One of two advocacy groups fighting to get low-power television and TV translator rights recognized in the spectrum auction believes more such stations will be displaced than previously thought in the aftermath.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler was recently questioned by lawmakers about the issue and the commission was working on the displacement issue.
LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition leader Mike Gravino says according to their calculations, more than 4,000 LPTV and TV translators could be displaced in the repack.
That’s because full-power TV stations have preference in the incentive auction.
The deadline for TV owners to let the commission know whether they intend to participate was 6 p.m. Tuesday.
“Word leaked there is a huge supply of spectrum being put up for sale, which means two things for LPTV and translators, the band plan will be tight,” he says.
However remaining channels still be available in “tight” markets.
No matter the extent of broadcaster participation in the auction, the group is stealing itself for displacement of some members, who will also have to pay for their own channel moves, according to Gravino.
The news came as Free Access & Telemedia filed another auction challenge with a federal appeals court. The group, which represents low-power TV and TV translator owners, say the decision to implement the auction as is “arbitrary and capricious” and should be vacated by the court.
