RF CURRENT

Welcome to RF Current, a weekly electronic newsletter focusing on Broadcast technical and F.C.C. related issues. This newsletter is part of The RF Page @ www.transmitter.com, a web site devoted to TV Broadcast RF engineering. For more information see the What is... guide to the R.F. Page site.

Issues are dated each Monday, although recently I've needed an extra day(week) or two to complete each issue. Articles may be posted earlier if time permits or if there is a major, breaking story.

<<< Back to October 2 - Issue 234

October 9, 2000 - Issue 235 Final Edition

FCC Chairman Kennard Warns of Spectrum Scarcity (Oct. 6)

In a an address at the opening session of the Industrial Telecommunications Association's Private Wireless Spectrum Management Conference and Exposition in Washington, DC, FCC Chairman William E. Kennard told the group "As the Internet migrates from the personal computer into web-enabled wireless devices, spectrum scarcity has emerged as a major 'gating factor' in the New Economy."

In recognition of his leadership in expanding access to spectrum for the private wireless industry, Chairman Kennard was presented with the ITA/Radio Resource Magazine Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Private Wireless Industry. The creation of Guard Band Managers and the FCC's proposal for the Land Mobile Communications Service were cited as examples. Kennard challenged the private wireless industry to "find more creative, innovative ways to manage the spectrum resource more efficiency" and to insure the industry "continues to drive economic growth for America and the world.

From the FCC News Release Chairman Kennard Tells the Private Wireless Industry Group Spectrum Scarcity Will Be Greatest Challenge.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Modify DTV Table of Allotments in Henderson, NV (Oct. 4)

KVVU Broadcasting Corporation, licensee of station KVVU-TV, NTSC Channel 5 in Henderson, Nevada has requested the substitution of DTV Channel 9 for its assigned DTV Channel 24. KVVU stated the change would allow it to replicate 99.9% of the population and 108.8% of the area currently served by KVVU-TV. It will also enable it to share an antenna and transmission line with KLVX-DT, channel 11 in Las Vegas and reduce its operating costs for electric power usage.

The FCC has found this channel change would meet its requirements and warrants consideration. The technical parameters of the modified allotment on Channel 9 would specify an effective radiated power of 85.6 kW at a height above average terrain of 407 meters.

Interested parties may file comments on or before November 27, 2000. Reply comments are due on or before December 12, 2000. Refer to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MM Docket 00-181) for details on the request and information on filing comments.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Modify DTV Table of Allotments in Sumter, SC (Oct. 4)

)McLaughlin Broadcasting, licensee of station WQHB-TV, NTSC Channel 63 in Sumter, South Carloina has requested the substitution of DTV Channel 39 for its assigned DTV Channel 38. McLaughlin claimed it can not operate with maximum DTV facilities on DTV channel 38 to match its proposed upgraded, tall-tower analog operations. Interference concerns preclude operation of a channel 38 DTV operation from the station's proposed new tower site. Changing to channel 39 will increase population served by WQHB-DT from 690,000 to 920,000.

The FCC has found this channel change would meet its requirements and warrants consideration. The technical parameters of the modified allotment on Channel 39 would specify an effective radiated power of 500 kW at a height above average terrain of 269 meters.

Interested parties may file comments on or before November 27, 2000. Reply comments are due on or before December 11, 2000. Refer to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MM Docket 00-182) for details on the request and information on filing comments.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Modify DTV Table of Allotments in Albany, NY (Oct. 4)

)Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of station WNYT, NTSC Channel 13 in Albany, New York has requested the substitution of DTV Channel 12 for its assigned DTV Channel 15. Hubbard cited short-spacing problems due to allocation of Land Mobile radio service in New York City from the site of a new master antenna tower in Helderberg, NY. Operating costs would be reduced on the proposed channel because WNYT-DT will be able to avoid "dfficult and costly suppression requirements". In addition, the DTV service population will increase by 113,000.

The FCC has found this channel change would meet its requirements and warrants consideration. However, since the community of Albany is located within 400 kilometers of the U.S.-Canadian border, Canadian government concurrance is required. The technical parameters of the modified allotment on Channel 12 would specify an effective radiated power of 10 kW at a height above average terrain of 421 meters.

Interested parties may file comments on or before November 27, 2000. Reply comments are due on or before December 12, 2000. Refer to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MM Docket 00-183) for details on the request and information on filing comments.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Modify DTV Table of Allotments in Sheridan, WY (Oct. 4)

)Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises, licensee of station KSGW-TV, NTSC Channel 12 in Sheridan, Wyoming has requested the substitution of DTV Channel 13 for its assigned DTV Channel 21. Duhamel said that by using DTV channel 12, it could avoid constructing a new tower facility, avoid any local zoning and aeronautical controversies associated with it and avoid viewer disruption due to antenna orientation problems. This would allow it to "more expeditiously begin operations of its digital television station..." Use of channel 12 would also allow it to maximize its coverage and provide service to a greater number of people than it could with its current allotment.

The FCC has found this channel change would meet its requirements and warrants consideration. The technical parameters of the modified allotment on Channel 13 would specify an effective radiated power of 50 kW at a height above average terrain of 372 meters.

Interested parties may file comments on or before November 27, 2000. Reply comments are due on or before December 12, 2000. Refer to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MM Docket 00-184) for details on the request and information on filing comments.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Modify DTV Table of Allotments in New Orleans, LA (Oct. 4)

)WWL-TV, Inc., licensee of station WWL-TV, NTSC Channel 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana has requested the substitution of DTV Channel 36 for its assigned DTV Channel 30. WWL said that use of DTV channel 30 will cause significant interference to the adjacent channel DTV operations of WVUE-DT and WLAE-DT in New Orleans and to WGBC-TV, NTSC channel 30 in Meridian, Mississippi. WWL asserted an interference study indicates that if DTV channel 36 is used, no interference would be caused to any authorized analog facility or assigned digital station.

The FCC has found this channel change would meet its requirements and warrants consideration. The technical parameters of the modified allotment on Channel 36 would specify an effective radiated power of 1000 kW at a height above average terrain of 305 meters.

Interested parties may file comments on or before November 27, 2000. Reply comments are due on or before December 12, 2000. Refer to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (MM Docket 00-188) for details on the request and information on filing comments.

OTHER Items of Interest

FCC Order Grants Extension of Time to File Ultra-Wideband Transmission System NPRM reply comments - Reply comment date extended to October 27 based on request by Motorola.
Jerry Whitaker Named ATSC Technical Director - Press Release - Mark Richer, ATSC Executive Director said, "Jerry's unique combination of technical and journalistic skills makes him an ideal selection to help lead our ongoing efforts to develop standards for digital television."
Andrew to Expand and Upgrade the Andrew Institute in Suzhou, China - Press Release - New classrooms for connector attachment and terrestrial microwave (TMW) training include training areas with scale model towers and TMW antennas.
NxtWave Communications' NXT2000 Receiver Chip Chosen for Integra's HDTV Line and Set-top Box - Press Release - SIR-K100 Integra set-top box is ATSC compliant and uses the NXT2000 for cable and terrestrial broadcast reception and 5.1 channel audio output.
New USGS National Land Cover Dataset Now Available - Press Release - Eight new CD-ROMs include land use data at 30-meter resolution for states east of the Mississippi and Ohio River. CD-ROMs for the other states will be available within six months. This data can be used to create more accurate coverage predictions for RF signals and its use is required under some FCC rules.
Hughes Finalizes Sale of Satellite Operations to Boeing - Press Release - Hughes Electronics receives $3.75 billion in cash for its satellite manufacturing operations. Hughes will use the money to fund the growth of its DirecTV, DirecPC broadband and Spaceway businesses and to pay down debt.
This Week in Consumer Electronics (TWICE) article - Nakamura Volunteers Views on DVD, DTV and Product Shortages - story by Steve Smith on comments by the president of Matsushita. With regard to DTV, Nakamura reminded everyone that 60 percent of the U.S. market watches TV through cable and DBS services, so it is "essential to have [HDTV] programming through cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasts."
EE Times article - Kennard again warns of spectrum scarcity - story by George Leopold looks at FCC actions to deal with spectrum scarcity.
EE Times article - Disks, tape vie for DTV storage duties - story by Yoshiko Hara is not related to RF, but presents a useful overview of home DTV recording options.

>>>>Next October 16 - Issue 236

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