Goto Section: 74.789 | 74.791 | Table of Contents
FCC 74.790
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 |
2009
Sec. 74.790 Permissible service of digital TV translator and LPTV stations.
(a) Digital TV translator stations provide a means whereby the signals of
DTV broadcast stations may be retransmitted to areas in which direct
reception of such DTV stations is unsatisfactory due to distance or
intervening terrain barriers.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a digital TV
translator station may be used only to receive the signals of a TV broadcast
or DTV broadcast station, another digital TV translator station, a TV
translator relay station, a television intercity relay station, a television
STL station, or other suitable sources such as a CARS or common carrier
microwave station, for the simultaneous retransmission of the programs and
signals of a TV or DTV broadcast station. Such retransmissions may be
accomplished by any of the following means:
(1) Reception of TV broadcast or DTV broadcast station programs and signals
directly through space and conversion to a different channel by one of the
following transmission modes:
(i) Heterodyne frequency conversion and suitable amplification, subject to a
digital output power limit of 30 watts for transmitters operating on
channels 14–69 and 3 watts for transmitters operating on channels 2–13; or
(ii) Digital signal regeneration ( i.e. , DTV signal demodulation, decoding,
error processing, encoding, remodulation, and frequency upconversion) and
suitable amplification; or,
(2) Demodulation, remodulation and amplification of TV broadcast or DTV
broadcast station programs and signals received through a microwave
transport.
(c) The transmissions of each digital TV translator station shall be
intended for direct reception by the general public, and any other use shall
be incidental thereto. A digital TV translator station shall not be operated
solely for the purpose of relaying signals to one or more fixed receiving
points for retransmission, distribution, or further relaying.
(d) Except as provided in (e) and (f) of this section, the technical
characteristics of the retransmitted signals shall not be deliberately
altered so as to hinder reception on consumer DTV broadcast receiving
equipment.
(e) A digital TV translator station shall not retransmit the programs and
signals of any TV broadcast or DTV broadcast station(s) without the prior
written consent of such station(s). A digital TV translator may multiplex on
its output channel the video program services of two or more TV broadcast
and/or DTV broadcast stations, pursuant to arrangements with all affected
stations, and for this limited purpose, is permitted to alter a TV broadcast
and/or DTV broadcast signal.
(f) A digital TV translator station may transmit locally originated visual
and/or aural messages limited to emergency warnings of imminent danger, to
local public service announcements (PSAs) and to seeking or acknowledging
financial support deemed necessary to the continued operation of the
station. Acknowledgments of financial support may include identification of
the contributors, the size and nature of the contribution and the
advertising messages of the contributors. The originations concerning
financial support and PSAs are limited to 30 seconds each, no more than once
per hour. Emergency transmissions shall be no longer or more frequent than
necessary to protect life and property. Such originations may be
accomplished by any technical means agreed upon between the TV translator
and DTV station whose signal is being retransmitted, but must be capable of
being received on consumer DTV broadcast reception equipment. A digital TV
translator shall modify, as necessary to avoid DTV reception tuning
conflicts, the Program System and Information Protocol (PSIP) information in
the DTV broadcast signal being retransmitted.
(g) A digital LPTV station may operate under the following modes of service:
(1) For the retransmission of programming of a TV broadcast or DTV broadcast
station, subject to the prior written consent of the station whose signal is
being retransmitted;
(2) For the origination of programming and commercial matter as defined in
Sec. 74.701(l).
(3) Whenever operating, a digital LPTV station must transmit an over-the-air
video program signal at no direct charge to viewers at least comparable in
resolution to that of its associated analog (NTSC) LPTV station or, in the
case of an on-channel digital conversion, that of its former analog LPTV
station.
(4) A digital LPTV station may dynamically alter the bit stream of its
signal to transmit one or more video program services in any established DTV
video format.
(h) A digital LPTV station is not subject to minimum required hours of
operation and may operate in either of the two modes described in paragraph
(g) of this section for any number of hours.
(i) Upon transmitting a signal that meets the requirements of paragraph
(g)(3) of this section, a digital LPTV station may offer services of any
nature, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, on
an ancillary or supplementary basis in accordance with the provisions of
Sec. 73.624(c) and (g) of this chapter.
(j) A digital LPTV station may not be operated solely for the purpose of
relaying signals to one or more fixed receiving points for retransmission,
distribution or relaying.
(k) A digital LPTV station may receive input signals for transmission or
retransmission by any technical means, including those specified in
paragraph (b) of this section.
[ 69 FR 69334 , Nov. 29, 2004]
Goto Section: 74.789 | 74.791
Goto Year: 2007 |
2009
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