The LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition is concerned about how the television spectrum repack will unfold.
It seeks equal access to the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard. The commission has just solicited comments on a petition to adopt the standard.
Of course, full-power owners are concerned about the repack too. At last week’s NAB Show, there was lots of discussion about the efficiencies of a regional repack and calls for an FCC-led summit on the issue.
LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition leader Mike Gravino says the group is aware of LPTV operators planning to deploy ATSC 3.0 tests. “The bottom line is we want equal access and timing to the new standard without any limitations,” he says in a note to members.
Citing new business models available for LPTVs with the new standard, the coalition says it will not let full-powers and NCEs “put us in the back of the line.”
Gravino notes that LPTV and TV translator owners are paying their own freight for repack displacement costs to the tune of about $1 billion.
