I went to the original source, posted your concern, received the responses below, and a fcc document. I did not read the 110 page document in total but 3 areas were brought to my attention
1) On page 11, it tells how those with channel elections on 2-6 could apply to get off, and on the previous page, page 10. On page 10 it directs FCC staff to choose a best available channel for some stations, *outside* of VHF-LO. If I can find the spot in there that specifically says that the FCC has "strongly discouraged" (exact words) broadcasters to get off channels 2-6, I'll post it...unless someone can beat me to it.
I did a search for "strongly discouraged" and couldn't find either word in the document, but I did find similar wording in places:
2) Paragraph 43 (page 18), dealing with KTFK Stockton: "In addition, our proposal will facilitate adoption of the final DTV Table and avoid the allotment of a low-VHF channel, which the Commission has long disfavored." A footnote to this sentence reads: "The Commission has recognized in this proceeding that low-VHF channels are subject to technical penalties, including higher ambient noise levels and, in the case of channel 6, concerns of possible interference to and from FM radio service. See Sixth Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd at 14627, ¶ 82; see also DTV Sixth Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd at 7436, ¶ 41."
3) Paragraph 46 (page 19), dealing with KVIE Sacramento: "As noted above, the Commission has long disfavored the use of channel 6 as a DTV allotment. When it adopted the initial DTV Table, the Commission sought to minimize the potential for interference between DTV and FM radio service by avoiding the use of channel 6 for DTV whenever possible, which resulted in only one channel 6 allotment in the initial DTV Table."
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_publi...C-06-150A1.pdf