Once analog ends, digital must carry rules

require carriage of the primary digital video signal of a local television station

• Retransmission consent: cable may carry all multicast channels– What happens to analog cable subscribers?

• 32 million analog subscribers (50%)• Keep their analog sets and do not use a converter box

– Purchased new digital (HDTV) sets

• What about signal quality?

DTV Transition: NPRM Cable’s distribution of our digital signals

• Access by All Subscribers– Section 614(b)(7) TV signals provided to all

subscribers

• Cable may not materially degrade signals• Subjective test (know it when I see it)• Objective test: must pass through all the bits

Cable

Head end

analogdigital

digital

Head end down-conversion

In-home down-conversion Digital/analog

Set top converter box

digital

digital

digital analog

CableHead end

Set Top Box: With Over-the-air Tuner

Set-top converter box with off air DTV

tuner

Cable programming

digital

CableHead end

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadStation Coordination

• Station Issues

–Coordination and interference

–Equipment demand

–Equipment supply

–Can supply meet demand in time?


• Most stations stay on current digital channel (65%)

• Significant channel movement on February 17, 2009 (35%) (600 stations)– Move DTV back to analog channel (28.8%)– Move DTV to new DTV channel (6%)


• Of the 600 stations moving channels– 181 will cause interference to existing

neighboring stations, if the neighboring stations do not move on time

– 300 stations will receive interference (>0.15%)


• DTV stations moving back to analog channels (500+ stations moving)– 72 stations will cause interference to existing

neighboring analog and digital stations, if the neighboring stations do not move on time



• DTV operations moving to new (third) channel (121)– 109 stations will cause interference to existing

neighboring analog and digital stations, if the neighboring stations do not move on time


WPXW-TVCh. 66 (analog)

WPXW-TV Ch. 34(assigned permanentdigital channel)

WUSA Ch. 34 (current digital channel)

WUSA-TV Ch. 9(current analog and permanentdigital channel)

WPXW-TV Ch. 34 (assigned permanent digital channel)

Station Coordination Necessary

WUNC-TV Ch. 4Chapel Hill

WUNC-DT Ch. 25Permanentdigital channel

Moving to Final DTV Facilities: Early Move May Interfere with Current Channel Assignments

WUNF Ch. 25 DT Ashville (0.15%)

WUNK-TV Ch. 25Greenville (2.8%)

WUNU-DT Ch. 25Lumberton (16.8%)

WUNL-TV Ch. 26Winston-Salem (0.40%)

Distribution of Stations by State(Returning on their analog or new channel)

State No. of Stations




AK 6 KS 14 NM 10 WA 8

AL 13 KY 3 NV 5 WI 10

AR 4 LA 10 NY 20 WV 7

AZ 14 MA 6 OH 11 WY 7

CA 33 MD 8 OK 8

CO 4 ME 7 OR 18

CT 4 MI 21 PA 13

DC 3 MN 18 PR 14

DE 1 MO 9 RI 1

FL 24 MS 8 SC 11

GA 12 MT 8 SC 11

HI 10 NC 14 TN 12

IA 12 ND 12 TX 42

ID 5 NE 13 UT 3

IL 12 NH 2 VA 9

ID 10 NJ 3 VT 1

Number of DMAs Affected by Station

Moves

Number of Stations Moving DTV Channels

(Per DMA)

7 10-14

25 9-5

21 4

28 3

51 2

47 1

32 0

DTV Transition: IOWA

• Iowa– 36 full service stations converting– 12 total stations changing channels in

IOWA– 6 stations causing interference (2 in-state

and 4 out-of-state)– 9 stations receive interference (6 in-state

and 3 out-of state) – 12 stations ready to commence DTV

operations

DTV Transition: Iowa Coordination

CallLetters

City Analog Temp DTV

Final DTV

WOI-TV Ames 5 59 5

KCWI-TV Ames 23 23 23

KEFB Ames 34 34

KGWB-TV Burlington 26 41 41

KGAN Cedar Rapids 2 51 51

KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids 9 52 9

KFXA Cedar Rapids 28 27 27

KPXR Cedar Rapids 48 47 47

Centerville 31 44


CallLetters


Final DTV

KBIN Council Bluffs 32 33 33

KWQC-TV Davenport 6 56 36

KLJB-TV Davenport 18 49 49

KQIN Davenport 36 34 34

KCCI Des Moines 8 31 8

KDIN-TV Des Moines 11 50 11

WHO-TV Des Moines 13 19 13

KDSM-TV Des Moines 17 16 16

KDMI-DT

Des MoinesDes Moines

63 2656

31


CallLetters


Final DTV

KFXB Dubuque 40 43 43

KTIN Ft. Dodge 21 25 25

KIIN-TV Iowa City 12 45 12

KWKB Iowa City 20 25 25

KIMT Mason City 3 42 42

KYIN Mason City 24 18 18

KFPX Newton 39 39

KYOU-TV Ottumwa 15 14 15

KHIN Red Oak 36 35 35


CallLetters


Final DTV

KTIV Sioux City 4 41 41

KCAU-TV Sioux City 9 30 9

KMEG Sioux City 14 39 39

KSIN Sioux City 27 28 28

KPTH Sioux City 44 49 44

KWWL Waterloo 7 55 7

KWWF Waterloo 22 22 22

KRIN Waterloo 32 35 35

Iowa Stations: Ready to Commence DTV OperationsCall Letter City State NTSC Temp DTV Final DTV

KFXA CEDAR RAPIDS IA 28 27 27

KGAN CEDAR RAPIDS IA 2 51 51

KPXR CEDAR RAPIDS IA 48 47 47

KBIN-TVCOUNCIL

BLUFFS IA 32 33 33

KLJB-TV DAVENPORT IA 18 49 49

KDSM-TV DES MOINES IA 17 16 16

KWKB IOWA CITY IA 20 25 25

KHIN RED OAK IA 36 35 35

KMEG SIOUX CITY IA 14 39 39

KSIN-TV SIOUX CITY IA 27 28 28

KTIV SIOUX CITY IA 4 41 41

KRIN WATERLOO IA 32 35 35

DTV Channel ChangesIowa Coordination

Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

KAAL 33 6 36 __ Austin, MN

KARE

(DTV)

__ __ __ 35

(0.396%)

Minneapolis, MN

KHIN

(NTSC)

__ __ __ 36

(0.527%)

Red Oak, IA


Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

KDMI 56 0 31 __ Des Moines, IA

KCCI

(DTV)

__ __ __ 31

(95.24%)

Des Moines, IA


Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

KSAX 36 42 42 __ Alexandria, MN

KIMT-DT

(DTV)

__ __ __ 42

(0.33%)

Mason City, IA


Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

KWQC-TV 56 6 36 __ Davenport, IA

KQIN

(NTSC)

__ __ __ 36

(98.081)

Davenport, IA

New

(DTV)

__ __ __ 36

(0.365%)

Springfield, IL

WMVT

(NTSC)

__ __ __ 36

(1.491%)

Milwaukee, WI


Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

KXVO 38 15 15 __ Omaha, NE

KMEG

(NTSC)

__ __ __ 14

((0.239%)

Sioux City, IA


Call Sign

DTV NTSC Final DTV

Affected Station

City/

State

WEEK-TV 57 25 25 __ Peoria, IL

KWKB

(DTV)

__ __ __ 25

(0.497%)

Iowa City, IA

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road Equipment Demand (estimate)

• Surveyed commercial TV engineers in July 2006 (N = 165)

• Nearly 50% of stations plan modification prior to February 2009

• Nearly 33% will require major work

• Nearly 75% of stations buying new equipment

•


• 80% of stations moving to new DTV channel will modify facilities

(channel increases equipment and construction demands)

• 30% staying on current DTV channel will modify facilities


• Time Needed for Modifications

– 39.5% report 6 months


– 12% report 10 months


DTV: Rubber Meets the Road Equipment Demand (estimate)Equipment Type Estimated

Industry Demand

Transmitter 550-600

Mask/filter 600-650

Exciter 700-750

ATSC encoder 450-500

Generator 250-300

TX line 400-450

Antenna 350-400

STL 150-200

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road Equipment Supply-side• Transmitters

– Few manufacturers (Harris, Thomson/Grass Valley, Axcera, Acrodyne, Larcan, Rohde & Schwarz)

• RF System/Antennas/Transmission Line– Few major manufacturers (Dielectric, ERI &

Myat)

• Tower Companies/Riggers– About 7 major installers

DTV: Rubber Meets the Road Demand and Supply (estimate)

Build and/or install Est.

No. of Units

No. of Manufac

turers

Total No. of Weeks

1 week 2 week

Sch. Sch.

Transmitter 575 3 192 383

Mask/filter 625 3 208 416

Antenna (build only) 375 3 125 250

TX line/ant. (install) 425 7 61 122

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadAction Steps

• Order necessary equipment and arrange for installation now

• Develop transition plan for your market – Other stations in the market – Adjacent markets– Cable, satellite, telephone, SMATV systems– Border interference issues

• Coordinate installation with major suppliers

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadAction Steps• MSTV Equipment Exchange website

– Demand for repurposed equipment– Listing service for used equipment– One time payment to list equipment– Operational by June (“beta” testing now)

www.mstvads.org

DTV: Rubber Meets the RoadAction Steps

• Questions

Documents

The Digital Transition: The Rubber Meets the Road IOWA June 28, 2007