Why are stations still broadcasting on channels 52-69?

Wally

I've noticed that there are still some stations broadcasting on channels 52-69. I went to www.tvfool.com and typed in West Palm Beach, FL and found these analog low power stations: 57, 53, 58--still broadcasting.

What's up?

Loves2Watch

Low power stations were NOT affected by the transition.

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BrianO

They weren't affected by the analogue-to-digital transition (they could switch if they wanted to but they were not required to switch), but they were affected by the reductuion in the RF frequencies used by broadcast TV; all stations, without exception, were affected. The Digital TV and Public Safety Act of 2005 (aka Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) was quite clear on that point. As of June 12, 2009 there should be no stations broadcasting on channels higher than channel 51. It is possible that the stations might have been granted an extension but this is probaby a short term arrangement.

JB Antennaman

More then likely that number is just a virtual number.

No matter which way they go, it doesn't matter because the FCC would know that it was there and could sell the frequency's around it.

The problem would be that the new tuners do not go up that high, so it wouldn't matter in the long run anyways.

As I have said before, the FCC gave first dibs to the stations that were already up on the UHF as per which channel they wished to occupy.

Some chose to stay while others chose to move down into the VHF where electricity costs were cheaper.

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projectsho89

Incorrect.

Only the FULL POWER stations were required to transition. LP, Class A, and translator stations were permitted to remain on the higher channels until booted off by the new owners.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/DTVandLPTV.html

BrianO

Good catch. The LP's and translators can stay on those upper channels until they get booted off by the new owners of the frequencies rather than get off at the "transition date". But they must get off those frequencies, sooner or later, by edict of the previously mentioned Act of Congress. It was quite clear on the point that the TV broadcasting spectrum reduction to channels 2-36 and 38-51 applied to LP's and translators as well. They are just living on the proverbial "borrowed time" and the clock did indeed start ticking on June 12.

JB: They are analogue stations, so the the channels specified are real RF channels. Also, New tuners do go up that high. In fact, one of the mandatory requirements for the tuners in the CECB's was that they handle channels 2 to 69. Why? Because 4 channels in the range 60-69 (I cannot recall the exact channel numbers) were reserved for public safety uses and were not auctioned off.