§  74.793   Digital low power TV and TV translator station protection of
broadcast stations.

   (a) An application to construct a new digital low power TV or TV
   translator station or change the facilities of an existing station will
   not be accepted if it fails to meet the interference protection
   requirements in this section.

   (b) Except as provided in this section, interference prediction
   analysis is based on the interference thresholds (D/U signal strength
   ratios) and other criteria and methods specified in § 73.623(c)(2)
   through (c)(4) of this chapter. Predictions of interference to
   co-channel DTV broadcast, digital Class A TV, digital LPTV and digital
   TV translator stations will be based on the interference thresholds
   specified therein for “DTV-into-DTV.” Predictions of interference to
   co-channel TV broadcast, Class A TV, LPTV and TV translator stations
   will be based on the interference threshold specified for
   “DTV-into-analog TV.” Predictions of interference to TV broadcast,
   Class A TV, LPTV and TV translator stations with the following channel
   relationships to a digital channel will be based on the threshold
   values specified for “Other Adjacent Channels (Channels 14-69 only),”
   where N is the analog channel: N-2, N + 2, N-3, N + 3, N-4, N + 4, N-7
   , N + 7, N-8, N + 8, N + 14, and N + 15.

   (c) The following D/U signal strength ratio (db) shall apply to the
   protection of stations on the first adjacent channel. The D/U ratios
   for “Digital TV-into-analog TV” shall apply to the protection of Class
   A TV, LPTV and TV translator stations. The D/U ratios for “Digital
   TV-into-digital TV” shall apply to the protection of DTV, digital Class
   A TV, digital LPTV and digital TV translator stations. The D/U ratios
   correspond to the digital LPTV or TV translator station's specified
   out-of-channel emission mask.
                              Simple mask Stringent mask    Full service mask
   Digital TV-into-analog TV           10              0 Lower (−14)/Upper (−17)
   Digital TV-into-digital TV          −7            −12 Lower (−28)/Upper (−26)

   (d) For analysis of predicted interference from digital low power TV
   and TV translator stations, the relative field strength values of the
   antenna vertical radiation pattern if provided by the applicant will be
   used instead of the doubled values in Table 8 in OET Bulletin 69 up to
   a value of 1.0.

   (e) Protection to the authorized facilities of DTV broadcast stations
   shall be based on not causing predicted interference to the population
   within the service area defined and described in § 73.622(e) of this
   chapter, except that a digital low power TV or TV translator station
   must not cause a loss of service to 0.5 percent or more of the
   population predicted to receive service from the authorized DTV
   facilities.

   (f) Protection to the authorized facilities of TV broadcast stations
   shall be based on not causing predicted interference to the population
   within the Grade B field strength contours defined and described in
   § 73.683 of this chapter, except that a digital low power TV or TV
   translator station must not cause a loss of service to 0.5 percent or
   more of the population predicted to receive service from the authorized
   TV broadcast facilities.

   (g) Protection to the authorized facilities of Class A and digital
   Class A TV stations shall be based on not causing predicted
   interference to the population within the service area defined and
   described in § 73.6010 (a) through (d) of this chapter, respectively,
   except that a digital low power TV or TV translator station must not
   cause a loss of service to 0.5 percent or more of the population
   predicted to receive service from the authorized Class A TV or digital
   Class A TV facilities.

   (h) Protection to the authorized facilities of low power TV and TV
   translator stations and digital low power TV and TV translator stations
   shall be based on not causing predicted interference to the population
   within the service area defined and described in § § 74.707(a) and
   74.792, respectively, except that a digital low power TV or TV
   translator station must not cause a loss of service to 2.0 percent or
   more of the population predicted to receive service from the authorized
   low power TV, TV translator, digital low power TV or digital TV
   translator station.

   [ 69 FR 69335 , Nov. 29, 2004, as amended at  76 FR 44828 , July 27, 2011]