Goto Section: 74.781 | 74.783 | Table of Contents
FCC 74.782
Revised as of September 1, 2021
Goto Year:2020 |
2022
§ 74.782 Low power television and TV translator simulcasting during the ATSC
3.0 (Next Gen TV) transition.
(a) Simulcasting arrangements. While broadcasters are voluntarily
deploying ATSC 3.0, a low power television (LPTV) or TV translator
station may partner with one or more other LPTV or TV translator
stations or with one or more full power or Class A stations in a
simulcasting arrangement for purposes of airing either an ATSC 1.0 or
ATSC 3.0 signal on a host station's (i.e., a station whose facilities
are being used to transmit programming originated by another station)
facilities.
(1) An LPTV or TV translator station airing an ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0
signal on the facilities of a full power host station must comply with
the rules of part 73 of this chapter governing power levels and
interference, and must comply in all other respects with the rules and
policies applicable to low power television or TV translator stations
set forth in this part.
(2) An LPTV or TV translator station airing an ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0
signal on the facilities of a Class A host station must comply with the
rules governing power levels and interference applicable to Class A
television stations, and must comply in all other respects with the
rules and policies applicable to LPTV or TV translator stations as set
forth in Part 74 of this chapter.
(b) Simulcasting requirement. An LPTV or TV translator station that
elects voluntarily to simulcast while broadcasters are voluntarily
deploying ATSC 3.0 must simulcast the primary video programming stream
of their ATSC 3.0 signal in an ATSC 1.0 format. This requirement does
not apply to any multicast streams aired on the ATSC 3.0 channel.
(1) The programming aired on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal must be
“substantially similar” to that aired on the ATSC 3.0 primary video
programming stream. For purposes of this section, “substantially
similar” means that the programming must be the same except for
advertisements, promotions for upcoming programs, and programming
features that are based on the enhanced capabilities of ATSC 3.0. These
enhanced capabilities include:
(i) Hyper-localized content (e.g., geo-targeted weather, targeted
emergency alerts, and hyper-local news):
(ii) Programming features or improvements created for the ATSC 3.0
service (e.g., emergency alert “wake up” ability and interactive
program features);
(iii) Enhanced formats made possible by ATSC 3.0 technology (e.g., 4K
or HDR); and
(iv) Personalization of programming performed by the viewer and at the
viewer's discretion.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (b)(1) of this section, programming that
airs at a different time on the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal than on the
primary video programming stream of the ATSC 3.0 signal is not
considered “substantially similar.”
(3) The “substantially similar” requirement in paragraph (b)(1) of this
section will sunset on July 17, 2023.
(c) Transitioning directly to ATSC 3.0. LPTV and TV translator stations
may transition directly from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 operation without
simulcasting.
(d) Coverage requirements for the ATSC 1.0 simulcast channel. For LPTV
and TV translator stations that elect voluntarily to simulcast and
temporarily to relocate their ATSC 1.0 signal to the facilities of a
host station for purposes of deploying ATSC 3.0 service (and that
convert their existing facilities to ATSC 3.0), the station:
(1) Must maintain overlap between the protected contour of its existing
facilities and its ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal;
(2) May not relocate its ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal more than 30 miles
from the reference coordinates of the relocating station's existing
antenna location; and
(3) Must select a host station assigned to the same Designated Market
Area as the originating station (i.e., the station whose programming is
being transmitted on the host station).
(e) Coverage requirements for ATSC 3.0 signals. For LPTV and TV
translator stations that elect voluntarily to simulcast and to continue
broadcasting in ATSC 1.0 from the station's existing facilities and
transmit an ATSC 3.0 signal from a host location, the ATSC 3.0 signal
must be established on a host station assigned to the same DMA as the
originating station.
(f) Simulcasting agreements. (1) Simulcasting agreements must contain
provisions outlining each licensee's rights and responsibilities
regarding:
(i) Access to facilities, including whether each licensee will have
unrestrained access to the host station's transmission facilities;
(ii) Allocation of bandwidth within the host station's channel;
(iii) Operation, maintenance, repair, and modification of facilities,
including a list of all relevant equipment, a description of each
party's financial obligations, and any relevant notice provisions;
(iv) Conditions under which the simulcast agreement may be terminated,
assigned or transferred; and
(v) How a guest's station's (i.e., a station originating programming
that is being transmitted using the facilities of a host station)
signal may be transitioned off the host station.
(2) LPTV and TV translators must maintain a written copy of any
simulcasting agreement and provide it to the Commission upon request.
(g) Licensing of simulcasting stations and stations converting to ATSC
3.0 operation. (1) Each station participating in a simulcasting
arrangement pursuant to this section shall continue to be licensed and
operated separately, have its own call sign, and be separately subject
to all applicable Commission obligations, rules, and policies. ATSC 1.0
and ATSC 3.0 signals aired on the facilities of a host station will be
licensed as temporary second channels of the originating station. The
Commission will include a note on the originating station's license
identifying any ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 signal being aired on the
facilities of a host station. The Commission will also include a note
on a host station's license identifying any ATSC 1.0 or ATSC 3.0 guest
signal(s) being aired on the facilities of the host station.
(2) Application required. An LPTV or TV translator broadcaster must
file an application (FCC Form 2100) with the Commission, and receive
Commission approval, before:
(i) Moving its ATSC 1.0 signal to the facilities of a host station,
moving that signal from the facilities of an existing host station to
the facilities of a different host station, or discontinuing an ATSC
1.0 guest signal;
(ii) Commencing the airing of an ATSC 3.0 signal on the facilities of a
host station (that has already converted to ATSC 3.0 operation), moving
its ATSC 3.0 signal to the facilities of a different host station, or
discontinuing an ATSC 3.0 guest signal; or
(iii) Converting its existing station to transmit an ATSC 3.0 signal or
converting the station from ATSC 3.0 back to ATSC 1.0 transmissions.
(3) Streamlined process. With respect to an application in paragraph
(g)(2) of this section, an LPTV or TV translator broadcaster may file
only an application for modification of license provided no other
changes are being requested in such application that would require the
filing of an application for a construction permit as otherwise
required by the rules (see, e.g., § § 74.751 and 74.787).
(4) Host station. A host station must first make any necessary changes
to its facilities before a guest station may file an application to air
a 1.0 or 3.0 signal on such host.
(5) Expedited processing. An application filed in accordance with the
streamlined process in paragraph (g)(3) of this section will receive
expedited processing provided, for LPTV and TV translator stations
seeking voluntarily to simulcast and to air an ATSC 1.0 signal on the
facilities of a host station, the station will provide ATSC 1.0 service
to at least 95 percent of the predicted population within the protected
contour of its original ATSC 1.0 facility.
(6) Required information. (i) An application in paragraph (g)(2) of
this section must include the following information:
(A) The station serving as the host, if applicable;
(B) The technical facilities of the host station, if applicable;
(C) The DMA of the originating broadcaster's facility and the DMA of
the host station, if applicable; and
(D) Any other information deemed necessary by the Commission to process
the application.
(ii) If an application in paragraph (g)(2) of this section includes a
request to air an ATSC 1.0 signal on the facilities of a host station,
the LPTV or TV translator broadcaster must also indicate on the
application:
(A) The predicted population within the protected contour served by the
station's original ATSC 1.0 signal;
(B) The predicted population within the protected contour served by the
station's original ATSC 1.0 signal that will lose the station's ATSC
1.0 service as a result of the simulcasting arrangement, including
identifying areas of service loss by providing a contour overlap map;
and
(C) Whether the ATSC 1.0 simulcast signal aired on the host station
will serve at least 95 percent of the population in paragraph
(g)(6)(ii)(A) of this section.
(iii) If an application in paragraph (g)(2) of this section includes a
request to air an ATSC 1.0 signal on the facilities of a host station
and does not meet the 95 percent standard in paragraph (g)(6)(ii) of
this section, the application must contain, in addition to the
information in paragraphs (g)(6)(i) and (ii) of this section, the
following information:
(A) Whether there is another possible host station(s) in the market
that would result in less service loss to existing viewers and, if so,
why the Next Gen TV broadcaster chose to partner with a host station
creating a larger service loss;
(B) What steps, if any, the station plans to take to minimize the
impact of the service loss (e.g., providing ATSC 3.0 dongles, set-top
boxes, or gateway devices to viewers in the loss area); and
(C) The public interest benefits of the simulcasting arrangement and a
showing of why the benefit(s) of granting the application would
outweigh the harm(s). These applications will be considered on a
case-by-case basis.
(h) Consumer education for Next Gen TV stations. (1) LPTV and TV
translator stations that elect voluntarily to simulcast and that
relocate their ATSC 1.0 signals (e.g., moving to a host station's
facilities, subsequently moving to a different host, or returning to
its original facility) will be required to air daily Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) or crawls every day for 30 days prior to the date
that the stations will terminate ATSC 1.0 operations on their existing
facilities. LPTV and TV translator stations that transition directly to
ATSC 3.0 will be required to air daily Public Service Announcements
(PSAs) or crawls every day for 30 days prior to the date that the
stations will terminate ATSC 1.0 operations.
(2) PSAs. Each PSA must be provided in the same language as a majority
of the programming carried by the transitioning station and be
closed-captioned.
(3) Crawls. Each crawl must be provided in the same language as a
majority of the programming carried by the transitioning station.
(4) Content of PSAs or crawls. For stations relocating their ATSC 1.0
signals or transitioning directly to ATSC 3.0, each PSA or crawl must
provide all pertinent information to consumers.
(i) Notice to MVPDs. (1) Next Gen TV stations relocating their ATSC 1.0
simulcast signals (e.g., moving to a temporary host station's
facilities, subsequently moving to a different host, or returning to
its original facility) must provide notice to MVPDs that:
(i) No longer will be required to carry the station's ATSC 1.0 signal
due to the relocation; or
(ii) Carry and will continue to be obligated to carry the station's
ATSC 1.0 signal from the new location.
(2) The notice required by this section must contain the following
information:
(i) Date and time of any ATSC 1.0 channel changes;
(ii) The ATSC 1.0 channel occupied by the station before and after
commencement of local simulcasting;
(iii) Modification, if any, to antenna position, location, or power
levels;
(iv) Stream identification information; and
(v) Engineering staff contact information.
(3) If any of the information in paragraph (f)(2) of this section
changes, an amended notification must be sent.
(4)(i) Next Gen TV stations must provide notice as required by this
section:
(A) At least 120 days in advance of relocating their ATSC 1.0 simulcast
signals if the relocation occurs during the post-incentive auction
transition period; or
(B) At least 90 days in advance of relocating their 1.0 simulcast
signals if the relocation occurs after the post-incentive auction
transition period.
(ii) If the anticipated date of the ATSC 1.0 service relocation
changes, the station must send a further notice to affected MVPDs
informing them of the new anticipated date.
(5) Next Gen TV stations may choose whether to provide notice as
required by this section either by a letter notification or
electronically via email if the relevant MVPD agrees to receive such
notices by email. Letter notifications to MVPDs must be sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested to the MVPD's address in the
FCC's Online Public Inspection File (OPIF), if the MVPD has an online
file. For cable systems that do not have an online file, notices must
be sent to the cable system's official address of record provided in
the system's most recent filing in the FCC's Cable Operations and
Licensing System (COALS). For MVPDs with no official address in OPIF or
COALS, the letter must be sent to the MVPD's official corporate address
registered with their State of incorporation.
[ 83 FR 5026 , Feb. 2, 2018, as amended at 85 FR 43492 , July 17, 2020]
Goto Section: 74.781 | 74.783
Goto Year: 2020 |
2022
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