Martin Says Low-Power TV Needs Help From Many Industries

Satellite and cable companies should add LPTV signals before 2012, when Martin wants to require low-power stations to start digital broadcasting, he said in the letter. He asked full-power broadcasters to carry low-power counterparts on their digital multicast signals and said the consumer electronics industry should make and sell more DTV converter boxes that will pass analog signals through to TV sets. “The use of converter boxes without pass through capability may limit consumers, who expect that their television viewing experience will be enhanced, and not harmed, by the transition,” Martin wrote. “I believe each of your organizations can play a role in helping to resolve this problem.”

Martin outlined voluntary actions, but FCC and industry officials expect him to circulate an order with requirements if the industries don’t act on their own. Low-power TV stations can’t be seen on most of the boxes NTIA has certified as eligible to be purchased with $40 coupons it will start sending out next week. That has drawn increasing congressional, regulatory and industry attention, including at a House Telecom Subcommittee hearing Wednesday (CD Feb 14 p1). The letter was sent to the groups about 6 p.m. the night before the hearing, two recipients said.

The Community Broadcasters Association has asked the FCC to find that NTIA-certified DTV converter boxes violate agency rules and federal law. CBA wants all converter boxes to have both ATSC and NTSC tuners -- something they lack now, said Vice President for Technology Greg Herman. Martin apparently hopes to get industry action on the problem without new rules, agency and industry officials said. He asked FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp to hold meetings involving more than a dozen broadcast, CE, cable and other groups to work on voluntary solutions (CD Feb 12 p2). Two meetings were held this month, and a date for a third hasn’t been set, said Herman, who took part in the most recent meeting.

It’s important for low-power stations to be seen by all TV viewers because those broadcasters are the only providers of local news, weather and public affairs programming in some places, Martin wrote. “Even in some well served markets, low power stations may provide the only local service to residents of discrete geographical communities.” Broadcasters that carry the signals of these stations on their digital tiers “should be made whole, and reimbursed for their costs,” he added. An NAB official didn’t respond right away to messages seeking comment.

By carrying the low-power signals, cable and satellite providers will ensure that those stations can be seen by subscribers, Martin said. “I ask and strongly encourage cable systems and DBS operators to offer expanded carriage” on “a voluntary basis where they have the capacity.” NCTA President Kyle McSlarrow told Wednesday’s hearing that cable operators already carry hundreds of LPTV stations. “We'll do so in the future, and I'm certainly happy to work with that community in the future to see if we can do more of that,” he said. “What was put in the letter were voluntary ideas that I wouldn’t quibble with.” An NCTA spokesman declined to elaborate. The satellite association hasn’t taken a position on the issue, said President Patricia Cooper.

Each converter-box maker should produce at least one pass-through device, Martin wrote. Ideally, all boxes will have that ability, he said. CERC President Marc Pearl said his industry was educating the public about pass-through well before the chairman sent his letter. “We try to be ahead of the curve on all of these things,” he said in an interview. “We're not doing this in response to a government agency, we do these things in response to consumer needs.” Pearl said he has passed Martin’s letter along to all CERC members.

“We agree with Chairman Martin that all consumers should understand what, if any, steps they must take to continue enjoying free, over-the-air television after the transition,” a CEA spokesman said. “For those consumers who wish to purchase a converter box with an analog pass-through capability, NTIA has already certified four such boxes, thus ensuring that consumers have a variety of boxes from which to choose. The LPTV stations themselves are in the best position to correctly inform their customers how to continue receiving LPTV signals, should such stations choose not to migrate to digital television.”

CBA members want to go all digital but need additional money from the government to do that, Herman said. LPTV stations got FCC construction permits only last year to start switching to digital by starting DTV companion channels, he said. “The chairman certainly is making every effort to try to figure this situation out,” Herman said.