Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 and Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, 46885-46894 [2010-19294]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 4, 2010 / Proposed Rules
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[ET Docket No. 10–152; FCC 10–133]
Satellite Television Extension and
Localism Act of 2010 and Satellite
Home Viewer Extension and
Reauthorization Act of 2004
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
In this document the
Commission proposes to implement
provisions of the ‘‘Satellite Television
Extension and Localism Act of
2010’’(STELA) that require the
Commission, within 270 days after the
date of its February 27, 2010 enactment,
to ‘‘develop and prescribe by rule a
point-to-point predictive model for
reliably and presumptively determining
the ability of individual locations,
through the use of an antenna, to receive
signals in accordance with the signal
intensity standard in Section
73.622(e)(1) of [our rules], or a successor
regulation, including to account for the
continuing operation of translator
stations and low power television
stations,’’ and to issue an order
completing its rulemaking to establish a
procedure for on-site measurement of
digital television signals in ET Docket
No. 06–94. The Commission previously
sought comment on a variety of issues
related to establishment of a procedure
for on-location measurements pursuant
to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension
and Reauthorization Act of 2004
(SHVERA), but has not yet adopted final
rules specifying such a procedure.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or
before August 24, 2010, and reply
comments must be filed on or before
September 3, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alan Stillwell, Office of Engineering
and Technology, (202) 418–2925, email: Alan.Stillwell@fcc.gov, TTY (202)
418–2989.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by ET Docket No. 10–152, by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications
Commission’s Web Site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [Optional: Include the Email address only if you plan to accept
comments from the general public].
Include the docket number(s) in the
subject line of the message.
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SUMMARY:
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• Mail: [Optional: Include the mailing
address for paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions needed/requested by your
Bureau or Office. Do not include the
Office of the Secretary’s mailing address
here.]
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432.
For detailed instructions for
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of
this document.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Notice of
Proposed Rule Making, ET Docket No.
10–152, FCC 10–33, adopted July 28,
2010, and released July 28, 2010. The
full text of this document is available for
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC Reference
Center (Room CY–A257), 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The
complete text of this document also may
be purchased from the Commission’s
copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing,
Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–
B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full
text may also be downloaded at:
https://www.fcc.gov. Pursuant to §§ 1.415
and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47
CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may
file comments and reply comments on
or before the dates indicated on the first
page of this document. Comments may
be filed using: (1) The Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s
eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing
paper copies. See Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
63 FR 24121 (1998).
• Electronic Filers: Comments may be
filed electronically using the Internet by
accessing the ECFS: https://
fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov.
• Paper Filers: Parties who choose to
file by paper must file an original and
four copies of each filing. If more than
one docket or rulemaking number
appears in the caption of this
proceeding, filers must submit two
additional copies for each additional
docket or rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or
messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or
overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All
filings must be addressed to the
Commission’s Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission.
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• All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the
Commission’s Secretary must be
delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445
12th St., SW., Room TW–A325,
Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours
are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries
must be held together with rubber bands
or fasteners. Any envelopes must be
disposed of before entering the building.
• Commercial overnight mail (other
than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail
and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300
East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights,
MD 20743.
• U.S. Postal Service first-class,
Express, and Priority mail must be
addressed to 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request
materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (braille, large
print, electronic files, audio format),
send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call
the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202–
418–0432 (tty).
Summary of Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
1. The Satellite Television Extension
and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA)
reauthorizes the Satellite Home Viewer
Extension and Reauthorization Act of
2004 (SHVERA) by extending the
effectiveness and amending certain
provisions in the Communications Act
and the Copyright Act. These provisions
govern the delivery of distant networkaffiliated broadcast television station
signals by satellite providers. To
implement the new statutory regime, the
STELA, inter alia, requires the
Commission, within 270 days after the
date of its February 27, 2010 enactment,
to (1) ‘‘develop and prescribe by rule a
point-to-point predictive model for
reliably and presumptively determining
the ability of individual locations,
through the use of an antenna, to receive
signals in accordance with the signal
intensity standard in § 73.622(e)(1) of
[the Commission’s rules], or a successor
regulation, including to account for the
continuing operation of translator
stations and low power television
stations,’’ and (2) issue an order
completing its rulemaking to establish a
procedure for on-site measurement of
digital television signals in ET Docket
No. 06–94.
2. In the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) portion of this
action, the Commission proposes to
prescribe a point-to-point predictive
model for determining the ability of
individual locations to receive an overthe-air digital television broadcast signal
at the intensity level needed for service
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through the use of an antenna, as
required by the STELA. Our goal in
proposing this model is to provide a
means for reliably and presumptively
determining whether the over-the-air
signals of television stations, including
low power stations, can be received at
individual locations for purposes of
establishing the eligibility of individual
households to receive the signals of
distant television broadcast network
stations from their satellite carriers. The
Commission believes that the proposed
predictive model, which is based on the
current model for predicting the
intensity of analog television signals at
individual locations, will allow such
determinations to be made in a timely
and cost effective manner for all parties
involved, including network TV
stations, satellite carriers and satellite
subscribers.
3. In the Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FNPRM), the Commission
seeks information to update the record
in ET Docket No. 06–94, based on which
it intends to prescribe rules for
determining eligibility of satellite
subscribers for receiving distant
network signals from their satellite TV
provider using on-location testing/
measurements. The Commission
previously sought comment on a variety
of issues related to establishment of a
procedure for on-location measurements
pursuant to the SHVERA, but has not
yet adopted final rules specifying such
a procedure. In the STELA, Congress
modified some of the testing
requirements set forth in the SHVERA.
The Commission is now addressing
these modifications to both refresh the
record and obtain additional
information and comment on STELA
requirements that differ from the
SHVERA requirements.
Predictive Model—Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
4. As recognized and directed by
Congress in the STELA, a predictive
model is needed to provide presumptive
determinations as to whether a
household is unserved by local networkaffiliated digital full service and digital
low power TV and digital TV translator
stations. The STELA revises the
definition of ‘‘unserved household’’ in
three potentially significant ways: (1)
The network stations whose signals are
to be considered are now limited to
those network affiliates in the same
DMA as the subscriber; (2) the
definition of ‘‘unserved household’’ now
references an ‘‘antenna’’ without
specifying what kind of antenna or
where it is located; and (3) the
definition specifically recognizes both a
‘‘primary stream’’ and a ‘‘multicast
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stream’’ affiliated with a network. The
Commission believes the existing model
for predicting the availability of analog
TV signals, known as the Satellite Home
Viewing Improvement Act Individual
Location Longley-Rice model (SHVIA
ILLR model), can be readily modified to
predict digital TV signal strengths at
individual locations under the new
STELA regime and thereby provide
presumptive determinations of
eligibility for delivery of distant digital
signals by satellite carriers in the same
manner as it currently provides for
analog signals. Use of this model with
appropriate modifications for digital
signals would also comply with the
intent of Congress in the STELA that we
rely on the ILLR model as previously
revised for analog signals and the
Commission’s recommendation in its
2005 Report to Congress for use in
making determinations of eligibility for
satellite delivery of distant network
signals. The SHVIA ILLR model has
proven over time to be an accurate and
reliable predictor of analog TV signal
strength and has been well accepted by
both the broadcast and DBS industries.
Through use of this model, consumers,
broadcast television stations and
satellite television carriers have avoided
the need to conduct an actual
measurement test every time a satellite
customer believes that he or she is
unable to receive an adequate signal offthe-air from a local television networkaffiliated station. The Commission
expects the revised model to provide
these same benefits in the digital
television environment. The
Commission will discuss its proposal
for the digital signal predictive model in
the following paragraphs.
5. The Commission notes that, with
the anticipated launch of local-intolocal service in all 210 DMAs by Dish
Network, the circumstances in which a
subscriber would need, or be eligible
for, distant signals will be significantly
reduced. It therefore anticipates that the
predictive model will be used far less
frequently than in previous years.
6. Digital TV ILLR Model Proposal.
The Commission proposes to modify the
SHVIA ILLR model to make it capable
of reliably and accurately predicting the
field strength of digital television
stations and to establish the modified
version in its rules as the point-to-point
model for determining the ability of
individual locations to receive with an
antenna the digital television signals of
full service television stations, digital
low power television stations (including
digital Class A stations), and digital TV
translator stations. Specifically, the
Commission proposes to adopt the
Individual Location Longley-Rice model
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set forth in CS Docket No. 98–201 as
revised for analog signals in the SHVIA
proceeding, i.e., the SHVIA ILLR model,
with appropriate modifications, as the
method for prediction of digital
television signal strengths. Consistent
with the STELA, the Commission is also
proposing to use the DTV noise-limited
service contour values in § 73.622(e)(1)
as the standard for determining whether
a predicted field strength is sufficient
for reception of a signal at an individual
location. This ‘‘digital TV ILLR model’’
and standard will be specified as the
required method for making
presumptive determinations of an
individual household’s eligibility for
satellite retransmission of the distant
network signals. The Commission
requests comment on the proposals for
a digital TV ILLR model as set forth
herein.
7. The prediction model proposed
addresses the statutory change in the
definition of an unserved household
from an ‘‘outdoor antenna’’ to an
‘‘antenna’’ and takes into account
terrain, morphology (buildings and
similar man-made land uses), and other
land cover variations, some of which
were recognized in our development of
the SHVIA ILLR model but still are yet
to be evaluated and accepted by the
scientific and technical community.
Inasmuch as the digital signals of digital
low power TV (including digital Class
A) and digital TV translator stations use
the same transmission standard as full
service stations, the Commission
believes that the same model will be
capable of serving to provide
predictions of the signal strengths of all
types of digital TV stations. That is, the
Commission tentatively concludes that
the same digital TV model will provide
predictions that are equally reliable and
accurate for full service, low power and
TV translator digital signals. The
Commission therefore proposes to use
the new digital TV ILLR model for
prediction of the signal strengths of all
three of these types of digital TV
stations. It also believes that this model
will account for multicast as well as
primary streams that are transmitted by
a station and affiliated with one or more
networks. The Commission requests
comment on this proposal and its
tentative conclusion. The Commission
also proposes to establish a procedure
through which parameters used in the
digital TV ILLR model can be adjusted
based on new information that may
become available and other refinements.
This process will provide for continued
refinement of the model on the basis of
reliable technical information, as it
becomes available.
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8. The analog SHVIA ILLR model that
will serve as the basis for our digital TV
ILLR model is similar to the service
coverage predictive model that the
Commission established for evaluating
television coverage and interference
prediction, as set forth in its Office of
Engineering and Technology’s (OET)
OET Bulletin No. 69. However, whereas
the Longley-Rice model for coverage
and interference prediction provides
estimates of aggregate service
availability (including losses due to
interference), the SHVIA ILLR model
provides estimates only of field strength
at individual locations (and it does not
include consideration of interference).
The SHVIA ILLR model does not
replace the current Commission rules
for field strength contours in § 73.683 or
for prediction of coverage for nonsatellite distant signal eligibility
purposes in § 73.684. In fact, the SHVIA
ILLR model could identify unserved
households lying within a station’s
former Grade B contour and, likewise,
identify served households outside that
contour.
9. The SHVIA ILLR model
incorporates features to account for the
radio propagation environment and the
receiving system conventionally
assumed to be used by viewers to
achieve service with an antenna. Given
that digital and analog television signals
are transmitted in the same frequency
bands, the factors affecting propagation
of signals using the two different
modulation methods and the
background noise level are the same.
The Commission does not believe that it
needs to modify any of the features of
the SHVIA ILLR model that describe
propagation and the background noise
levels and is not proposing to modify
those elements of the model. The
Commission also observed that the
‘‘planning factors’’ that describe a set of
assumptions for the television reception
system are different in some important
respects for analog and digital signals.
However, with the exception of antenna
location and performance and certain
other factors relating to propagation that
are discussed in the following
paragraphs, the Commission does not
believe that it needs to consider those
differences for purposes of the proposed
digital TV ILLR model because they are
incorporated into the threshold signal
level for reception for service, which the
STELA directs to be set at the noiselimited levels specified in § 73.622(e)(1).
10. The Commission also does not see
any need for changing the model to
reflect the added reference to network
affiliated multicast streams. The
prediction for a television broadcast
signal applies regardless of the content.
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If a household is predicted to receive a
station, then all of that station’s
broadcast streams would be received.
Therefore, the Commission proposes to
make no special adjustment in the
model to implement this change in the
definition of unserved households. The
Commission requests comment on these
aspects of the proposed digital TV ILLR
model.
11. The aspects of the SHVIA ILLR
model that are different for digital and
analog signals and that the Commission
needs to modify or consider modifying
in the new point-to-point predictive
model for digital signals include
antenna location (outdoor vs. indoor)
and performance, time and location
variability factors, and land use and
land cover. The Commission discusses
its proposals for changes to the SHVIA
ILLR model to address these aspects of
the new digital TV ILLR model for
prediction of DTV signal strengths and
its proposal for a procedure for the
continued refinement of the model as
new information may become available
in the following sections. The proposed
amendments to the Commission’s rules
to implement the new digital TV ILLR
model are set forth in Appendix A in
the NPRM, and the proposed digital TV
ILLR model will be described in a new
OET Bulletin No. 73, a draft of which
is attached as Appendix B in the NPRM
and NOI.
12. The Commission proposes to
uphold any previous findings of
eligibility for delivery of distant signals
based on the digital TV ILLR predictive
model, in the event that it updates that
model at some point in the future and
a prediction from the updated model
indicates that the location can receive
service from a local network station.
The Commission believes that
‘‘grandfathering’’ the eligibility of
households in such cases would be
appropriate to avoid disruption of the
existing services to which households
have been accustomed.
13. Antenna Location and
Performance. The Commission believes
that the current standard for an outdoor
antenna as specified in the DTV
planning factors in OET Bulletin No. 69
should be used in predicting digital
television signal strengths at individual
locations. As indicated above, the
STELA revises the definition of an
unserved household by changing the
reference to the antenna used to receive
service from a ‘‘conventional, stationary
outdoor rooftop antenna’’ to an
‘‘antenna.’’ The reception model
(planning factors) for digital television
service assumes that a viewer uses an
outdoor antenna with a certain level of
gain mounted at 10 meters (33 feet)
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above ground (roof-top level). Those
antenna location and performance
parameters are reflected in the field
strength values defining the analog
Grade B and digital noise-limited
contours in §§ 73.683(a) and
73.622(e)(1), respectively. The STELA
mandates use of the digital television
signal strength standard in § 73.622(e)(1)
or a successor regulation. Thus, we
believe that STELA’s specification of the
signal strength intensity standard
incorporated into our rules implies use
of an outdoor antenna to receive service.
14. However, the Commission
believes that Congress’s use of the term
‘‘antenna’’ in the STELA grants the
Commission greater flexibility to take
into account different types of antennas
than was previously available. In
addition, Congress and representatives
of the direct broadcast satellite industry
have previously raised concerns as to
whether the Commission should
consider certain issues relating to the
location and performance of actual
antennas consumers use to receive DTV
signals. In the SHVERA, Congress
directed the Commission to investigate
whether the noise-limited DTV service
standard should be revised to take into
account the types of antennas that are
available to consumers. The
Commission concluded in the 2005
Report to Congress that the existing DTV
planning factor assumptions for antenna
gain, orientation, and placement were
appropriate and should not be altered.
It also specifically concluded that the
digital television signal strength
standards in the Commission’s rules
should not be modified to account for
the fact that an antenna can be mounted
on a roof or placed within a home and
can be fixed or capable of rotating. In
this regard, it concluded that it would
be impractical to attempt to account for
indoor reception conditions in the DTV
planning factors and also stated that it
would be impracticable to establish a
regime whereby households with indoor
antennas are subject to different signal
strength standards than those with
outdoor antennas. It noted that
difficulty would arise in setting and
applying standards for situations in
which a household could not use an
outdoor antenna.
15. In view of the Commission’s
findings in the 2005 Report to Congress
and the relevance of those findings to
the digital signal intensity standard that
Congress specified in the STELA, the
Commission believes that the current
standard for an outdoor antenna as
specified in the DTV planning factors
should be used in predicting digital
television signal strengths at individual
locations. The Commission therefore
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proposes to include that outdoor
antenna standard (with some
adjustments for height consistent with
the analog ILLR model) in the new
digital TV ILLR model that will be used
in making distant signal eligibility
determinations under the STELA. The
Commission also believes that it would
be appropriate to use the receive
antenna gain and front-to-back ratios
specified in the planning factors for the
performance capabilities of the outdoor
receive antenna used in making
predictions, as those values are
consistent with the DTV noise-limited
service contour standard in
§ 73.622(e)(1) and outdoor antennas
performing at (or better) than those
values are readily available. The
Commission requests comment on these
proposals, including whether it should
adopt gain and front-to-back
specifications for the receive antenna
that are different from those set forth in
the planning factors.
16. Using the outdoor model may
result in instances where a consumer
who either cannot use an outdoor
antenna or cannot receive or cannot
receive service using an outdoor
antenna and is not able to receive a
station’s service with an indoor antenna
will be found ineligible for satellite
delivery of a distant network signal. The
Commission remains concerned about
such instances, and therefore is again
inviting comment and suggestions and
new information that would provide a
solution for those satellite television
subscribers who either are not able to
use an outdoor antenna or cannot
receive service using an outdoor
antenna and cannot receive service with
an indoor antenna. In this regard, the
Commission is particularly interested in
new ideas and information that have
been developed in the time since the
2005 Report to Congress. For
commenters who advocate including an
indoor antenna in the model, the
Commission requests detailed technical
information regarding the specific
standards to be used for all aspects of
the transmission path including antenna
characteristics, building penetration
loss, multipath effects, etc. In addition,
such commenters should provide
detailed information regarding how
those parameters should be applied
within a standard model given the
variety of situations that could arise,
and how to develop a model that would
also be valid for consumers with
outdoor antennas. The Commission
seeks comment on how to develop a
model that could vary depending on
whether the subscriber lives in a
multiple dwelling unit or a single family
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home, or whether the household is in an
urban area or in a rural area. Further,
the Commission seeks comment on how
to ensure that such a flexible model
would not be abused by specification of
incorrect parameters describing the
location for which a prediction is to be
made.
17. Time and Location Variability
Factors. Consistent with its findings in
the 2005 Report to Congress, the
Commission proposes to modify the
time variability factor of the SHVIA
ILLR model to 90% as used in the DTV
planning factors and to continue to use
50% as the location variability in the
digital TV ILLR model. The Commission
requests comment on these proposals.
Parties commenting on this issue who
believe that alternative specifications for
the time and location variability factors
should be used are requested to provide
new information, data and analyses that
were not available at the time of the
Inquiry to support their positions.
18. The field strength of television
signals, like that of other radiofrequency
signals, varies with time and location.
That is, television signal strengths vary
over time at the same location and also
vary from location to location, often
very short distances apart, when
observed at the same time. These
variations of field strength with time
and location are incorporated into the
television planning models. For analog
TV, the SHVIA ILLR model defines
service using the F(50,50) field strength
curves in § 73.699 of the Commission’s
rules. The Commission notes that DTV
service differs in that it is based on use
of F(50,90) field strength curves, as
derived from the F(50,50) and F(50,10)
field strength curves in § 73.699 of our
rules, to define a DTV station’s noiselimited contour. The F(50,90) service
contour means at least 50% of the
locations can be expected to receive a
signal that exceeds the field strength
value at least 90% of the time. The
Commission also notes that the field
strength standard for analog reception
(the Grade B contour value) incorporates
an adjustment to raise the F(50,50)
values to F(50,90).
19. In the Inquiry that provided
information used in the 2005 Report to
Congress, the Commission did not find
EchoStar’s and H&E’s position on
changing the time variability factor
values for DTV persuasive. In this
regard, it noted that radiofrequency
signal propagation is always statistical
in nature and that the power and/or
antenna height needed to approach
100% reliability increases in a nonlinear manner. The Commission also
observed that the current values were
established based on an industry-
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Government consensus that relied on
the traditional TV service model that
worked well for analog TV service and
that, as argued by the broadcasters,
changing the time variability factor
values to 99% reliability would greatly
shrink local DTV service areas. It further
observed, as pointed out by Meintel,
Sgrignoli and Wallace, consulting
engineers, that the assumed 10%
reduction in service availability occurs
at the outermost limit of a station’s
service area and is not the typical figure
for time reliability across a station’s
entire service area. As the distance to a
station’s transmitter decreases, time
availability increases. The Commission
stated that households at the edge of a
station’s service area could also improve
their reception (and thereby reduce or
eliminate periods when the station’s
signal is not available) by mounting
their antennas higher, using higher gain
antennas, or using low-noise preamplifiers at their antennas. No
commenter suggested changing the
location variability factor and the
Commission stated that it knew of no
considerations that would lead it to
recommend changing from the current
median value for this factor. The
Commission seeks comment on whether
there should be any changes to this
factor in the context of digital signals,
which are subject to the so-called cliff
effect that results in full loss of service
if the signal falls below a small amount
below the service threshold.
20. Land Use and Land Cover Factors.
The land use and land cover (‘‘LULC’’)
data provides information on building
structures and other man-made
terrestrial features and on other land
cover variations such as forests and
open land that can affect radio
propagation. Inclusion of this data in
the prediction methodology of the
SHVIA ILLR TV computer model
significantly enhanced the accuracy and
reliability of its signal strength
predictions. The method for considering
these land cover factors is to assign
certain signal loss values, in addition to
those already implicit in the model, as
a function of the LULC category of the
reception point. More specifically, the
field strength predicted by the basic
Longley-Rice model is reduced by the
clutter loss value associated with the
respective LULC category for the
location. Reception point environments
at individual locations are classified in
terms of the codes used in the LULC
database of the United States Geological
Survey (USGS).
21. The Commission proposes to
continue to apply the LULC categories
and clutter loss values for describing
land use and land cover features in the
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digital TV ILLR model in the same
manner as currently incorporated into
the SHVIA ILLR model. These values
were specified in the SHVIA First
Report and Order. We recognize that
these parameters were the subject of
differing views in the inquiry we
conducted in preparing the 2005 Report
to Congress. Therein, it was concluded
that the clutter loss values used in the
current SHVIA ILLR model strike the
correct balance, noting that this has
been borne out by the data on the
model’s performance, which shows that
using the values adopted by the
Commission for the SHVIA ILLR model
produce approximately an equal
number of over-predictions as underpredictions. Thus, we have found a
range of values, including zero, that
correspond to different land cover types
are valid. We also observe that the
Commission further indicated that it
believed that for any digital model that
may be developed, the values currently
in use for the analog model would
similarly yield accurate results. The
Commission requests comment on the
appropriate clutter loss values for
predicting digital television field
strengths. It is particularly interested in
new information and data that may have
been developed since 2005. In this
regard, the Commission also requests
comment and information regarding any
of the additional LULC categories and
data that, at the time of our
development of the SHVIA ILLR model,
were yet to be evaluated and accepted
by the scientific and technical
community and have since become
accepted by that community.
22. Analog Low Power TV and TV
Translator Stations. With respect to the
continued operation of analog LowPower Television (LPTV), Class A, and
TV Translator stations that retransmit in
analog format the content of local digital
network-affiliated television stations,
the Commission tentatively concludes
that the existing predictive methods
specified in FCC OET Bulletin No. 72
should continue to apply. The STELA
requires the Commission ‘‘* * * to
account for the continuing operation of
translator stations and low power
television stations.’’ Although all fullservice television stations were
converted fully to digital operation by
June 12, 2009, LPTV, Class A, and TV
Translator stations were not required to
convert and most of those stations
continue to broadcast in analog format.
For those stations, the Commission
believes that there is no reason to
change the SHVIA ILLR model that has
been in use for several years, and so
proposes to continue to specify the
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procedure described in OET–72 for
determining the eligibility of viewers
with respect to those analog stations.
23. Procedure for Continued
Refinement of the Digital TV ILLR
Model. As indicated, the STELA
requires that the Commission establish
procedures for continued refinement in
the application of the digital TV ILLR
model through use of additional data as
it becomes available. The Commission
believes the most efficient, effective,
fair, transparent and timely approach for
revising the digital TV ILLR model if
new information becomes available is to
hold open the docket in this proceeding
and conduct further rule making to
consider possible changes to OET
Bulletin No. 73 (which will describe the
model and be referenced in our rules) to
implement improvements to the model.
This proposal is consistent with the
Commission’s past action concerning
the SHVIA model. Given that the digital
TV ILLR model will be incorporated
into its rules, the Commission believes
that this proposal also is consistent with
the requirements of Section 553 of the
Administrative Procedures Act. Under
this proposal, parties with new data,
analysis or other information relating to
improving the predictive model could
submit requests to modify the model
under the instant docket. OET would
evaluate such requests and prepare a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
consideration by the Commission. The
Commission also could initiate
rulemaking action on its own motion.
The Commission invites comment on
this proposal to use its standard notice
and comment rulemaking procedure for
updating the digital TV ILLR model and
its applications and also asks for
suggestions for modifications and
alternative plans.
24. Stations to Consider for Distant
Signals. The Commission does not
propose to modify the proposed digital
TV ILLR model to address the STELA
provision that a subscriber is eligible for
delivery of distant network signals only
if he or she is unserved by stations
located in the same DMA. Under the
SHVIA and the SHVERA, the predicted
signal strengths of all the stations
affiliated with the same network were
considered, regardless of those stations’
DMAs. That is, if a satellite subscriber
wanted to receive the distant signal of
the XYZ network, then the predicted
results from any XYZ network affiliated
stations would be analyzed for that
subscriber’s location and if one or more
of those affiliated stations were
predicted to deliver a signal of the
requisite intensity, the subscriber would
be predicted ‘‘served’’ by that network
and not eligible for a distant signal from
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that network unless each of the stations
predicted to serve the subscriber granted
a waiver. The STELA changes this
regime by specifying that only ‘‘local’’
stations are to be considered, i.e.,
stations that are located in the same
DMA as the satellite subscriber instead
of examining any station of the same
network regardless of DMA.
25. Rather than modify the proposed
digital TV ILLR model itself to address
this change, the Commission proposes
to change the way the model’s results
are to be used. That is, instead of
considering any network station that the
model predicts to be available in the
determination of a subscriber’s
eligibility for a distant signal, we
propose to require satellite carriers to
consider only the signals of network
stations located in the subscriber’s
DMA. The Commission seeks comment
on this proposal. It notes that this
statutory change to consideration of
only local network affiliated stations
will reduce the number of stations that
need to be considered when
determining eligibility for distant
network signals and thereby also reduce
the burden associated with waiver
requests by reducing the number of
stations from which a waiver would
have to be requested. As noted, this
statutory change will also reduce the
testing burden. The Commission also
seeks comment on any other
methodological or other changes it
should consider to minimize consumer
burdens.
On-Site Signal Measurement—Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
26. The STELA, similar to the
SHVERA, provides that if the ILLR
model predicts that a satellite subscriber
receives a local network station of
sufficient field strength, the subscriber
may request an on-site signal strength
test to determine definitively whether a
local signal can be received at his/her
location at the specified signal intensity
and directs the Commission to complete
its rulemaking proceeding in ET Docket
No. 06–94 on establishment of a
measurement procedure. The
measurement procedure is to be used to
determine whether the signal of a
network-affiliated station is of sufficient
intensity (field strength) to be received
at the subscriber’s location, i.e., meets or
exceeds the standard in § 73.622(e)(1) of
the Commission’s rules. Essentially, the
measurement procedure provides an
option for obtaining an empirical, rather
than predictive, determination of the
signal strength available at a location.
The results of measurements would be
considered more accurate than the
results of the predictive model in all
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cases. Because the measurement
procedure and predictive model are
both intended to determine the same
issue, the underlying service model and
planning factors on which each is based
need to be consistent (and the
Commission’s proposals for the
predictive model herein and for the
measurement procedure in the SHVERA
NPRM use the same service model/
planning factors).
27. The STELA raises three issues
regarding the measurement procedure
not addressed in the SHVERA NPRM:
(1) The stations whose signals are to be
measured; (2) the antenna to use in
performing on-location testing; and (3)
the program stream from a station in the
market to be measured. Generally, the
commenting parties in ET Docket No,
06–94 agreed with our proposals to
largely base the measurement
procedures for digital television signals
on those already in use for measuring
analog signals with specific
modifications to account for the
differences between analog and digital
television signals. The Commission
seeks comment on any new
developments or changed positions in
order to update the record. To the extent
that commenters’ positions remain the
same, they need not submit additional
or repetitive comments reiterating
information and positions that were
previously filed.
28 . Stations to be Tested. As
indicated, the STELA differs from the
SHVIA and SHVERA in that it specifies
that only ‘‘local’’ stations, i.e., stations
located within the same DMA as the
subscriber’s household, are to be
considered in determining a subscriber’s
eligibility. This change similarly affects
the measurement procedures.
Previously, a testing entity had to
measure the signals of all stations
affiliated with a specific network.
However, under the STELA, a testing
entity is to consider only the signals of
those network-affiliated stations that are
located in the same DMA as the satellite
subscriber. The Commission proposes to
modify its proposed rules for
measurement of DTV signals for
purposes of determining eligibility for
delivery of distant network signals by
satellite providers to incorporate this
change. The Commission seeks
comment on this proposal. As noted, the
statutory change could reduce burdens
on both testers and consumers as fewer
stations would need to be tested, which
should result in lower costs for
consumers and consume less time.
Consistent with the STELA’s direction
that it seek ways to minimize consumer
burdens associated with on-location
testing, the Commission requests
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comment and suggestions regarding
steps it could take to further minimize
the burden of on-location testing on
consumers.
29. Indoor Measurements. The
Commission proposes to adopt the same
approach with regard to measurement of
digital television signal strengths as it
proposed with regard to the digital TV
ILLR model: to limit measurement to
outdoor antennas. The discussion in the
SHVERA NPRM only addressed outdoor
signal measurements, as the SHVERA
specified use of an outdoor antenna. In
view of the discussed change in the
STELA from the term ‘‘conventional,
stationary, outdoor rooftop receiving
antenna’’ to the term ‘‘antenna,’’ we are
revisiting the issue of the antenna to be
used in testing. The principal
alternative to a conventional, stationary
outdoor antenna that is currently used
by consumers is a moveable indoor
antenna. As noted in the NPRM
discussion, in the 2005 Report to
Congress the Commission concluded
that many factors make it impractical to
develop a simple, reliable and accurate
model of indoor television reception.
Those same factors, including the
performance expected of an indoor
antenna, the placement of the antenna,
and the location within a structure or
room where the antenna is located make
it difficult to develop an indoor
television signal measurement
procedure. First, because of the
variability of indoor reception
conditions across different structures
and in different rooms and locations
within the same structure, there is no
standard model and planning factors for
indoor reception, and in particular there
is no standard antenna specification for
such reception. The wide variation in
indoor viewing situations makes it
difficult to specify a standard model
that meaningfully relates to any typical
indoor viewing location. In addition, the
performance of indoor antennas
available to consumers varies
significantly. Second, signal strengths
typically vary significantly at different
locations within a room and so there is
the question of where to place the
antenna—should it be in the center of
the room, next to a wall or a window,
or at the location of the television? What
if the consumer changes the location of
the television in the future? Also, there
are questions regarding antenna height.
Should the testing antenna be placed
one or two meters or some other
distance above the floor?
30. In addition to the practical
difficulties of specifying a standard
model for indoor reception, as
discussed, the signal intensity standard
in § 73.622(e)(1) assumes an outdoor
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antenna. For these reasons, the
Commission proposes not to specify a
procedure for indoor measurement of
DTV signal strengths. It is, however,
requesting comments and suggestions
for alternative approaches for making
eligibility determinations for situations
where consumers are not able to use an
outdoor antenna to receive local
television signals. Such approaches
could include options for measurement
of signals indoors. Commenters
advocating development of a procedure
for indoor measurement of DTV signals
should provide detailed technical
information on all aspects of such
procedures, including a standard indoor
antenna and specific measurement
procedures that address the
considerations indicated above. Such
parties are also requested to specify
proposals for indoor measurement that
would be suitable for adoption into our
rules.
31. Multicast signals. The
Commission tentatively concludes not
to adopt special testing procedures to
measure network signals that are
transmitted on multicast streams, rather
than on a primary stream. The testing
protocol measures a station’s signal at
the subscriber location. Whether the
station’s signal includes one or more
program streams or networks, there is
no change needed in the test employed
because the presence of multiple
streams has no bearing on the signal
intensity or receivability. The
Commission believes the tester, the
satellite carrier and the network affiliate
involved in the conduct of the test will
be able to identify the network affiliates
in the broadcast signal. If the signal is
found to be available at the subscriber
location at the requisite intensity, then
any and all of the networks in that
signal will likewise be available. If the
station’s signal is not found to be
present at the requisite intensity, the
subscriber will be unserved with respect
to the networks broadcast on the
streams in that signal, unless the
subscriber receives a signal of sufficient
strength from another local station
affiliated with the same network or
networks. The Commission seeks
comment on this tentative conclusion.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Certification
32. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of
1980, as amended (RFA),1 requires that
an initial regulatory flexibility analysis
be prepared for notice and comment
1 The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601–612, has been
amended by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Public
Law 104–121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996).
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rulemaking proceedings, unless the
agency certifies that ‘‘the rule will not,
if promulgated, have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.’’ 2 The RFA
generally defines the term ‘‘small entity’’
as having the same meaning as the terms
‘‘small business,’’ ‘‘small organization,’’
and ‘‘small governmental jurisdiction.’’ 3
In addition, the term ‘‘small business’’
has the same meaning as the term ‘‘small
business concern’’ under the Small
Business Act.4 A ‘‘small business
concern’’ is one which: (1) Is
independently owned and operated; (2)
is not dominant in its field of operation;
and (3) satisfies any additional criteria
established by the Small Business
Administration (SBA).5
33. In the NPRM, the Commission
proposed to amend its rules to prescribe
a point-to-point predictive model for
reliably and presumptively determining
the ability of individual locations,
through use of an antenna, to receive
signals in accordance with the signal
intensity standard in § 73.622(e)(1) of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR
73.622(e)(1), or a successor regulation,
including the ability to account for the
continuing operation of low power
television and TV translator stations.
34. Television station licensees, Direct
Broadcast Satellite (DBS) operators, and
other Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite
operators may use the proposed
technique to establish the eligibility or
non-eligibility of individual households
for satellite delivery of distant television
programming. These determinations
will usually be made at the point of sale
of satellite receiving equipment for
homes and will tend to increase the
number of eligible customers. The
changes proposed are of a technical,
scientific nature, without a substantial
economic impact. In addition, the
primary economic impact of these
proposals will be their indirect effect on
individual consumers.
35. Therefore, we certify that the
proposals in this Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, if adopted, will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. If
commenters believe that the proposals
25
U.S.C. 605(b).
U.S.C. 601(6).
4 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the
definition of ‘‘small business concern’’ in the Small
Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
601(3), the statutory definition of a small business
applies ‘‘unless an agency, after consultation with
the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration and after opportunity for public
comment, establishes one or more definitions of
such term which are appropriate to the activities of
the agency and publishes such definition(s) in the
Federal Register.’’
5 15 U.S.C. 632.
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discussed in the Notice require
additional RFA analysis, they should
include a discussion of these issues in
their comments and additionally label
them as RFA comments. The
Commission will send a copy of the
Notice, including a copy of this initial
certification, to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the SBA.6
Further Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis
36. As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended
(RFA),7 the Commission has prepared
this present Further Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the
possible significant economic impact on
small entities by the policies and rules
proposed in the Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking. (FNPRM).
Written public comments are requested
on this Further IRFA. Comments must
be identified as responses to the Further
IRFA and must be filed by the deadlines
specified on the first page of this NPRM
and FNPRM. The Commission will send
a copy of this NPRM and FNPRM,
including this IRFA, to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration (SBA).8
A. Need for and Objectives of the
Proposed Rules. In the NPRM portion of
this action, we seek comment on
proposals for establishing a predictive
model for determining the signal
strength of digital television signals,
including low power TV stations (Class
A, LPTV and TV translator stations), at
individual locations and for using that
model to determine eligibility for
delivery of distant network-affiliated
television broadcast signals by direct
broadcast satellite services. In addition,
we seek comment on our proposal to
continue to use the current standard for
an outdoor antenna as specified in the
DTV planning factors in predicting
digital television signal strengths at
individual. In the FNPRM discussion,
we seek comment on two additional
proposals relating to our proposed
procedure for measurement of the
strength of digital television signals at
individual locations in ET Docket No
06–94. First, consistent with the new
STELA provisions for eligibility, we
propose to specify that a testing entity
is to consider and test only the signals
of those network affiliated stations that
are located in the same DMA as the
satellite subscriber. Second, we propose
6 See
5 U.S.C. 605(b).
5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601–
612, has been amended by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996,
(SBREFA) Public Law 104–121, Title II, 110 Stat.
857 (1996).
8 See 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
7 See
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to specify the use of an outdoor antenna
in measuring digital television signal
strengths and, consistent with the
change in the STELA to specifying an
‘‘antenna’’ rather than an ‘‘outdoor
antenna,’’ we also will consider
comments and suggestions for solutions
for situations where consumers are not
able to use an outdoor antenna to
receive local television signals. We
indicate that such solutions could
include options for measurement of
signals indoors. This NPRM and
FNPRM begins the process of
implementing requirements of the
Satellite Television Extension and
Localism Act of 2010 (STELA).9
B. Legal Basis: The legal basis for the
rule changes proposed in the NPRM and
FNPRM is contained in Sections 1, 4(i)
and (j), and 339 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151,
154(i) and (j), and 339 (including
amendments enacted in the Satellite
Television Extension and Localism Act
of 2010).
C. Description and Estimates of the
Number of Small Entities to Which the
Rules Adopted in this Notice may apply.
The RFA directs agencies to provide a
description of and, where feasible, an
estimate of the number of small entities
that will be affected by the proposed
rules.10 The RFA generally defines the
term ‘‘small entity’’ as having the same
meaning as the terms ‘‘small business,’’
‘‘small organization,’’ and ‘‘small
governmental jurisdiction.’’ 11 In
addition, the term ‘‘small business’’ has
the same meaning as the term ‘‘small
business concern’’ under the Small
Business Act.12 A small business
concern is one which: (1) Is
independently owned and operated; (2)
is not dominant in its field of operation;
and (3) satisfies any additional criteria
established by the Small Business
Administration (SBA).13
The proposed rules contained in the
Further NPRM seek comment on and
9 See Satellite Television Extension and Localism
Act of 2010, Title V of the ‘‘American Workers,
State, and Business Relief Act of 2010,’’ Public Law
111–175, 124 Stat. 1218 (2010) relating to copyright
licensing and carriage of broadcast signals by
satellite carriers, codified in scattered sections of 17
and 47 U.S.C.
10 5 U.S.C. 603(b)(3), 604(a)(3).
11 Id., 601(6).
12 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the
definition of ‘‘small business concern’’ in the Small
Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
601(3), the statutory definition of a small business
applies ‘‘unless an agency, after consultation with
the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration and after opportunity for public
comment, establishes one or more definitions of
such terms which are appropriate to the activities
of the agency and publishes such definitions(s) in
the Federal Register.’’
13 15 U.S.C. 632.
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modify previous proposals to measure
the strength of digital television signals
at any particular location, as a means of
determining whether any particular
household is ‘‘unserved’’ by a local DTV
network station and is therefore eligible
to receive a distant DTV network signal
retransmitted by a Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) service provider.
Therefore, DBS providers will be
directly and primarily affected by the
proposed rules, if adopted. In addition,
the proposed rules, if adopted, will also
directly affect those local digital
television stations that broadcast
network programming. Therefore, in
this Further IRFA, we consider, and
invite comment on, the impact of the
proposed rules on small digital
television broadcast stations, small DBS
providers, and other small entities. A
description of such small entities, as
well as an estimate of the number of
such small entities, is provided in the
following paragraphs.
Nationwide, there are a total of
approximately 29.6 million small
businesses, according to the SBA.14 A
‘‘small organization’’ is generally ‘‘any
not-for-profit enterprise which is
independently owned and operated and
is not dominant in its field.’’ 15
Nationwide, as of 2002, there were
approximately 1.6 million small
organizations.16 The term ‘‘small
governmental jurisdiction’’ is defined
generally as ‘‘governments of cities,
towns, townships, villages, school
districts, or special districts, with a
population of less than fifty
thousand.’’ 17 Census Bureau data for
2002 indicate that there were 87,525
local governmental jurisdictions in the
United States.18 We estimate that, of this
total, 84,377 entities were ‘‘small
governmental jurisdictions.’’ 19 Thus, we
estimate that most governmental
jurisdictions are small.
Cable Television Distribution
Services. The ‘‘Cable and Other Program
Distribution’’ census category includes
cable systems operators, closed circuit
television services, direct broadcast
14 See SBA, Office of Advocacy, ‘‘Frequently
Asked Questions,’’ https://web.sba.gov/faqs/
faqindex.cfm?areaID=24 (revised Sept. 2009).
15 5 U.S.C. 601(4).
16 Independent Sector, The New Nonprofit
Almanac & Desk Reference (2002).
17 5 U.S.C. 601(5).
18 U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the
United States: 2006, Section 8, page 272, Table 415.
19 We assume that the villages, school districts,
and special districts are small, and total 48,558. See
U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the
United States: 2006, section 8, page 273, Table 417.
For 2002, Census Bureau data indicate that the total
number of county, municipal, and township
governments nationwide was 38,967, of which
35,819 were small. Id.
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satellite services, multipoint
distribution systems, satellite master
antenna systems, and subscription
television services. Since 2007, these
services have been defined within the
broad economic census category of
Wired Telecommunications Carriers;
that category is defined as follows: ‘‘This
industry comprises establishments
primarily engaged in operating and/or
providing access to transmission
facilities and infrastructure that they
own and/or lease for the transmission of
voice, data, text, sound, and video using
wired telecommunications networks.
Transmission facilities may be based on
a single technology or a combination of
technologies. Establishments in this
industry use the wired
telecommunications network facilities
that they operate to provide a variety of
services, such as wired telephony
services, including VoIP services; wired
(cable) audio and video programming
distribution; and wired broadband
Internet services. By exception,
establishments providing satellite
television distribution services using
facilities and infrastructure that they
operate are included in this industry.’’
The SBA has developed a small
business size standard for this category,
which is: All such firms having 1,500 or
fewer employees. To gauge small
business prevalence for these cable
services the Commission must,
however, use current census data that
are based on the previous category of
Cable and Other Program Distribution
and its associated size standard; that
size standard was: All such firms having
$13.5 million or less in annual receipts.
According to Census Bureau data for
2002, there were a total of 1,191 firms
in this previous category that operated
for the entire year. Of this total, 1,087
firms had annual receipts of under $10
million, and 43 firms had receipts of
$10 million or more but less than $25
million. Thus, the majority of these
firms can be considered small.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
Service. DBS service is a nationally
distributed subscription service that
delivers video and audio programming
via satellite to a small parabolic ‘‘dish’’
antenna at the subscriber’s location.
Because DBS provides subscription
services, DBS falls within the SBArecognized definition of Wired
Telecommunications Carriers. However,
as discussed above, the Commission
relies on the previous size standard,
Cable and Other Subscription
Programming, which provides that a
small entity is one with $13.5 million or
less in annual receipts. Currently, only
two operators—DirecTV and EchoStar
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Communications Corporation
(EchoStar)—hold licenses to provide
DBS service, which requires a great
investment of capital for operation. Both
currently offer subscription services and
report annual revenues that are in
excess of the threshold for a small
business. Because DBS service requires
significant capital, the Commission
believes it is unlikely that a small entity
as defined by the SBA would have the
financial wherewithal to become a DBS
licensee. Nevertheless, given the
absence of specific data on this point,
the Commission acknowledges the
possibility that there are entrants in this
field that may not yet have generated
$13.5 million in annual receipts, and
therefore may be categorized as a small
business, if independently owned and
operated.
Television Broadcasting. The
proposed rules and policies apply to
television broadcast licensees and
potential licensees of television service.
The SBA defines a television broadcast
station as a small business if such
station has no more than $14 million in
annual receipts.20 Business concerns
included in this industry are those
‘‘primarily engaged in broadcasting
images together with sound.’’ 21 The
Commission has estimated the number
of licensed commercial television
stations to be 1,392.22 According to
Commission staff review of the BIA/
Kelsey, MAPro Television Database
(‘‘BIA’’) as of April 7, 2010, about 1,015
of an estimated 1,380 commercial
television stations 23 (or about 74
percent) have revenues of $14 million or
less and thus qualify as small entities
under the SBA definition. The
Commission has estimated the number
of licensed non-commercial educational
20 See
13 CFR 121.201, NAICS Code 515120.
This category description continues, ‘‘These
establishments operate television broadcasting
studios and facilities for the programming and
transmission of programs to the public. These
establishments also produce or transmit visual
programming to affiliated broadcast television
stations, which in turn broadcast the programs to
the public on a predetermined schedule.
Programming may originate in their own studios,
from an affiliated network, or from external
sources.’’ Separate census categories pertain to
businesses primarily engaged in producing
programming. See Motion Picture and Video
Production, NAICS code 512110; Motion Picture
and Video Distribution, NAICS Code 512120;
Teleproduction and Other Post-Production
Services, NAICS Code 512191; and Other Motion
Picture and Video Industries, NAICS Code 512199.
22 See News Release, ‘‘Broadcast Station Totals as
of December 31, 2009,’’ 2010 WL 676084 (FCC)
(dated Feb. 26, 2010) (‘‘Broadcast Station Totals’’);
also available at https://www.fcc.gov/mb/.
23 We recognize that this total differs slightly from
that contained in Broadcast Station Totals, supra
note 446; however, we are using BIA’s estimate for
purposes of this revenue comparison.
21 Id.
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(NCE) television stations to be 390.24 We
note, however, that, in assessing
whether a business concern qualifies as
small under the above definition,
business (control) affiliations 25 must be
included. Our estimate, therefore, likely
overstates the number of small entities
that might be affected by our action,
because the revenue figure on which it
is based does not include or aggregate
revenues from affiliated companies. The
Commission does not compile and
otherwise does not have access to
information on the revenue of NCE
stations that would permit it to
determine how many such stations
would qualify as small entities.
In addition, an element of the
definition of ‘‘small business’’ is that the
entity not be dominant in its field of
operation. We are unable at this time to
define or quantify the criteria that
would establish whether a specific
television station is dominant in its field
of operation. Accordingly, the estimates
of small businesses to which rules may
apply do not exclude any television
station from the definition of a small
business on this basis and are therefore
over-inclusive to that extent. Also as
noted, an additional element of the
definition of ‘‘small business’’ is that the
entity must be independently owned
and operated. We note that it is difficult
at times to assess these criteria in the
context of media entities and our
estimates of small businesses to which
they apply may be over-inclusive to this
extent.
Class A TV, LPTV, and TV translator
stations. The rules and policies
proposed in this Notice include
licensees of Class A TV stations, low
power television (LPTV) stations, and
TV translator stations, as well as
potential licensees in these television
services. The same SBA definition that
applies to television broadcast licensees
would apply to these stations. The SBA
defines a television broadcast station as
a small business if such station has no
more than $14 million in annual
receipts.26 Currently, there are
approximately 537 licensed Class A
stations, 2,386 licensed LPTV stations,
and 4,359 licensed TV translators.27
Given the nature of these services, we
will presume that all of these licensees
qualify as small entities under the SBA
definition. We note, however, that
under the SBA’s definition, revenue of
24 See
Broadcast Station Totals, supra note 239.
concerns] are affiliates of each other
when one concern controls or has the power to
control the other or a third party or parties controls
or has the power to control both.’’ 13 CFR
121.103(a)(1).
26 See 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS Code 515120.
27 See Broadcast Station Totals, supra note 239.
25 ‘‘[Business
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affiliates that are not LPTV stations
should be aggregated with the LPTV
station revenues in determining whether
a concern is small. Our estimate may
thus overstate the number of small
entities since the revenue figure on
which it is based does not include or
aggregate revenues from non-LPTV
affiliated companies. We do not have
data on revenues of TV translator or TV
booster stations, but virtually all of
these entities are also likely to have
revenues of less than $14 million and
thus may be categorized as small, except
to the extent that revenues of affiliated
non-translator or booster entities should
be considered.
D. Description of Projected Reporting,
Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirement for Small Entities. The
rules proposed in this Further Notice
would modify previously proposed
rules for measuring digital television
signal strength at any specific location.
These measurement procedures would
be used as a means of determining
whether households are eligible to
receive distant DTV network signals
retransmitted by DBS providers. Section
339(a)(2)(D)(vi) of the Communications
Act (47 U.S.C. 339(a)(2)(D)(vi))
delineates when measurements are
necessary and when the satellite
communications provider, the digital
television broadcast station, or the
consumer is responsible for bearing
their cost. No reporting requirement is
proposed. In this Further IFRA, we seek
comment on the types of burdens direct
broadcast satellite service providers and
digital television broadcast stations will
face in complying with the proposed
requirements. Entities, especially small
businesses and, more generally, small
entities are encouraged to quantify the
costs and benefits of the proposed
reporting requirements.
E. Steps Taken to Minimize
Significant Economic Impact on Small
Entities, and Significant Alternatives
Considered. The RFA requires an
agency to describe any significant
alternatives that it has considered in
reaching its proposed approach, which
may include the following four
alternatives (among others): (1) The
establishment of differing compliance or
reporting requirements or timetables
that take into account the resources
available to small entities; (2) the
clarification, consolidation, or
simplification of compliance or
reporting requirements under the rule
for small entities; (3) the use of
performance, rather than design,
standards; and (4) an exemption from
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46893
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,
for small entities.28
The Further Notice examines only
two issues related to our previous
proposals regarding DTV signal
measurement procedures. As noted in
the text, the proposal related to which
stations need to be tested would reduce
burdens both on businesses that
conduct tests and on consumers. This is
because the STELA limits the broad
universe of stations that need to be
tested to only a handful that are located
in the same market at the satellite
subscriber. This could reduce the
amount and complexity of the
equipment necessary to conduct a test
as well as reduce the complexity of
actually conducting the test as fewer
stations need to be measured. This
should have an accompanying cost
savings to consumers as the tests should
be less complex. We seek comment on
this tentative conclusion especially from
small entities.
F. Federal Rules that Might Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict with the Proposed
Rules. None.
Ordering Clauses
37. Pursuant to Sections 1, 4, 301, and
339(c)(3) of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections
151, 154, 301, 339(c)(3), and Section
119(d)(10)(a) of the Copyright Act, 17
U.S.C. 119(d)(10)(a), this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is
hereby adopted.
38. The Commission’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference
Information Center, shall send a copy of
this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
including the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Certification, and Further
IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy
of the Small Business Administration.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Communications equipment, Radio
and Television.
Federal Communications Commission.
Bulah P. Wheeler,
Deputy Manager.
Proposed Rules Changes
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission proposes to amend part 73
of title 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations to read as follows:
28 5
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 4, 2010 / Proposed Rules
PART 73—RADIO BROADCAST
SERVICES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
1. The authority citation for part 73
continues to read as follows:
50 CFR Part 17
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 334, 336
and 339.
[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2010-0045]
[MO 92210-0-0008]
2. Section 73.683(d) is revised to read
as follows:
§ 73.683 Field strength contours and
presumptive determination of field
strength at individual locations.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) For purposes of determining the
eligibility of individual households for
satellite retransmission of distant
network signals under the copyright law
provisions of 17 U.S.C. 119(d)(10)(A),
field strength shall be determined by the
Individual Location Longley-Rice (ILLR)
propagation prediction model. Guidance
for use of the ILLR model for these
purposes in predicting the field strength
of analog television signals is provided
in OET Bulletin No. 72 (stations
operating with analog signals include
some Class A stations licensed under
part 73 of this chapter and some low
power TV and TV translator stations
licensed that operate under Part 74 of
this chapter). Guidance for use of the
ILLR model for these purposes in
predicting the field strength of digital
television signals is provided in OET
Bulletin No. 73 (stations operating with
digital signals include all full service
stations and some Class A stations that
operate under part 73 of this chapter
and some low power TV and TV
translator stations that operate under
part 73 or Part 74 of this chapter). OET
Bulletin No. 72 and OET Bulletin No. 73
are available at the FCC’s Headquarters
Building, 445 12th St., SW., Reference
Information Center, Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC, or at the FCC’s Office
of Engineering and Technology (OET)
Webs site: https://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/
documents/bulletins/.
*
*
*
*
*
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a
Petition To List the Mexican Gray Wolf
as an Endangered Subspecies With
Critical Habitat
[FR Doc. 2010–19294 Filed 8–3–10; 8:45 am]
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Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of petition finding and
initiation of status and critical habitat
review.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce a
90–day finding on two petitions to list
the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus
baileyi) (Mexican wolf) as an
endangered subspecies and designate
critical habitat under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
Although not listed as a subspecies, the
Mexican wolf is currently listed as
endangered within the broader listing of
gray wolves. Based on our review, we
find that the petitions present
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the Mexican
wolf subspecies may warrant listing
such that reclassifying the Mexican wolf
as a separate subspecies may be
warranted. One of the petitions also
requested listing of the Mexican wolf as
an endangered Distinct Population
Segment (DPS). While we have not
addressed the DPS portion of the
petition in this finding, we will further
evaluate that information during the
status review. Therefore, with the
publication of this notice, we are
initiating a review of the status of the
Mexican wolf subspecies to determine if
listing the Mexican wolf as a subspecies
or DPS is warranted. To ensure that this
status review is comprehensive, we are
requesting scientific and commercial
data and other information regarding the
Mexican wolf. Based on the status
review, we will issue a 12–month
finding on the petitions, which will
address whether the petitioned action is
warranted, as provided in section
4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to
conduct this review, we request that we
receive information on or before October
4, 2010. After this date, you must
submit information directly to the New
Mexico Ecological Services Field Office
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section below). Please note that we may
not be able to address or incorporate
SUMMARY:
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information that we receive after the
above requested date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit
information by one of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Search for docket
FWS-R2-ES-2010-0045 and then follow
the instructions for submitting
comments.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2ES-2010-0045; Division of Policy and
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
We will post all information received
on https://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us
(see the Information Solicited section
below for more details).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wally ‘‘J’’ Murphy, Field Supervisor,
New Mexico Ecological Services Field
Office, 2105 Osuna NE, Albuquerque,
NM 87113, by telephone (505-346-2525)
or by facsimile (505-346-2542). If you
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD), please call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Information Requested
When we make a finding that a
petition presents substantial
information indicating that listing an
entity may be warranted, we are
required to promptly review the status
of that entity (status review). To ensure
that the status review is complete and
based on the best available scientific
and commercial information, we request
information on the status of the Mexican
wolf. We request information from the
public, other governmental agencies,
Native American Tribes, the scientific
community, industry, and any other
interested parties concerning the status
of the Mexican wolf. We seek
information on:
(1) The historical and current status
and distribution of the Mexican wolf, its
biology and ecology, taxonomy, and
ongoing conservation measures for the
subspecies and its habitat in the United
States and Mexico; and
(2) Information relevant to the factors
that are the basis for making a listing
determination for a species under
section 4(a) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), which are:
(a) The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of the species’ habitat or
range;
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46885-46894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19294]
[[Page 46885]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[ET Docket No. 10-152; FCC 10-133]
Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 and
Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document the Commission proposes to implement
provisions of the ``Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of
2010''(STELA) that require the Commission, within 270 days after the
date of its February 27, 2010 enactment, to ``develop and prescribe by
rule a point-to-point predictive model for reliably and presumptively
determining the ability of individual locations, through the use of an
antenna, to receive signals in accordance with the signal intensity
standard in Section 73.622(e)(1) of [our rules], or a successor
regulation, including to account for the continuing operation of
translator stations and low power television stations,'' and to issue
an order completing its rulemaking to establish a procedure for on-site
measurement of digital television signals in ET Docket No. 06-94. The
Commission previously sought comment on a variety of issues related to
establishment of a procedure for on-location measurements pursuant to
the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004
(SHVERA), but has not yet adopted final rules specifying such a
procedure.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before August 24, 2010, and reply
comments must be filed on or before September 3, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Stillwell, Office of Engineering
and Technology, (202) 418-2925, e-mail: Alan.Stillwell@fcc.gov, TTY
(202) 418-2989.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ET Docket No. 10-152,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [Optional: Include the E-mail address only if you
plan to accept comments from the general public]. Include the docket
number(s) in the subject line of the message.
Mail: [Optional: Include the mailing address for paper,
disk or CD-ROM submissions needed/requested by your Bureau or Office.
Do not include the Office of the Secretary's mailing address here.]
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION of this document.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rule Making, ET Docket No. 10-152, FCC 10-33, adopted July
28, 2010, and released July 28, 2010. The full text of this document is
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in
the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of this document also may be
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC
20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: https://www.fcc.gov.
Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47
CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply
comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this
document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The Commission's Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking
Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one
docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding,
filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary,
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours
are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before
entering the building.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
1. The Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010
(STELA) reauthorizes the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and
Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA) by extending the effectiveness and
amending certain provisions in the Communications Act and the Copyright
Act. These provisions govern the delivery of distant network-affiliated
broadcast television station signals by satellite providers. To
implement the new statutory regime, the STELA, inter alia, requires the
Commission, within 270 days after the date of its February 27, 2010
enactment, to (1) ``develop and prescribe by rule a point-to-point
predictive model for reliably and presumptively determining the ability
of individual locations, through the use of an antenna, to receive
signals in accordance with the signal intensity standard in Sec.
73.622(e)(1) of [the Commission's rules], or a successor regulation,
including to account for the continuing operation of translator
stations and low power television stations,'' and (2) issue an order
completing its rulemaking to establish a procedure for on-site
measurement of digital television signals in ET Docket No. 06-94.
2. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) portion of this
action, the Commission proposes to prescribe a point-to-point
predictive model for determining the ability of individual locations to
receive an over-the-air digital television broadcast signal at the
intensity level needed for service
[[Page 46886]]
through the use of an antenna, as required by the STELA. Our goal in
proposing this model is to provide a means for reliably and
presumptively determining whether the over-the-air signals of
television stations, including low power stations, can be received at
individual locations for purposes of establishing the eligibility of
individual households to receive the signals of distant television
broadcast network stations from their satellite carriers. The
Commission believes that the proposed predictive model, which is based
on the current model for predicting the intensity of analog television
signals at individual locations, will allow such determinations to be
made in a timely and cost effective manner for all parties involved,
including network TV stations, satellite carriers and satellite
subscribers.
3. In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the
Commission seeks information to update the record in ET Docket No. 06-
94, based on which it intends to prescribe rules for determining
eligibility of satellite subscribers for receiving distant network
signals from their satellite TV provider using on-location testing/
measurements. The Commission previously sought comment on a variety of
issues related to establishment of a procedure for on-location
measurements pursuant to the SHVERA, but has not yet adopted final
rules specifying such a procedure. In the STELA, Congress modified some
of the testing requirements set forth in the SHVERA. The Commission is
now addressing these modifications to both refresh the record and
obtain additional information and comment on STELA requirements that
differ from the SHVERA requirements.
Predictive Model--Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
4. As recognized and directed by Congress in the STELA, a
predictive model is needed to provide presumptive determinations as to
whether a household is unserved by local network-affiliated digital
full service and digital low power TV and digital TV translator
stations. The STELA revises the definition of ``unserved household'' in
three potentially significant ways: (1) The network stations whose
signals are to be considered are now limited to those network
affiliates in the same DMA as the subscriber; (2) the definition of
``unserved household'' now references an ``antenna'' without specifying
what kind of antenna or where it is located; and (3) the definition
specifically recognizes both a ``primary stream'' and a ``multicast
stream'' affiliated with a network. The Commission believes the
existing model for predicting the availability of analog TV signals,
known as the Satellite Home Viewing Improvement Act Individual Location
Longley-Rice model (SHVIA ILLR model), can be readily modified to
predict digital TV signal strengths at individual locations under the
new STELA regime and thereby provide presumptive determinations of
eligibility for delivery of distant digital signals by satellite
carriers in the same manner as it currently provides for analog
signals. Use of this model with appropriate modifications for digital
signals would also comply with the intent of Congress in the STELA that
we rely on the ILLR model as previously revised for analog signals and
the Commission's recommendation in its 2005 Report to Congress for use
in making determinations of eligibility for satellite delivery of
distant network signals. The SHVIA ILLR model has proven over time to
be an accurate and reliable predictor of analog TV signal strength and
has been well accepted by both the broadcast and DBS industries.
Through use of this model, consumers, broadcast television stations and
satellite television carriers have avoided the need to conduct an
actual measurement test every time a satellite customer believes that
he or she is unable to receive an adequate signal off-the-air from a
local television network-affiliated station. The Commission expects the
revised model to provide these same benefits in the digital television
environment. The Commission will discuss its proposal for the digital
signal predictive model in the following paragraphs.
5. The Commission notes that, with the anticipated launch of local-
into-local service in all 210 DMAs by Dish Network, the circumstances
in which a subscriber would need, or be eligible for, distant signals
will be significantly reduced. It therefore anticipates that the
predictive model will be used far less frequently than in previous
years.
6. Digital TV ILLR Model Proposal. The Commission proposes to
modify the SHVIA ILLR model to make it capable of reliably and
accurately predicting the field strength of digital television stations
and to establish the modified version in its rules as the point-to-
point model for determining the ability of individual locations to
receive with an antenna the digital television signals of full service
television stations, digital low power television stations (including
digital Class A stations), and digital TV translator stations.
Specifically, the Commission proposes to adopt the Individual Location
Longley-Rice model set forth in CS Docket No. 98-201 as revised for
analog signals in the SHVIA proceeding, i.e., the SHVIA ILLR model,
with appropriate modifications, as the method for prediction of digital
television signal strengths. Consistent with the STELA, the Commission
is also proposing to use the DTV noise-limited service contour values
in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) as the standard for determining whether a
predicted field strength is sufficient for reception of a signal at an
individual location. This ``digital TV ILLR model'' and standard will
be specified as the required method for making presumptive
determinations of an individual household's eligibility for satellite
retransmission of the distant network signals. The Commission requests
comment on the proposals for a digital TV ILLR model as set forth
herein.
7. The prediction model proposed addresses the statutory change in
the definition of an unserved household from an ``outdoor antenna'' to
an ``antenna'' and takes into account terrain, morphology (buildings
and similar man-made land uses), and other land cover variations, some
of which were recognized in our development of the SHVIA ILLR model but
still are yet to be evaluated and accepted by the scientific and
technical community. Inasmuch as the digital signals of digital low
power TV (including digital Class A) and digital TV translator stations
use the same transmission standard as full service stations, the
Commission believes that the same model will be capable of serving to
provide predictions of the signal strengths of all types of digital TV
stations. That is, the Commission tentatively concludes that the same
digital TV model will provide predictions that are equally reliable and
accurate for full service, low power and TV translator digital signals.
The Commission therefore proposes to use the new digital TV ILLR model
for prediction of the signal strengths of all three of these types of
digital TV stations. It also believes that this model will account for
multicast as well as primary streams that are transmitted by a station
and affiliated with one or more networks. The Commission requests
comment on this proposal and its tentative conclusion. The Commission
also proposes to establish a procedure through which parameters used in
the digital TV ILLR model can be adjusted based on new information that
may become available and other refinements. This process will provide
for continued refinement of the model on the basis of reliable
technical information, as it becomes available.
[[Page 46887]]
8. The analog SHVIA ILLR model that will serve as the basis for our
digital TV ILLR model is similar to the service coverage predictive
model that the Commission established for evaluating television
coverage and interference prediction, as set forth in its Office of
Engineering and Technology's (OET) OET Bulletin No. 69. However,
whereas the Longley-Rice model for coverage and interference prediction
provides estimates of aggregate service availability (including losses
due to interference), the SHVIA ILLR model provides estimates only of
field strength at individual locations (and it does not include
consideration of interference). The SHVIA ILLR model does not replace
the current Commission rules for field strength contours in Sec.
73.683 or for prediction of coverage for non-satellite distant signal
eligibility purposes in Sec. 73.684. In fact, the SHVIA ILLR model
could identify unserved households lying within a station's former
Grade B contour and, likewise, identify served households outside that
contour.
9. The SHVIA ILLR model incorporates features to account for the
radio propagation environment and the receiving system conventionally
assumed to be used by viewers to achieve service with an antenna. Given
that digital and analog television signals are transmitted in the same
frequency bands, the factors affecting propagation of signals using the
two different modulation methods and the background noise level are the
same. The Commission does not believe that it needs to modify any of
the features of the SHVIA ILLR model that describe propagation and the
background noise levels and is not proposing to modify those elements
of the model. The Commission also observed that the ``planning
factors'' that describe a set of assumptions for the television
reception system are different in some important respects for analog
and digital signals. However, with the exception of antenna location
and performance and certain other factors relating to propagation that
are discussed in the following paragraphs, the Commission does not
believe that it needs to consider those differences for purposes of the
proposed digital TV ILLR model because they are incorporated into the
threshold signal level for reception for service, which the STELA
directs to be set at the noise-limited levels specified in Sec.
73.622(e)(1).
10. The Commission also does not see any need for changing the
model to reflect the added reference to network affiliated multicast
streams. The prediction for a television broadcast signal applies
regardless of the content. If a household is predicted to receive a
station, then all of that station's broadcast streams would be
received. Therefore, the Commission proposes to make no special
adjustment in the model to implement this change in the definition of
unserved households. The Commission requests comment on these aspects
of the proposed digital TV ILLR model.
11. The aspects of the SHVIA ILLR model that are different for
digital and analog signals and that the Commission needs to modify or
consider modifying in the new point-to-point predictive model for
digital signals include antenna location (outdoor vs. indoor) and
performance, time and location variability factors, and land use and
land cover. The Commission discusses its proposals for changes to the
SHVIA ILLR model to address these aspects of the new digital TV ILLR
model for prediction of DTV signal strengths and its proposal for a
procedure for the continued refinement of the model as new information
may become available in the following sections. The proposed amendments
to the Commission's rules to implement the new digital TV ILLR model
are set forth in Appendix A in the NPRM, and the proposed digital TV
ILLR model will be described in a new OET Bulletin No. 73, a draft of
which is attached as Appendix B in the NPRM and NOI.
12. The Commission proposes to uphold any previous findings of
eligibility for delivery of distant signals based on the digital TV
ILLR predictive model, in the event that it updates that model at some
point in the future and a prediction from the updated model indicates
that the location can receive service from a local network station. The
Commission believes that ``grandfathering'' the eligibility of
households in such cases would be appropriate to avoid disruption of
the existing services to which households have been accustomed.
13. Antenna Location and Performance. The Commission believes that
the current standard for an outdoor antenna as specified in the DTV
planning factors in OET Bulletin No. 69 should be used in predicting
digital television signal strengths at individual locations. As
indicated above, the STELA revises the definition of an unserved
household by changing the reference to the antenna used to receive
service from a ``conventional, stationary outdoor rooftop antenna'' to
an ``antenna.'' The reception model (planning factors) for digital
television service assumes that a viewer uses an outdoor antenna with a
certain level of gain mounted at 10 meters (33 feet) above ground
(roof-top level). Those antenna location and performance parameters are
reflected in the field strength values defining the analog Grade B and
digital noise-limited contours in Sec. Sec. 73.683(a) and
73.622(e)(1), respectively. The STELA mandates use of the digital
television signal strength standard in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) or a
successor regulation. Thus, we believe that STELA's specification of
the signal strength intensity standard incorporated into our rules
implies use of an outdoor antenna to receive service.
14. However, the Commission believes that Congress's use of the
term ``antenna'' in the STELA grants the Commission greater flexibility
to take into account different types of antennas than was previously
available. In addition, Congress and representatives of the direct
broadcast satellite industry have previously raised concerns as to
whether the Commission should consider certain issues relating to the
location and performance of actual antennas consumers use to receive
DTV signals. In the SHVERA, Congress directed the Commission to
investigate whether the noise-limited DTV service standard should be
revised to take into account the types of antennas that are available
to consumers. The Commission concluded in the 2005 Report to Congress
that the existing DTV planning factor assumptions for antenna gain,
orientation, and placement were appropriate and should not be altered.
It also specifically concluded that the digital television signal
strength standards in the Commission's rules should not be modified to
account for the fact that an antenna can be mounted on a roof or placed
within a home and can be fixed or capable of rotating. In this regard,
it concluded that it would be impractical to attempt to account for
indoor reception conditions in the DTV planning factors and also stated
that it would be impracticable to establish a regime whereby households
with indoor antennas are subject to different signal strength standards
than those with outdoor antennas. It noted that difficulty would arise
in setting and applying standards for situations in which a household
could not use an outdoor antenna.
15. In view of the Commission's findings in the 2005 Report to
Congress and the relevance of those findings to the digital signal
intensity standard that Congress specified in the STELA, the Commission
believes that the current standard for an outdoor antenna as specified
in the DTV planning factors should be used in predicting digital
television signal strengths at individual locations. The Commission
therefore
[[Page 46888]]
proposes to include that outdoor antenna standard (with some
adjustments for height consistent with the analog ILLR model) in the
new digital TV ILLR model that will be used in making distant signal
eligibility determinations under the STELA. The Commission also
believes that it would be appropriate to use the receive antenna gain
and front-to-back ratios specified in the planning factors for the
performance capabilities of the outdoor receive antenna used in making
predictions, as those values are consistent with the DTV noise-limited
service contour standard in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) and outdoor antennas
performing at (or better) than those values are readily available. The
Commission requests comment on these proposals, including whether it
should adopt gain and front-to-back specifications for the receive
antenna that are different from those set forth in the planning
factors.
16. Using the outdoor model may result in instances where a
consumer who either cannot use an outdoor antenna or cannot receive or
cannot receive service using an outdoor antenna and is not able to
receive a station's service with an indoor antenna will be found
ineligible for satellite delivery of a distant network signal. The
Commission remains concerned about such instances, and therefore is
again inviting comment and suggestions and new information that would
provide a solution for those satellite television subscribers who
either are not able to use an outdoor antenna or cannot receive service
using an outdoor antenna and cannot receive service with an indoor
antenna. In this regard, the Commission is particularly interested in
new ideas and information that have been developed in the time since
the 2005 Report to Congress. For commenters who advocate including an
indoor antenna in the model, the Commission requests detailed technical
information regarding the specific standards to be used for all aspects
of the transmission path including antenna characteristics, building
penetration loss, multipath effects, etc. In addition, such commenters
should provide detailed information regarding how those parameters
should be applied within a standard model given the variety of
situations that could arise, and how to develop a model that would also
be valid for consumers with outdoor antennas. The Commission seeks
comment on how to develop a model that could vary depending on whether
the subscriber lives in a multiple dwelling unit or a single family
home, or whether the household is in an urban area or in a rural area.
Further, the Commission seeks comment on how to ensure that such a
flexible model would not be abused by specification of incorrect
parameters describing the location for which a prediction is to be
made.
17. Time and Location Variability Factors. Consistent with its
findings in the 2005 Report to Congress, the Commission proposes to
modify the time variability factor of the SHVIA ILLR model to 90% as
used in the DTV planning factors and to continue to use 50% as the
location variability in the digital TV ILLR model. The Commission
requests comment on these proposals. Parties commenting on this issue
who believe that alternative specifications for the time and location
variability factors should be used are requested to provide new
information, data and analyses that were not available at the time of
the Inquiry to support their positions.
18. The field strength of television signals, like that of other
radiofrequency signals, varies with time and location. That is,
television signal strengths vary over time at the same location and
also vary from location to location, often very short distances apart,
when observed at the same time. These variations of field strength with
time and location are incorporated into the television planning models.
For analog TV, the SHVIA ILLR model defines service using the F(50,50)
field strength curves in Sec. 73.699 of the Commission's rules. The
Commission notes that DTV service differs in that it is based on use of
F(50,90) field strength curves, as derived from the F(50,50) and
F(50,10) field strength curves in Sec. 73.699 of our rules, to define
a DTV station's noise-limited contour. The F(50,90) service contour
means at least 50% of the locations can be expected to receive a signal
that exceeds the field strength value at least 90% of the time. The
Commission also notes that the field strength standard for analog
reception (the Grade B contour value) incorporates an adjustment to
raise the F(50,50) values to F(50,90).
19. In the Inquiry that provided information used in the 2005
Report to Congress, the Commission did not find EchoStar's and H&E's
position on changing the time variability factor values for DTV
persuasive. In this regard, it noted that radiofrequency signal
propagation is always statistical in nature and that the power and/or
antenna height needed to approach 100% reliability increases in a non-
linear manner. The Commission also observed that the current values
were established based on an industry-Government consensus that relied
on the traditional TV service model that worked well for analog TV
service and that, as argued by the broadcasters, changing the time
variability factor values to 99% reliability would greatly shrink local
DTV service areas. It further observed, as pointed out by Meintel,
Sgrignoli and Wallace, consulting engineers, that the assumed 10%
reduction in service availability occurs at the outermost limit of a
station's service area and is not the typical figure for time
reliability across a station's entire service area. As the distance to
a station's transmitter decreases, time availability increases. The
Commission stated that households at the edge of a station's service
area could also improve their reception (and thereby reduce or
eliminate periods when the station's signal is not available) by
mounting their antennas higher, using higher gain antennas, or using
low-noise pre-amplifiers at their antennas. No commenter suggested
changing the location variability factor and the Commission stated that
it knew of no considerations that would lead it to recommend changing
from the current median value for this factor. The Commission seeks
comment on whether there should be any changes to this factor in the
context of digital signals, which are subject to the so-called cliff
effect that results in full loss of service if the signal falls below a
small amount below the service threshold.
20. Land Use and Land Cover Factors. The land use and land cover
(``LULC'') data provides information on building structures and other
man-made terrestrial features and on other land cover variations such
as forests and open land that can affect radio propagation. Inclusion
of this data in the prediction methodology of the SHVIA ILLR TV
computer model significantly enhanced the accuracy and reliability of
its signal strength predictions. The method for considering these land
cover factors is to assign certain signal loss values, in addition to
those already implicit in the model, as a function of the LULC category
of the reception point. More specifically, the field strength predicted
by the basic Longley-Rice model is reduced by the clutter loss value
associated with the respective LULC category for the location.
Reception point environments at individual locations are classified in
terms of the codes used in the LULC database of the United States
Geological Survey (USGS).
21. The Commission proposes to continue to apply the LULC
categories and clutter loss values for describing land use and land
cover features in the
[[Page 46889]]
digital TV ILLR model in the same manner as currently incorporated into
the SHVIA ILLR model. These values were specified in the SHVIA First
Report and Order. We recognize that these parameters were the subject
of differing views in the inquiry we conducted in preparing the 2005
Report to Congress. Therein, it was concluded that the clutter loss
values used in the current SHVIA ILLR model strike the correct balance,
noting that this has been borne out by the data on the model's
performance, which shows that using the values adopted by the
Commission for the SHVIA ILLR model produce approximately an equal
number of over-predictions as under-predictions. Thus, we have found a
range of values, including zero, that correspond to different land
cover types are valid. We also observe that the Commission further
indicated that it believed that for any digital model that may be
developed, the values currently in use for the analog model would
similarly yield accurate results. The Commission requests comment on
the appropriate clutter loss values for predicting digital television
field strengths. It is particularly interested in new information and
data that may have been developed since 2005. In this regard, the
Commission also requests comment and information regarding any of the
additional LULC categories and data that, at the time of our
development of the SHVIA ILLR model, were yet to be evaluated and
accepted by the scientific and technical community and have since
become accepted by that community.
22. Analog Low Power TV and TV Translator Stations. With respect to
the continued operation of analog Low-Power Television (LPTV), Class A,
and TV Translator stations that retransmit in analog format the content
of local digital network-affiliated television stations, the Commission
tentatively concludes that the existing predictive methods specified in
FCC OET Bulletin No. 72 should continue to apply. The STELA requires
the Commission ``* * * to account for the continuing operation of
translator stations and low power television stations.'' Although all
full-service television stations were converted fully to digital
operation by June 12, 2009, LPTV, Class A, and TV Translator stations
were not required to convert and most of those stations continue to
broadcast in analog format. For those stations, the Commission believes
that there is no reason to change the SHVIA ILLR model that has been in
use for several years, and so proposes to continue to specify the
procedure described in OET-72 for determining the eligibility of
viewers with respect to those analog stations.
23. Procedure for Continued Refinement of the Digital TV ILLR
Model. As indicated, the STELA requires that the Commission establish
procedures for continued refinement in the application of the digital
TV ILLR model through use of additional data as it becomes available.
The Commission believes the most efficient, effective, fair,
transparent and timely approach for revising the digital TV ILLR model
if new information becomes available is to hold open the docket in this
proceeding and conduct further rule making to consider possible changes
to OET Bulletin No. 73 (which will describe the model and be referenced
in our rules) to implement improvements to the model. This proposal is
consistent with the Commission's past action concerning the SHVIA
model. Given that the digital TV ILLR model will be incorporated into
its rules, the Commission believes that this proposal also is
consistent with the requirements of Section 553 of the Administrative
Procedures Act. Under this proposal, parties with new data, analysis or
other information relating to improving the predictive model could
submit requests to modify the model under the instant docket. OET would
evaluate such requests and prepare a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
consideration by the Commission. The Commission also could initiate
rulemaking action on its own motion. The Commission invites comment on
this proposal to use its standard notice and comment rulemaking
procedure for updating the digital TV ILLR model and its applications
and also asks for suggestions for modifications and alternative plans.
24. Stations to Consider for Distant Signals. The Commission does
not propose to modify the proposed digital TV ILLR model to address the
STELA provision that a subscriber is eligible for delivery of distant
network signals only if he or she is unserved by stations located in
the same DMA. Under the SHVIA and the SHVERA, the predicted signal
strengths of all the stations affiliated with the same network were
considered, regardless of those stations' DMAs. That is, if a satellite
subscriber wanted to receive the distant signal of the XYZ network,
then the predicted results from any XYZ network affiliated stations
would be analyzed for that subscriber's location and if one or more of
those affiliated stations were predicted to deliver a signal of the
requisite intensity, the subscriber would be predicted ``served'' by
that network and not eligible for a distant signal from that network
unless each of the stations predicted to serve the subscriber granted a
waiver. The STELA changes this regime by specifying that only ``local''
stations are to be considered, i.e., stations that are located in the
same DMA as the satellite subscriber instead of examining any station
of the same network regardless of DMA.
25. Rather than modify the proposed digital TV ILLR model itself to
address this change, the Commission proposes to change the way the
model's results are to be used. That is, instead of considering any
network station that the model predicts to be available in the
determination of a subscriber's eligibility for a distant signal, we
propose to require satellite carriers to consider only the signals of
network stations located in the subscriber's DMA. The Commission seeks
comment on this proposal. It notes that this statutory change to
consideration of only local network affiliated stations will reduce the
number of stations that need to be considered when determining
eligibility for distant network signals and thereby also reduce the
burden associated with waiver requests by reducing the number of
stations from which a waiver would have to be requested. As noted, this
statutory change will also reduce the testing burden. The Commission
also seeks comment on any other methodological or other changes it
should consider to minimize consumer burdens.
On-Site Signal Measurement--Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
26. The STELA, similar to the SHVERA, provides that if the ILLR
model predicts that a satellite subscriber receives a local network
station of sufficient field strength, the subscriber may request an on-
site signal strength test to determine definitively whether a local
signal can be received at his/her location at the specified signal
intensity and directs the Commission to complete its rulemaking
proceeding in ET Docket No. 06-94 on establishment of a measurement
procedure. The measurement procedure is to be used to determine whether
the signal of a network-affiliated station is of sufficient intensity
(field strength) to be received at the subscriber's location, i.e.,
meets or exceeds the standard in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) of the Commission's
rules. Essentially, the measurement procedure provides an option for
obtaining an empirical, rather than predictive, determination of the
signal strength available at a location. The results of measurements
would be considered more accurate than the results of the predictive
model in all
[[Page 46890]]
cases. Because the measurement procedure and predictive model are both
intended to determine the same issue, the underlying service model and
planning factors on which each is based need to be consistent (and the
Commission's proposals for the predictive model herein and for the
measurement procedure in the SHVERA NPRM use the same service model/
planning factors).
27. The STELA raises three issues regarding the measurement
procedure not addressed in the SHVERA NPRM: (1) The stations whose
signals are to be measured; (2) the antenna to use in performing on-
location testing; and (3) the program stream from a station in the
market to be measured. Generally, the commenting parties in ET Docket
No, 06-94 agreed with our proposals to largely base the measurement
procedures for digital television signals on those already in use for
measuring analog signals with specific modifications to account for the
differences between analog and digital television signals. The
Commission seeks comment on any new developments or changed positions
in order to update the record. To the extent that commenters' positions
remain the same, they need not submit additional or repetitive comments
reiterating information and positions that were previously filed.
28 . Stations to be Tested. As indicated, the STELA differs from
the SHVIA and SHVERA in that it specifies that only ``local'' stations,
i.e., stations located within the same DMA as the subscriber's
household, are to be considered in determining a subscriber's
eligibility. This change similarly affects the measurement procedures.
Previously, a testing entity had to measure the signals of all stations
affiliated with a specific network. However, under the STELA, a testing
entity is to consider only the signals of those network-affiliated
stations that are located in the same DMA as the satellite subscriber.
The Commission proposes to modify its proposed rules for measurement of
DTV signals for purposes of determining eligibility for delivery of
distant network signals by satellite providers to incorporate this
change. The Commission seeks comment on this proposal. As noted, the
statutory change could reduce burdens on both testers and consumers as
fewer stations would need to be tested, which should result in lower
costs for consumers and consume less time. Consistent with the STELA's
direction that it seek ways to minimize consumer burdens associated
with on-location testing, the Commission requests comment and
suggestions regarding steps it could take to further minimize the
burden of on-location testing on consumers.
29. Indoor Measurements. The Commission proposes to adopt the same
approach with regard to measurement of digital television signal
strengths as it proposed with regard to the digital TV ILLR model: to
limit measurement to outdoor antennas. The discussion in the SHVERA
NPRM only addressed outdoor signal measurements, as the SHVERA
specified use of an outdoor antenna. In view of the discussed change in
the STELA from the term ``conventional, stationary, outdoor rooftop
receiving antenna'' to the term ``antenna,'' we are revisiting the
issue of the antenna to be used in testing. The principal alternative
to a conventional, stationary outdoor antenna that is currently used by
consumers is a moveable indoor antenna. As noted in the NPRM
discussion, in the 2005 Report to Congress the Commission concluded
that many factors make it impractical to develop a simple, reliable and
accurate model of indoor television reception. Those same factors,
including the performance expected of an indoor antenna, the placement
of the antenna, and the location within a structure or room where the
antenna is located make it difficult to develop an indoor television
signal measurement procedure. First, because of the variability of
indoor reception conditions across different structures and in
different rooms and locations within the same structure, there is no
standard model and planning factors for indoor reception, and in
particular there is no standard antenna specification for such
reception. The wide variation in indoor viewing situations makes it
difficult to specify a standard model that meaningfully relates to any
typical indoor viewing location. In addition, the performance of indoor
antennas available to consumers varies significantly. Second, signal
strengths typically vary significantly at different locations within a
room and so there is the question of where to place the antenna--should
it be in the center of the room, next to a wall or a window, or at the
location of the television? What if the consumer changes the location
of the television in the future? Also, there are questions regarding
antenna height. Should the testing antenna be placed one or two meters
or some other distance above the floor?
30. In addition to the practical difficulties of specifying a
standard model for indoor reception, as discussed, the signal intensity
standard in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) assumes an outdoor antenna. For these
reasons, the Commission proposes not to specify a procedure for indoor
measurement of DTV signal strengths. It is, however, requesting
comments and suggestions for alternative approaches for making
eligibility determinations for situations where consumers are not able
to use an outdoor antenna to receive local television signals. Such
approaches could include options for measurement of signals indoors.
Commenters advocating development of a procedure for indoor measurement
of DTV signals should provide detailed technical information on all
aspects of such procedures, including a standard indoor antenna and
specific measurement procedures that address the considerations
indicated above. Such parties are also requested to specify proposals
for indoor measurement that would be suitable for adoption into our
rules.
31. Multicast signals. The Commission tentatively concludes not to
adopt special testing procedures to measure network signals that are
transmitted on multicast streams, rather than on a primary stream. The
testing protocol measures a station's signal at the subscriber
location. Whether the station's signal includes one or more program
streams or networks, there is no change needed in the test employed
because the presence of multiple streams has no bearing on the signal
intensity or receivability. The Commission believes the tester, the
satellite carrier and the network affiliate involved in the conduct of
the test will be able to identify the network affiliates in the
broadcast signal. If the signal is found to be available at the
subscriber location at the requisite intensity, then any and all of the
networks in that signal will likewise be available. If the station's
signal is not found to be present at the requisite intensity, the
subscriber will be unserved with respect to the networks broadcast on
the streams in that signal, unless the subscriber receives a signal of
sufficient strength from another local station affiliated with the same
network or networks. The Commission seeks comment on this tentative
conclusion.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification
32. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA),\1\
requires that an initial regulatory flexibility analysis be prepared
for notice and comment
[[Page 46891]]
rulemaking proceedings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule
will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.'' \2\ The RFA generally defines
the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms
``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental
jurisdiction.'' \3\ In addition, the term ``small business'' has the
same meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small
Business Act.\4\ A ``small business concern'' is one which: (1) Is
independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of
operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the
Small Business Administration (SBA).\5\
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\1\ The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601-612, has been amended by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA),
Public Law 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996).
\2\ 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
\3\ 5 U.S.C. 601(6).
\4\ 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the definition
of ``small business concern'' in the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C.
632). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(3), the statutory definition of a
small business applies ``unless an agency, after consultation with
the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and
after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more
definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of
the agency and publishes such definition(s) in the Federal
Register.''
\5\ 15 U.S.C. 632.
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33. In the NPRM, the Commission proposed to amend its rules to
prescribe a point-to-point predictive model for reliably and
presumptively determining the ability of individual locations, through
use of an antenna, to receive signals in accordance with the signal
intensity standard in Sec. 73.622(e)(1) of the Commission's rules, 47
CFR 73.622(e)(1), or a successor regulation, including the ability to
account for the continuing operation of low power television and TV
translator stations.
34. Television station licensees, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
operators, and other Direct to Home (DTH) Satellite operators may use
the proposed technique to establish the eligibility or non-eligibility
of individual households for satellite delivery of distant television
programming. These determinations will usually be made at the point of
sale of satellite receiving equipment for homes and will tend to
increase the number of eligible customers. The changes proposed are of
a technical, scientific nature, without a substantial economic impact.
In addition, the primary economic impact of these proposals will be
their indirect effect on individual consumers.
35. Therefore, we certify that the proposals in this Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, if adopted, will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. If commenters believe
that the proposals discussed in the Notice require additional RFA
analysis, they should include a discussion of these issues in their
comments and additionally label them as RFA comments. The Commission
will send a copy of the Notice, including a copy of this initial
certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA.\6\
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\6\ See 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
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Further Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
36. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as
amended (RFA),\7\ the Commission has prepared this present Further
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible
significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules
proposed in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (FNPRM). Written
public comments are requested on this Further IRFA. Comments must be
identified as responses to the Further IRFA and must be filed by the
deadlines specified on the first page of this NPRM and FNPRM. The
Commission will send a copy of this NPRM and FNPRM, including this
IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration (SBA).\8\
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\7\ See 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601-612, has been
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996, (SBREFA) Public Law 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996).
\8\ See 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
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A. Need for and Objectives of the Proposed Rules. In the NPRM
portion of this action, we seek comment on proposals for establishing a
predictive model for determining the signal strength of digital
television signals, including low power TV stations (Class A, LPTV and
TV translator stations), at individual locations and for using that
model to determine eligibility for delivery of distant network-
affiliated television broadcast signals by direct broadcast satellite
services. In addition, we seek comment on our proposal to continue to
use the current standard for an outdoor antenna as specified in the DTV
planning factors in predicting digital television signal strengths at
individual. In the FNPRM discussion, we seek comment on two additional
proposals relating to our proposed procedure for measurement of the
strength of digital television signals at individual locations in ET
Docket No 06-94. First, consistent with the new STELA provisions for
eligibility, we propose to specify that a testing entity is to consider
and test only the signals of those network affiliated stations that are
located in the same DMA as the satellite subscriber. Second, we propose
to specify the use of an outdoor antenna in measuring digital
television signal strengths and, consistent with the change in the
STELA to specifying an ``antenna'' rather than an ``outdoor antenna,''
we also will consider comments and suggestions for solutions for
situations where consumers are not able to use an outdoor antenna to
receive local television signals. We indicate that such solutions could
include options for measurement of signals indoors. This NPRM and FNPRM
begins the process of implementing requirements of the Satellite
Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA).\9\
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\9\ See Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010,
Title V of the ``American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of
2010,'' Public Law 111-175, 124 Stat. 1218 (2010) relating to
copyright licensing and carriage of broadcast signals by satellite
carriers, codified in scattered sections of 17 and 47 U.S.C.
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B. Legal Basis: The legal basis for the rule changes proposed in
the NPRM and FNPRM is contained in Sections 1, 4(i) and (j), and 339 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i) and
(j), and 339 (including amendments enacted in the Satellite Television
Extension and Localism Act of 2010).
C. Description and Estimates of the Number of Small Entities to
Which the Rules Adopted in this Notice may apply. The RFA directs
agencies to provide a description of and, where feasible, an estimate
of the number of small entities that will be affected by the proposed
rules.\10\ The RFA generally defines the term ``small entity'' as
having the same meaning as the terms ``small business,'' ``small
organization,'' and ``small governmental jurisdiction.'' \11\ In
addition, the term ``small business'' has the same meaning as the term
``small business concern'' under the Small Business Act.\12\ A small
business concern is one which: (1) Is independently owned and operated;
(2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any
additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration
(SBA).\13\
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\10\ 5 U.S.C. 603(b)(3), 604(a)(3).
\11\ Id., 601(6).
\12\ 5 U.S.C. 601(3) (incorporating by reference the definition
of ``small business concern'' in the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C.
632). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(3), the statutory definition of a
small business applies ``unless an agency, after consultation with
the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and
after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more
definitions of such terms which are appropriate to the activities of
the agency and publishes such definitions(s) in the Federal
Register.''
\13\ 15 U.S.C. 632.
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The proposed rules contained in the Further NPRM seek comment on
and
[[Page 46892]]
modify previous proposals to measure the strength of digital television
signals at any particular location, as a means of determining whether
any particular household is ``unserved'' by a local DTV network station
and is therefore eligible to receive a distant DTV network signal
retransmitted by a Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) service provider.
Therefore, DBS providers will be directly and primarily affected by the
proposed rules, if adopted. In addition, the proposed rules, if
adopted, will also directly affect those local digital television
stations that broadcast network programming. Therefore, in this Further
IRFA, we consider, and invite comment on, the impact of the proposed
rules on small digital television broadcast stations, small DBS
providers, and other small entities. A description of such small
entities, as well as an estimate of the number of such small entities,
is provided in the following paragraphs.
Nationwide, there are a total of approximately 29.6 million small
businesses, according to the SBA.\14\ A ``small organization'' is
generally ``any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned
and operated and is not dominant in its field.'' \15\ Nationwide, as of
2002, there were approximately 1.6 million small organizations.\16\ The
term ``small governmental jurisdiction'' is defined generally as
``governments of cities, towns, townships, villages, school districts,
or special districts, with a population of less than fifty thousand.''
\17\ Census Bureau data for 2002 indicate that there were 87,525 local
governmental jurisdictions in the United States.\18\ We estimate that,
of this total, 84,377 entities were ``small governmental
jurisdictions.'' \19\ Thus, we estimate that most governmental
jurisdictions are small.
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\14\ See SBA, Office of Advocacy, ``Frequently Asked
Questions,'' https://web.sba.gov/faqs/faqindex.cfm?areaID=24 (revised
Sept. 2009).
\15\ 5 U.S.C. 601(4).
\16\ Independent Sector, The New Nonprofit Almanac & Desk
Reference (2002).
\17\ 5 U.S.C. 601(5).
\18\ U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United
States: 2006, Section 8, page 272, Table 415.
\19\ We assume that the villages, school districts, and special
districts are small, and total 48,558. See U.S. Census Bureau,
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2006, section 8, page
273, Table 417. For 2002, Census Bureau data indicate that the total
number of county, municipal, and township governments nationwide was
38,967, of which 35,819 were small. Id.
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Cable Television Distribution Services. The ``Cable and Other
Program Distribution'' census category includes cable systems
operators, closed circuit television services, direct broadcast
satellite services, multipoint distribution systems, satellite master
antenna systems, and subscription television services. Since 2007,
these services have been defined within the broad economic census
category of Wired Telecommunications Carriers; that category is defined
as follows: ``This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged
in operating and/or providing access to transmission facilities and
infrastructure that they own and/or lease for the transmission of
voice, data, text, sound, and video using wired telecommunications
networks. Transmission facilities may be based on a single technology
or a combination of technologies. Establishments in this industry use
the wired telecommunications network facilities that they operate to
provide a variety of services, such as wired telephony services,
including VoIP services; wired (cable) audio and video programming
distribution; and wired broadband Internet services. By exception,
establishments providing satellite television distribution services
using facilities and infrastructure that they operate are included in
this industry.'' The SBA has developed a small business size standard
for this category, which is: All such firms having 1,500 or fewer
employees. To gauge small business prevalence for these cable services
the Commission must, however, use current census data that are based on
the previous category of Cable and Other Program Distribution and its
associated size standard; that size standard was: All such firms having
$13.5 million or less in annual receipts. According to Census Bureau
data for 2002, there were a total of 1,191 firms in this previous
category that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 1,087 firms
had annual receipts of under $10 million, and 43 firms had receipts of
$10 million or more but less than $25 million. Thus, the majority of
these firms can be considered small.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Service. DBS service is a
nationally distributed subscription service that delivers video and
audio programming via satellite to a small parabolic ``dish'' antenna
at the subscriber's location. Because DBS provides subscription
services, DBS falls within the SBA-recognized definition of Wired
Telecommunications Carriers. However, as discussed above, the
Commission relies on the previous size standard, Cable and Other
Subscription Programming, which provides that a small entity is one
with $13.5 million or less in annual receipts. Currently, only two
operators--DirecTV and EchoStar Communications Corporation (EchoStar)--
hold licenses to provide DBS service, which requires a great investment
of capital for operation. Both currently offer subscription services
and report annual revenues that are in excess of the threshold for a
small business. Because DBS service requires significant capital, the
Commission believes it is unlikely that a small entity as defined by
the SBA would have the financial wherewithal to become a DBS licensee.
Nevertheless, given the absence of specific data on this point, the
Commission acknowledges the possibility that there are entrants in this
field that may not yet have generated $13.5 million in annual receipts,
and therefore may be categorized as a small business, if independently
owned and operated.
Television Broadcasting. The proposed rules and policies apply to
television broadcast licensees and potential licensees of television
service. The SBA defines a television broadcast station as a small
business if such station has no more than $14 million in annual
receipts.\20\ Business concerns included in this industry are those
``primarily engaged in broadcasting images together with sound.'' \21\
The Commission has estimated the number of licensed commercial
television stations to be 1,392.\22\ According to Commission staff
review of the BIA/Kelsey, MAPro Television Database (``BIA'') as of
April 7, 2010, about 1,015 of an estimated 1,380 commercial television
stations \23\ (or about 74 percent) have revenues of $14 million or
less and thus qualify as small entities under the SBA definition. The
Commission has estimated the number of licensed non-commercial
educational
[[Page 46893]]
(NCE) television stations to be 390.\24\ We note, however, that, in
assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above
definition, business (control) affiliations \25\ must be included. Our
estimate, therefore, likely overstates the number of small entities
that might be affected by our action, because the revenue figure on
which it is based does not include or aggregate revenues from
affiliated companies. The Commission does not compile and otherwise
does not have access to information on the revenue of NCE stations that
would permit it to determine how many such stations would qualify as
small entities.
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\20\ See 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS Code 515120.
\21\ Id. This category description continues, ``These
establishments operate television broadcasting studios and
facilities for the programming and transmission of programs to the
public. These establishments also produce or transmit visual
programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in
turn broadcast the programs to the public on a predetermined
schedule. Programming may originate in their own studios, from an
affiliated network, or from external sources.'' Separate census
categories pertain to businesses primarily engaged in producing
programming. See Motion Picture and Video Production, NAICS code
512110; Motion Picture and Video Distribution, NAICS Code 512120;
Teleproduction and Other Post-Production Services, NAICS Code
512191; and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries, NAICS Code
512199.
\22\ See News Release, ``Broadcast Station Totals as of December
31, 2009,'' 2010 WL 676084 (FCC) (dated Feb. 26, 2010) (``Broadcast
Station Totals''); also available at https://www.fcc.gov/mb/.
\23\ We recognize that this total differs slightly from that
contained in Broadcast Station Totals, supra note 446; however, we
are using BIA's estimate for purposes of this revenue comparison.
\24\ See Broadcast Station Totals, supra note 239.
\25\ ``[Business concerns] are affiliates of each other when one
concern controls or has the power to control the other or a third
party or parties controls or has the power to control both.'' 13 CFR
121.103(a)(1).
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In addition, an element of the definition of ``small business'' is
that the entity not be dominant in its field of operation. We are
unable at this time to define or quantify the criteria that would
establish whether a specific t