FCC should begin setting rules for single frequency networks, or ...

same channel as primary transmitter, rather than trying to cover entire area with one high-power signal. Cell-like transmitter network can be used to replace some translators and satellites and to provide more uniform coverage of reception area at lower overall power. DT takes advantage of adaptive equalizers built into DTV tuners to avoid problems caused by signals from multiple transmitters arriving on single channel. Equalizer chooses best signal and simply blocks out others, negating impact of interference. Advanced TV Technology Center has been working on DT for years. First multiple transmitter system is under construction in State College, Pa., area under FCC experimental license. Ex parte filing said DT could: (1) Provide more uniform and higher power signals over wider area while causing less interference outside reception area. (2) Fill in signal gaps. (3) Solve other interference problems. (4) Enable more set-top antennas to receive DTV. (5) Potentially allow pedestrian and mobile reception of DTV. Group said it understood FCC was about to open rulemaking on digital operation of LPTV and translators and said DT should be considered as part of rulemaking. It said ATSC already was developing technical standards for DT. Key issues to be resolved in rulemaking, it said, are granting primary status for DT transmitters (rather than secondary status for LPTV, translators and boosters), setting interference rules, handling other technical issues. Groups signing ex parte filing said that, while they supported general concept of DT, “they may differ on the specifics of how it may be implemented.”