‘Under no circumstances should the FCC employ mandatory band-clea...

order designed to help incumbent stations clear those channels voluntarily (CD Sept 18 p2). MSTV told Commission: (1) It must adopt “no new interference standard” when evaluating voluntary band clearance proposals by Ch. 60-69 stations. (2) “Rule out the possibility of mandatory clearing” of channels. (3) Ensure that Ch. 60-69 policies aren’t extended to any upcoming actions involving stations on Ch. 51-59. With 122 analog TV stations occupying Ch. 60-69, “there simply is no room to relocate these stations onto ‘in- core’ [digital] channels,” MSTV said. And, Assn. argued, FCC shouldn’t permit stations to transmit analog signals on assigned DTV channels because it would cause “significant interference” to nearby stations -- including those operating digitally on “in-core” DTV channels. NAB expressed its “opposition to any early clearing of spectrum that in any way would force broadcasters to prematurely vacate spectrum against their will.” NAB said it also opposed any clearing of spectrum by analog stations through “private arrangements” that would result in increased interference or any reduction of free over-air TV: “The Commission’s decisions in this proceeding unfortunately will result in just such a reduction.”