PGTV’s Total.TV, prospective bidder in 700 MHz auction that bills...

for delay (CD April 11 p 1). Newly formed Total.TV told FCC Chmn. Powell in letter Mon. that it supported “brief delay” in auction date, saying it would increase competition in provision of video services and bolster DTV rollout. Total.TV said company was created by Phil Goldman, one of founders of WebTV. It said it would like to use all of 78 MHz available in upper and lower bands of 700 MHz auctions. Under plan that bears similarities to NorthPoint proposal, though at different frequency, company said it proposed to use spectrum to create multichannel video service that would compete with existing multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). “The availability of the 700 MHz spectrum offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to promote new technologies, while providing needed competition between and among MVPDs, as well as fostering the digital television transition,” letter said. PGTV attorney Henry Goldberg said in letter that Total.TV planned to: (1) Deliver multichannel TV program networks using over-air digital terrestrial transmission on 700 MHz frequencies, “which are already receivable by digital TV sets.” (2) Require neither satellite dish nor cable installation. (3) Offer national programming with access to all free local broadcast channels plus local pay-per-view. (4) Price service aggressively compared with satellite and cable MVPD services. (5) Use less expensive set-top box, particularly for multiple receiver homes, and eventually eliminate need for device. Filing Mon. marked first time that Total.TV had publicly disclosed plans for service. It also is seeking changes in rules for 700 MHz spectrum that would encourage participation by businesses other than wireless voice and data service providers, it said. Rules for upper band of 700 MHz allow wide array of wireless services, including broadcast type, but Total.TV said that while such services would be allowed in theory, they must be consistent with technical rules that impose 1 kw power limit per transmitter. “It is impossible to deploy a competitively viable multichannel video programming service operating under such a power constraint,” company said. Service rules for lower band of 700 MHz, by comparison, have 50 kw limit. Such differences make it hard for potential MVPD competitor “to bid in both auctions in order to acquire sufficient blocks of spectrum for a competitive multichannel video service,” Total.TV said. “While it is imperative to protect the incumbent TV broadcasters and future public safety users from harmful interference, the 1 kw power limit is not necessary for either purpose.” To allow bidders to obtain blocks of spectrum large enough for MVPD services, Total.TV asked FCC to consider single auction for both bands with package bidding.