The LPTV Broadcasters Association, the advocacy group founded by entrepreneur and “local power TV” licensee “SuperFrank” Copsidas, says that it “full-heartedly supports the Congressional initiative to roll out ATSC 3.0 at a rapid pace.”
However, there’s a caveat to that statement.
For the association, “LPTV needs to protect investments into ATSC 3.0. We are not asking for funding, simply contour protection.”
Indeed, “contour protection” is the biggest need for the group, as it looks to “LPTV 3.0 investment.”
That’s why the LPTV Broadcasters Association has written to the 28 U.S. Senators and their key staff members to address their March 29, 2023 communication to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
LPTVBA fully agrees with the legislators that “a successful ATSC 3.0 transition should be a priority of the FCC going forward to ensure that local broadcasters can continue to serve their communities as a trusted source of local news.”
And, the LPTVBA believes this is especially important given the “ongoing demise” of local and community newspapers. As they see it, “LPTV is local, independent news.”
But, while the LPTV industry “is ready, willing, and able to roll out” ATSC 3.0, the LPTVBA believes investment in the new digital broadcast TV standard “makes no sense.”
In fact, this conclusion was the “overwhelming” response from LPTVBA members who gathered in April at a meeting held concurrent to the NAB Show in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
At present, a full-power station can displace an LPTV station at any time, as the rules presently state LPTV contours are not protected.
Yet, the LPTVBA has not filed a petition for any rule change. Instead, it is taking its concerns to Capitol Hill.
“Why would an LPTV station invest $75,000 of their own money to implement ATSC 3.0 when the investment could vanish at any time?” it asks.
To further emphasize its point, the LPTVBA claims the Small Business Administration won’t loan an LPTV station any funds for an ATSC 3.0 build-out because the contour is not protected, and thus not properly collateralized, the association claims.
“These small businesses are asked to dig in their own pockets for cash to build out ATSC 3.0 with no guarantee that their investment has any value tomorrow,” the LPTVBA shared in its weekly member newsletter, distributed May 5. “Stated another way, who would spend $75,000 on renovating a kitchen in their rental apartment? That is exactly what Congress, and the FCC is asking LPTV to do.”
The LPTVBA claims the LPTV industry represents 75% of all broadcast stations in the U.S.
