“Special Temporary Authority” kind of sounds like “Double Secret Probation,” but it’s actually a foot in a closing door for Franken FMs. The FCC has granted this “temporary authority,” known as an STA, for channel 6 TV station KBKF-LD to continue broadcasting an analog FM radio signal while its main television signal broadcasts in digital.
As we’ve noted before, July 13 is the final, long-delayed deadline for analog low-power TV stations to shut off their analog signals in favor of digital, 13 years after full-power stations made the switch. LPTVs were permitted to remain broadcasting in analog, and since the 2009 digital conversion about two dozen stations broadcasting on channel 6, which is adjacent to the FM dial and can be heard at 87.7 FM, have decided to effectively become radio stations. These so-called “Franken FMs” transmit images or a bulletin board on the video signal to accompany an audio signal that is like any other radio station.
With July 13 set to put these stations off the air permanently, Venture Technologies Group, which owns a number of Franken FMs, petitioned the FCC to allow their San Jose, CA station to experiment with keeping both an analog audio and digital video signal on the air. That means they are complying with the spirit of the DTV transition, while also keeping their FM signal operational. They argue all these signals can fit within the bandwidth already allocated for their station.
The Commission granted this request on a temporary–six month–and provisional basis. One important provision is that KBKF must maintain a real television broadcast on its digital signal, with “at least one stream of synchronized video and audio programming… on a full time (24×7) basis.” That means no slideshow or bulletin board. The company must submit reports to the FCC on any interference between its analog and digital signals or with any other station, and also may not sell the license during this period.
Venture also owns the license for WRME in Chicago, home to what is likely the most popular Franken FM, MeTV Radio, programmed by Weigel Communications, and syndicated to several real FM radio stations around the country. According to Inside Radio the company is also asking the FCC for an STA for Chicago’s MeTV Radio to broadcast in hybrid digital TV / analog audio after July 13.
While this is an interesting development, it’s still the case that the dozens of other analog LPTV stations – including about 21 other channel 6 Franken FMs – are required to go all digital or leave the airwaves altogether in less than one month. Those Franken FMs may also petition the FCC for an STA, but it’s unclear how many are prepared and how many the Commission would authorize in such short time.
At the same time there is a petition in front of the FCC to make the hybrid digital TV / analog radio system permanent. If I were a betting man, I’d say the Commission will wait six months to see how the STAs work out before making a ruling. Often the FCC is popularly thought of as an airwaves cop on the lookout for violations, it’s more accurate to say that the Commission is in the business of keeping stations on the air, but within the rules, many of which are there to maintain some semblance of a usable service. Granting this first Franken FM STA indicates the FCC is at least open to the possibility of letting these stations retain their analog FM signals while complying with the digital transition.
NPR and other FM broadcasters oppose such a development. The argument I find most compelling has to do with access and fairness: why should these few lucky channel 6 LPTVs be the only ones permitted to use what is, in effect, a new FM frequency at 87.7 FM that no other entity or organization can apply for. On the one hand, it’s reasonable that the FCC doesn’t want to kick these signals off the air, depriving listeners of a service they’ve become accustomed to. But with so few open FM radio signals left, especially in major markets, it seems like more broadcasters ought to get a chance.
We’ll be listening for developments in this story. Also check out the Antenna Man on YouTube, who’s been using our “Final Countdown” graphic (with our permission), and is more of a Franken FM advocate than we.
