Initial Repack Reimbursements Heading To LPTVs, TV Translators

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Low power television and TV translator stations will soon be getting reimbursement checks from the FCC with respect to bills incurred for post-spectrum auction repack needs.


An initial allocation of funds from the TV Broadcaster Relocation Fund was given the green light, the Commission announced Thursday.

A special displacement filing window in June 2018 provided LPTV/Translator stations displaced by the rebanding and repacking process and subsequent commencement of service by “forward auction” winners an opportunity to select a new channel.

“We received over 2,100 such applications,” the Incentive Auction Task Force and Media Bureau noted.

At the close of the Incentive Auction and the beginning of the 39-month transition period
on April 13, 2017, 987 full power and Class A stations were reassigned to new channels as part of the post-auction repack.

LPTV/Translator stations will follow a reimbursement process that is substantially similar to the process that has been used for full power and Class A stations and MVPDs since 2017.

There is $150 million available for reimbursement of LPTV/translator stations.