Office of Engineering and Technology Seeks Comment on Updated OET-69 Software, 11129-11132 [2013-03486]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2013 / Proposed Rules
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(trifluoromethyl)-3,6-dihydro-1(2H)pyrimidinyl)-4-fluorobenzoyl]-N′isopropyl sulfamide and N-[4-chloro-2fluoro-5-(([(isopropylamino)sulfonyl]
amino)carbonyl) phenyl]urea, calculated
as the stoichiometric equivalent of
saflufenacil, in or on the commodities.
Adequate enforcement methodology
(liquid chromatography/mass
spectrometry/mass spectrometry
(LCMS/MS) methods D0603/02 (plants)
and L0073/01 (livestock)) is available to
enforce the tolerance expression.
Contact: Bethany Benbow, (703) 347–
8072, email address:
benbow.bethany@epa.gov.
New Tolerance Exemptions
1. PP IN–10524. (EPA–HQ–OPP–
2012–0908). Ecolab, Inc., 370 N.
Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN 55102,
requests to establish an exemption from
the requirement of a tolerance for
residues of Sorbitan, mono-9octadecenoate, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)
derivs., (Z)- (CAS No. 9005–65–6) when
used as a pesticide inert ingredient in
antimicrobial pesticide formulations
applied to food-contact surfaces in
public eating places, dairy processing
equipment, and food processing
equipment, and utensils in accordance
with 40 CFR 180.940(a). The petitioner
believes no analytical method is needed
because it is not applicable to this inert
ingredient petition. Contact: Lisa
Austin, (703) 305–7894, email address:
austin.lisa@epa.gov.
2. PP IN–10527. (EPA–HQ–OPP–
2013–0003). Ecolab, Inc., 370 N.
Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN 55102,
requests to establish an exemption from
the requirement of a tolerance for
residues of FD&C Green No. 3,
Disodium salt, (CAS No. 2353–45–9)
when used as a pesticide inert
ingredient in antimicrobial pesticide
formulations applied to food-contact
surfaces in public eating places, dairy
processing equipment, and food
processing equipment, and utensils in
accordance with 40 CFR 180.940(a). The
petitioner believes no analytical method
is needed because it is not applicable to
this inert ingredient petition. Contact:
Elizabeth Fertich, (703) 347–8560, email
address: fertich.elizabeth@epa.gov.
3. PP IN–10540. (EPA–HQ–OPP–
2013–0043). AgroFresh, Inc., 727
Norristown Road, Spring House, PA
19477–0904, requests to establish an
exemption from the requirement of a
tolerance for residues of Styreneethylene-propylene block copolymer
(CAS No. 108388–87–0), number
average molecular weight greater than
100,000 daltons in or on all raw
agricultural commodities under 40 CFR
180.960 when used as a suspension
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agent in agricultural formulations. The
petitioner believes no analytical method
is needed based on the fact that this
information is generally not required
when all criteria for polymer exemption
are met and when petitioning for an
exemption from the requirements of a
tolerance without any numerical
limitations. Contact: David Lieu, (703)
305–0079, email address:
lieu.david@epa.gov.
4. PP 2E8040. (EPA–HQ–OPP–2013–
0057). Advanced Polymer Technology,
109 Conica Lane, P.O. Box 160,
Harmony, PA 16037, requests to
establish an exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance for residues
of castor oil, polymer with adipic acid,
linoleic acid, oleic acid, and ricinoleic
acid, (CAS No. 1357486–09–9) 3,748
amu under 40 CFR 180.960 when used
as an inert ingredient in pesticide
formulations as a solubilizer without
limitations. Advanced Polymer
Technology is petitioning that castor oil,
polymer with adipic acid, linoleic acid,
oleic acid and ricinoleic acid be exempt
from the requirement of a tolerance
based upon the definition of a low-risk
polymer under 40 CFR 723.250.
Therefore, an analytical method to
determine residues on treated crops is
not relevant. Contact: David Lieu, (703)
305–0079, email address:
lieu.david@epa.gov.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 180
Environmental protection,
Agricultural commodities, Feed
additives, Food additives, Pesticides
and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Dated: February 7, 2013.
Lois Rossi,
Director, Registration Division, Office of
Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013–03600 Filed 2–14–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
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47 CFR Parts 73
[ET Docket No. 13–26 and GN 12–268; DA
13–138]
Office of Engineering and Technology
Seeks Comment on Updated OET–69
Software
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The FCC’s Office of
Engineering and Technology (OET)
announced the release of new software
SUMMARY:
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to perform interference analyses using
the methodology described in its
Bulletin No. 69 (OET–69). This
software, called TVStudy, provides
analysis of coverage and interference of
full-service digital and Class A
television stations. The Commission
plans to use this new software in
connection with the proposed broadcast
television spectrum incentive auction
(incentive auction). OET seeks comment
on the software generally, as well as the
identification of any errors, unexpected
behaviors, or anomalous results
produced in running the software. In
addition, OET solicits comment on the
implementation of various analytical
elements in the software that are not
specifically addressed in OET–69.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or
before March 21, 2013 and reply
comments must be filed on or before
April 5, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Weller, Office of Engineering and
Technology, (202) 418–7397, email:
Robert.Weller@fcc.gov, TTY (202) 418–
2989.
You may submit comments,
identified by ET Docket No. 13–26 and
GN Docket No. 12–268, by any of the
following methods:
• Federal Communications
Commission’s Web Site: https://
fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Robert Weller, Office of
Engineering and Technology, Room 7–
A134, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by email: fcc504@fcc.gov or
phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–418–
0432.
For detailed instructions for
submitting comments and additional
information on the public Notice, see
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this document.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Public Notice ET Docket
No. 13–26 and GN Docket No. 12–268,
DA 13–138 released February 4, 2013.
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
ADDRESSES:
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20554. The full text may also be
downloaded at: www.fcc.gov.
Pursuant to sections 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 the Commission’s
Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS). 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/.
• Paper Filers: Parties who choose to
file by paper must file an original and
one copy 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 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 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes and boxes 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 email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call
the Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202–
418–0432 (tty).
Summary of Public Notice
The FCC’s Office of Engineering and
Technology (OET) announced the
release of new software to perform
interference analyses using the
methodology described in its Bulletin
No. 69 (OET–69). This software, called
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TVStudy, provides analysis of coverage
and interference of full-service digital
and Class A television stations. The
Commission plans to use this new
software in connection with the
proposed broadcast television spectrum
incentive auction (incentive auction).
OET seeks comment on the software
generally, as well as the identification of
any errors, unexpected behaviors, or
anomalous results produced in running
the software. In addition, OET solicits
comment on the implementation of
various analytical elements in the
software that are not specifically
addressed in OET–69.
Background
The Commission developed the
software that is currently used to
implement OET–69 to support the DTV
transition, and it has subsequently been
used to analyze applications to modify
the DTV Table of Channel Allotments.
As such, the software programs
developed by the FCC for those
purposes are based fundamentally on
source code and data from the 1990s
and earlier. Since that time, some of the
underlying datasets have evolved or
have been replaced. In addition, parties
have gained sufficient experience to
have offered FCC staff informal feedback
on the existing programs’ relative
strengths and weaknesses.
It is with these matters in mind that
we have developed the TVStudy
software. The new software operates on
modern computer systems, and it runs
much faster, provides greater accuracy
in modeling and analysis, and is easier
to use and more versatile than the
existing software. In addition, the
TVStudy software will allow us to
perform the types of analyses that are
needed to support the proposed
incentive auction.
An important component of the
proposed incentive auction is the
repacking of broadcast television
stations, including the potential
reassignment of stations to new
operating channels. The Middle Class
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
(Spectrum Act) requires the
Commission to ‘‘make all reasonable
efforts to preserve, as of the date of the
enactment of this Act, the coverage area
and population served of each broadcast
television licensee, as determined using
the methodology described in OET
Bulletin 69 of the Office of Engineering
and Technology.’’ OET–69 describes a
methodology that divides the area
within a digital television station’s
noise-limited coverage contour into
approximately rectangular ‘‘grid cells,’’
and then evaluates these cells for
coverage and, where present,
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interference. The Commission’s
Incentive Auction NPRM, See
Expanding the Economic and
Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum
Through Incentive Auctions, Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 12–118,
Docket No. 12–268, 27 FCC Rcd. 12357
(2012) (Incentive Auction NPRM).
Available at https://transition.fcc.gov/
Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/
db1002/FCC-12-118A1.pdf proposes to
define the ‘‘coverage area’’ of full-power
stations as the geographic area within a
station’s noise-limited contour where its
signal strength is predicted to exceed
the noise-limited service level, both
levels calculated on an F(50,90) basis.
Similarly, the Incentive Auction NPRM
proposes to define the ‘‘coverage area’’
for Class A stations as the geographic
area within a station’s protected contour
where its signal strength is predicted to
exceed the protected service level, both
levels calculated on an F(50,90) basis.
The Incentive Auction NPRM also
proposes to define the ‘‘population
served’’ by full-power stations as the
population within a station’s noiselimited contour where its signal strength
is predicted to exceed the noise-limited
service level on an F(50,90) basis and is
not subject to predicted interference
from other stations, using the protection
ratios specified in OET–69 and the
rules. Similarly, the Incentive Auction
NPRM proposes to define the
‘‘population served’’ by Class A stations
as the population within a station’s
protected contour where its signal
strength is predicted to exceed the
protected service level on an F(50,90)
basis and is not subject to predicted
interference from other stations, using
the protection ratios specified in OET–
69 and the rules.
OET–69 defines certain parameter
values for programmers to use when
developing the software to implement
OET–69’s methodology. In particular,
Table 4 of OET–69 lists parameter
values used by the Fortran Code for the
Longley-Rice (L–R) radio signal
propagation model used in the
implementing software, Tables 5A and
5B list the D/U ratios to be used in
predicting interference, Table 6
describes the performance of the
assumed receiving antennas, and Table
8 describes the elevation-plane
performance of the assumed
transmitting antennas. The foregoing is
not an exhaustive list; OET–69 provides
additional definitions and guidance.
OET–69 does not, however, specify all
of the parameters and methods required
when developing software to implement
OET–69’s methodology. The choices
made in implementing the methodology
of OET–69 can produce different results,
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and such differences can affect a
station’s coverage area and population
served. By making the new TVStudy
software as well as reference copies of
the various databases necessary to run
that software available to the public, we
provide a means for implementing the
OET–69 methodology that ensures
consistency in the results obtained by
the Commission and interested parties.
TVStudy Software
The new TVStudy software is
designed for making rapid coverage and
interference calculations involving
many stations and provides highlydetailed outputs. It is intuitive in its
operation and rapidly produces useful
results. It has been developed in two
parts: (1) A graphical user interface
(implemented in Java), used to establish
the parameters of the study and which
draws data from appropriate databases;
and (2) an analysis engine (implemented
in C), which makes the necessary
calculations to establish coverage and
interference. The outputs include both
summaries of area and population by
station, and detailed signal level
predictions by cell.
We are interested in feedback that
discusses the capabilities of the
TVStudy software to support the
incentive auction and to implement
whatever decisions are made in the
rulemaking proceeding. For example,
one of the options discussed in the
Incentive Auction NPRM requires
identifying specific populations
presently subject to interference so that
new interference is not created. As a
practical matter, such an approach
requires maintaining a database of
interference status at the cell level. The
present software implementing OET–69
that the Commission uses for processing
applications for new TV stations and
modifications to existing stations does
not support creation of such a database.
The present software was designed for
processing individual applications
rather than the concurrent study of
complete, nationwide assignments. We
also seek comment on the new software
generally as a tool for analyzing the
service area coverage, population
served, and interference received by
broadcast television stations.
In developing the TVStudy software,
we have identified various parameter
choices consistent with but not
specified in OET–69 that we believe are
necessary for improved accuracy in our
modeling and analysis. We incorporated
‘‘soft-switches’’ into the TVStudy
software to permit the user to evaluate
the effects of the different choices. We
note that the different parameter choices
may yield results for both coverage and
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interference different from legacy
versions of software that have been used
in the past.
In conducting the proposed incentive
auction, an important objective is that
we use software with improved
accuracy and that makes use of the best
available data to compute estimates of
the coverage area and population served
of each broadcast television licensee
consistent with the provisions of the
Spectrum Act. To that end, we solicit
feedback from stakeholders, experts,
and others on the implementation of the
TVStudy software. Specifically, we
discuss below and invite comment in
the following areas:
• Population data
• Terrain data
• Treatment of inaccurate data in FCC
database
• Treatment of antenna beam tilt
• Calculation of depression angles
• Level of precision of geographic
coordinates
• Establishment of calculation (cell)
grid
• Treatment of internal (Longley-Rice)
warnings
Population Data. Population coverage
in the original DTV Table of Allotments
was calculated using data from the 1990
U.S. Census. According to the U.S.
Census, the population of the United
States increased by about 24 percent
between 1990 and 2010, and the
distribution of population has also
changed. Because the use of 1990
Census data in the present OET–69
software is unlikely to produce an
accurate depiction of present-day DTV
station population coverage, the
TVStudy software is designed to use
2010 U.S. Census data.
Terrain Data. Three-arcsecond digital
terrain data are used in the present
OET–69 software that we used to
develop the original DTV Table of
Allotments. This means that land
elevations are reported every three
seconds of geographic latitude and
longitude (about every 300 feet). The
three-arcsecond database was produced
primarily by automatically scanning and
interpolating large-scale (such as
1:250,000) paper maps, which often
used relatively coarse elevation
contours. A number of versions of the
three-arcsecond terrain database were
released by various agencies, some of
which contained errors. Moreover, the
three-arcsecond terrain database is no
longer being revised, maintained, or
supported by the U.S. Geological
Survey. A new one-arcsecond terrain
database, which has greater resolution
(elevation points are spaced about every
100 feet), has replaced the old three-
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arcsecond terrain database.
Additionally, the one-arcsecond terrain
database is derived from smaller-scale
(e.g. 1:24,000) topographic maps with
more granular elevation data, and the
method for extracting elevation data
from those maps has been improved.
Because continued use of an
unsupported terrain database is likely to
lead to obsolescence and potentially
inaccurate results, the TVStudy software
is designed to use one-arcsecond terrain
data.
Treatment of Inaccurate Data in FCC
Database. We recognize that there may
be instances where the information
entered into the FCC’s broadcast station
database (CDBS) may not be fully
accurate. Examples may include:
• Negative values for beam tilt
• Swapped values for mechanical beam
tilt and orientation
• Missing maximum values for
directional antenna patterns
• Missing or incorrect directional
antenna flags
• ERP value entered in dBk instead of
kilowatts
These sorts of inaccuracies can lead to
incorrect or nonsensical results when
used in a computer program to predict
coverage and interference. We are not
proposing to modify the information in
the underlying CBDS database.
However, we seek comment on what
methods we should use to detect
information that may be inaccurate and
what correction methods we should
incorporate into our use of that
information.
Treatment of Antenna Beam Tilt. All
DTV stations operate directionally in
the elevation plane. That is, the
transmitting antenna is engineered to
focus energy toward populated areas
while minimizing energy radiated
skyward. To accomplish this, most
transmitting antennas are tilted
downward, usually uniformly
(electrically) but sometimes nonuniformly (mechanically), or both. The
actual amount of tilt, if any, is contained
in the CDBS record for each station. The
present software used to implement
OET–69 uses elevation patterns with a
fixed electrical beam tilt (e.g., 0.75° for
full-power stations operating on UHF
channels), and in the development of
the original DTV Table of Allotments,
the actual amount of tilt given in CDBS
was ignored. As a result of ignoring the
actual beam tilt, the direction of main
beam radiation used to project coverage
in the present software may be
incorrect, which can effectively cause it
to ‘‘miss’’ the population being served.
We believe that a better practice in
implementing OET–69 would be to use
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the value for electrical downtilt
specified in CDBS to correct the generic
elevation pattern such that the main
beam is at the angle specified in CDBS
rather than using a fixed value. Because
sufficient information is typically not
available to correctly project the
antenna patterns of stations having
mechanical beam tilt, we do not propose
to use mechanical beam tilt in OET–69
calculations.
Calculation of Depression Angles. The
depression angle is the vertical angle
between the horizontal (at the location
of the DTV transmitting antenna) and
the location of the receive site under
study (cell centroid). An error in the
present software used to implement
OET–69 and to develop the original
DTV Table of Allotments caused this
angle to be incorrectly calculated based
on the antenna height above ground,
rather than the height above mean sea
level. This error can cause the radiated
power toward the cell under study to be
incorrectly calculated, particularly for
stations that have antennas atop tall
mountains (as opposed to tall towers).
The TVStudy software is designed to
avoid causing this error.
Precision of Geographic Coordinates.
The fundamental unit of the U.S.
Census is the Census Block, which
specifies locations to a precision of
0.0000001° (about 0.0004 seconds) of
latitude and longitude. Earlier versions
of software implementing OET–69
rounded or truncated this location data
to the nearest second, discarding some
three orders of precision. This action
often causes the centroid locations of
cells under study to be shifted. While
the original reason for this reduction in
precision are unknown, we believe that
it may have been related to
computational limitations at the time of
development. At this time, there
appears to be no reason to intentionally
reduce numerical precision and we
believe that full-precision location data
should be used in the TVStudy software.
Establishment of Calculation (cell)
Grid. The present OET–69 software is
designed to establish calculation grids
that are for the most part unique to each
station considered. This approach
requires that all desired and undesired
signal levels be calculated for each cell
of each station studied and results in
cell-level data that cannot be directly
compared between different potential
channel allotments and/or stations.
Another approach is to establish a
single, global calculation grid, common
to all stations. Such a global approach
results in data that can be used to
directly compare interference impacts at
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the cell level, and also speeds
calculations since the study grid only
needs to be established one time. The
TVStudy software is designed to
generate and use a global calculation
grid.
Treatment of Internal (Longley-Rice)
Warnings. The propagation algorithm
underlying OET–69 is the Irregular
Terrain Model (ITM), also known as
Longley-Rice (or simply L–R). It is based
in part on actual measurements of path
loss made by the Department of
Commerce over different terrain
profiles. Although the measurement
data collected were used to create
generalized computational models of
different types of terrain profiles, not
every single terrain profile possible was
represented. In particular, terrain
profiles lying outside the range of
collected data still produce results, but
those results are ‘‘flagged’’ as being
‘‘unusable or dubious.’’
The software used to develop the
original DTV Table of Allotments
treated cells having such ‘‘flags’’
(whether from desired or interfering
stations) as having coverage. This
determination results in areas where we
have no real information about
predicted coverage or interference. Such
cells are assumed to have coverage, even
if neighboring cells do not. This
treatment of ‘‘flagged’’ results
implemented the Commission’s
decision that assumption of service is
appropriate where the Longley-Rice
propagation model indicates that service
calculations may be dubious or
unreliable. Comparisons with other
propagation models suggest that the
‘‘flagged’’ results are typically not
unreasonable.
We note that while this approach was
taken for purposes of implementing
OET–69, a different approach was taken
in implementing OET Bulletins 72 and
73 (OET–72 and OET–73, respectively)
dealing with the availability of TV
service for purposes of the Satellite
Home Viewer Act and subsequent
legislation. In those cases, the L–R
propagation model is used differently
and for different purposes. Specifically,
OET–72 and OET–73 use the L–R model
to estimate whether a TV station’s signal
is receivable at an individual location (a
viewer’s home), whereas OET–69
estimates a station’s signal coverage,
population served and interference
received over the entire geographic area
it serves. With regard to OET–72 and
OET–73, the Commission found that
ignoring the appearance of so-called
‘‘error codes’’ and accepting the
calculated field strength value was
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appropriate for determining eligibility
for satellite delivery of network
programming at individual locations.
We ask whether we should to
continue to assume coverage in areas
that have flagged results in
implementing the Commission’s
decision that assumption of service is
appropriate where the Longley-Rice
propagation model indicates that service
calculations may be dubious or
unreliable. If not, we ask what
assumptions should be made relative to
coverage and population served under
such conditions to more effectively
implement the Commission’s decision.
Availability of Developmental Software
and Data
The Commission is making available
its developmental TVStudy software
and the data required to run it on its
Web site at: https://data.fcc.gov/
download/incentive-auctions/OET–69/.
Installation and operating instructions
are included as separate files.
The software was developed on an
Apple iMac, but it is expected that the
source code can be compiled on other
Unix-like platforms (e.g. Linux).
Compatibility of the C source-code with
Microsoft Windows-based compilers is
not guaranteed, but only minor
modification would be expected. The
Java code, which was developed in Java
version 1.6, is expected to be platform
independent. In addition to the source
code, a fully-compiled version of the
software is supplied for use on Apple
computers running OS10.6 or higher.
The software also requires certain
MySQL client libraries, which can be
obtained by installing MySQL
Community Server (available at no cost
from Oracle). To ensure compatibility,
MySQL Community Server version
5.529 is recommended.
Parties seeking to evaluate the
TVStudy software will also need various
data files for terrain and population.
Some of the necessary data files are
quite large and so have been archived
using TAR and GZip (collectively TGZ)
and encoded using PAR2 to facilitate
error detection and correction. The
necessary data files for population and
terrain are supplied at the URL given
above, together with a reference copy of
CDBS for television stations as of
February 22, 2012.
Federal Communications Commission.
Julius P. Knapp,
Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2013–03486 Filed 2–14–13; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11129-11132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03486]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 73
[ET Docket No. 13-26 and GN 12-268; DA 13-138]
Office of Engineering and Technology Seeks Comment on Updated
OET-69 Software
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announced
the release of new software to perform interference analyses using the
methodology described in its Bulletin No. 69 (OET-69). This software,
called TVStudy, provides analysis of coverage and interference of full-
service digital and Class A television stations. The Commission plans
to use this new software in connection with the proposed broadcast
television spectrum incentive auction (incentive auction). OET seeks
comment on the software generally, as well as the identification of any
errors, unexpected behaviors, or anomalous results produced in running
the software. In addition, OET solicits comment on the implementation
of various analytical elements in the software that are not
specifically addressed in OET-69.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before March 21, 2013 and reply
comments must be filed on or before April 5, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Weller, Office of Engineering
and Technology, (202) 418-7397, email: Robert.Weller@fcc.gov, TTY (202)
418-2989.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ET Docket No. 13-26
and GN Docket No. 12-268, by any of the following methods:
Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Robert Weller, Office of Engineering and Technology,
Room 7-A134, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: fcc504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the public Notice, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Public Notice ET
Docket No. 13-26 and GN Docket No. 12-268, DA 13-138 released February
4, 2013. 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
[[Page 11130]]
20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov.
Pursuant to sections 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 the Commission's Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS). 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/.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy 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 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes 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 email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
Summary of Public Notice
The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announced the
release of new software to perform interference analyses using the
methodology described in its Bulletin No. 69 (OET-69). This software,
called TVStudy, provides analysis of coverage and interference of full-
service digital and Class A television stations. The Commission plans
to use this new software in connection with the proposed broadcast
television spectrum incentive auction (incentive auction). OET seeks
comment on the software generally, as well as the identification of any
errors, unexpected behaviors, or anomalous results produced in running
the software. In addition, OET solicits comment on the implementation
of various analytical elements in the software that are not
specifically addressed in OET-69.
Background
The Commission developed the software that is currently used to
implement OET-69 to support the DTV transition, and it has subsequently
been used to analyze applications to modify the DTV Table of Channel
Allotments. As such, the software programs developed by the FCC for
those purposes are based fundamentally on source code and data from the
1990s and earlier. Since that time, some of the underlying datasets
have evolved or have been replaced. In addition, parties have gained
sufficient experience to have offered FCC staff informal feedback on
the existing programs' relative strengths and weaknesses.
It is with these matters in mind that we have developed the TVStudy
software. The new software operates on modern computer systems, and it
runs much faster, provides greater accuracy in modeling and analysis,
and is easier to use and more versatile than the existing software. In
addition, the TVStudy software will allow us to perform the types of
analyses that are needed to support the proposed incentive auction.
An important component of the proposed incentive auction is the
repacking of broadcast television stations, including the potential
reassignment of stations to new operating channels. The Middle Class
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) requires the
Commission to ``make all reasonable efforts to preserve, as of the date
of the enactment of this Act, the coverage area and population served
of each broadcast television licensee, as determined using the
methodology described in OET Bulletin 69 of the Office of Engineering
and Technology.'' OET-69 describes a methodology that divides the area
within a digital television station's noise-limited coverage contour
into approximately rectangular ``grid cells,'' and then evaluates these
cells for coverage and, where present, interference. The Commission's
Incentive Auction NPRM, See Expanding the Economic and Innovation
Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions, Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 12-118, Docket No. 12-268, 27 FCC Rcd. 12357
(2012) (Incentive Auction NPRM). Available at https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1002/FCC-12-118A1.pdf proposes to define the ``coverage area'' of full-power
stations as the geographic area within a station's noise-limited
contour where its signal strength is predicted to exceed the noise-
limited service level, both levels calculated on an F(50,90) basis.
Similarly, the Incentive Auction NPRM proposes to define the ``coverage
area'' for Class A stations as the geographic area within a station's
protected contour where its signal strength is predicted to exceed the
protected service level, both levels calculated on an F(50,90) basis.
The Incentive Auction NPRM also proposes to define the ``population
served'' by full-power stations as the population within a station's
noise-limited contour where its signal strength is predicted to exceed
the noise-limited service level on an F(50,90) basis and is not subject
to predicted interference from other stations, using the protection
ratios specified in OET-69 and the rules. Similarly, the Incentive
Auction NPRM proposes to define the ``population served'' by Class A
stations as the population within a station's protected contour where
its signal strength is predicted to exceed the protected service level
on an F(50,90) basis and is not subject to predicted interference from
other stations, using the protection ratios specified in OET-69 and the
rules.
OET-69 defines certain parameter values for programmers to use when
developing the software to implement OET-69's methodology. In
particular, Table 4 of OET-69 lists parameter values used by the
Fortran Code for the Longley-Rice (L-R) radio signal propagation model
used in the implementing software, Tables 5A and 5B list the D/U ratios
to be used in predicting interference, Table 6 describes the
performance of the assumed receiving antennas, and Table 8 describes
the elevation-plane performance of the assumed transmitting antennas.
The foregoing is not an exhaustive list; OET-69 provides additional
definitions and guidance. OET-69 does not, however, specify all of the
parameters and methods required when developing software to implement
OET-69's methodology. The choices made in implementing the methodology
of OET-69 can produce different results,
[[Page 11131]]
and such differences can affect a station's coverage area and
population served. By making the new TVStudy software as well as
reference copies of the various databases necessary to run that
software available to the public, we provide a means for implementing
the OET-69 methodology that ensures consistency in the results obtained
by the Commission and interested parties.
TVStudy Software
The new TVStudy software is designed for making rapid coverage and
interference calculations involving many stations and provides highly-
detailed outputs. It is intuitive in its operation and rapidly produces
useful results. It has been developed in two parts: (1) A graphical
user interface (implemented in Java), used to establish the parameters
of the study and which draws data from appropriate databases; and (2)
an analysis engine (implemented in C), which makes the necessary
calculations to establish coverage and interference. The outputs
include both summaries of area and population by station, and detailed
signal level predictions by cell.
We are interested in feedback that discusses the capabilities of
the TVStudy software to support the incentive auction and to implement
whatever decisions are made in the rulemaking proceeding. For example,
one of the options discussed in the Incentive Auction NPRM requires
identifying specific populations presently subject to interference so
that new interference is not created. As a practical matter, such an
approach requires maintaining a database of interference status at the
cell level. The present software implementing OET-69 that the
Commission uses for processing applications for new TV stations and
modifications to existing stations does not support creation of such a
database. The present software was designed for processing individual
applications rather than the concurrent study of complete, nationwide
assignments. We also seek comment on the new software generally as a
tool for analyzing the service area coverage, population served, and
interference received by broadcast television stations.
In developing the TVStudy software, we have identified various
parameter choices consistent with but not specified in OET-69 that we
believe are necessary for improved accuracy in our modeling and
analysis. We incorporated ``soft-switches'' into the TVStudy software
to permit the user to evaluate the effects of the different choices. We
note that the different parameter choices may yield results for both
coverage and interference different from legacy versions of software
that have been used in the past.
In conducting the proposed incentive auction, an important
objective is that we use software with improved accuracy and that makes
use of the best available data to compute estimates of the coverage
area and population served of each broadcast television licensee
consistent with the provisions of the Spectrum Act. To that end, we
solicit feedback from stakeholders, experts, and others on the
implementation of the TVStudy software. Specifically, we discuss below
and invite comment in the following areas:
Population data
Terrain data
Treatment of inaccurate data in FCC database
Treatment of antenna beam tilt
Calculation of depression angles
Level of precision of geographic coordinates
Establishment of calculation (cell) grid
Treatment of internal (Longley-Rice) warnings
Population Data. Population coverage in the original DTV Table of
Allotments was calculated using data from the 1990 U.S. Census.
According to the U.S. Census, the population of the United States
increased by about 24 percent between 1990 and 2010, and the
distribution of population has also changed. Because the use of 1990
Census data in the present OET-69 software is unlikely to produce an
accurate depiction of present-day DTV station population coverage, the
TVStudy software is designed to use 2010 U.S. Census data.
Terrain Data. Three-arcsecond digital terrain data are used in the
present OET-69 software that we used to develop the original DTV Table
of Allotments. This means that land elevations are reported every three
seconds of geographic latitude and longitude (about every 300 feet).
The three-arcsecond database was produced primarily by automatically
scanning and interpolating large-scale (such as 1:250,000) paper maps,
which often used relatively coarse elevation contours. A number of
versions of the three-arcsecond terrain database were released by
various agencies, some of which contained errors. Moreover, the three-
arcsecond terrain database is no longer being revised, maintained, or
supported by the U.S. Geological Survey. A new one-arcsecond terrain
database, which has greater resolution (elevation points are spaced
about every 100 feet), has replaced the old three-arcsecond terrain
database. Additionally, the one-arcsecond terrain database is derived
from smaller-scale (e.g. 1:24,000) topographic maps with more granular
elevation data, and the method for extracting elevation data from those
maps has been improved. Because continued use of an unsupported terrain
database is likely to lead to obsolescence and potentially inaccurate
results, the TVStudy software is designed to use one-arcsecond terrain
data.
Treatment of Inaccurate Data in FCC Database. We recognize that
there may be instances where the information entered into the FCC's
broadcast station database (CDBS) may not be fully accurate. Examples
may include:
Negative values for beam tilt
Swapped values for mechanical beam tilt and orientation
Missing maximum values for directional antenna patterns
Missing or incorrect directional antenna flags
ERP value entered in dBk instead of kilowatts
These sorts of inaccuracies can lead to incorrect or nonsensical
results when used in a computer program to predict coverage and
interference. We are not proposing to modify the information in the
underlying CBDS database. However, we seek comment on what methods we
should use to detect information that may be inaccurate and what
correction methods we should incorporate into our use of that
information.
Treatment of Antenna Beam Tilt. All DTV stations operate
directionally in the elevation plane. That is, the transmitting antenna
is engineered to focus energy toward populated areas while minimizing
energy radiated skyward. To accomplish this, most transmitting antennas
are tilted downward, usually uniformly (electrically) but sometimes
non-uniformly (mechanically), or both. The actual amount of tilt, if
any, is contained in the CDBS record for each station. The present
software used to implement OET-69 uses elevation patterns with a fixed
electrical beam tilt (e.g., 0.75[deg] for full-power stations operating
on UHF channels), and in the development of the original DTV Table of
Allotments, the actual amount of tilt given in CDBS was ignored. As a
result of ignoring the actual beam tilt, the direction of main beam
radiation used to project coverage in the present software may be
incorrect, which can effectively cause it to ``miss'' the population
being served. We believe that a better practice in implementing OET-69
would be to use
[[Page 11132]]
the value for electrical downtilt specified in CDBS to correct the
generic elevation pattern such that the main beam is at the angle
specified in CDBS rather than using a fixed value. Because sufficient
information is typically not available to correctly project the antenna
patterns of stations having mechanical beam tilt, we do not propose to
use mechanical beam tilt in OET-69 calculations.
Calculation of Depression Angles. The depression angle is the
vertical angle between the horizontal (at the location of the DTV
transmitting antenna) and the location of the receive site under study
(cell centroid). An error in the present software used to implement
OET-69 and to develop the original DTV Table of Allotments caused this
angle to be incorrectly calculated based on the antenna height above
ground, rather than the height above mean sea level. This error can
cause the radiated power toward the cell under study to be incorrectly
calculated, particularly for stations that have antennas atop tall
mountains (as opposed to tall towers). The TVStudy software is designed
to avoid causing this error.
Precision of Geographic Coordinates. The fundamental unit of the
U.S. Census is the Census Block, which specifies locations to a
precision of 0.0000001[deg] (about 0.0004 seconds) of latitude and
longitude. Earlier versions of software implementing OET-69 rounded or
truncated this location data to the nearest second, discarding some
three orders of precision. This action often causes the centroid
locations of cells under study to be shifted. While the original reason
for this reduction in precision are unknown, we believe that it may
have been related to computational limitations at the time of
development. At this time, there appears to be no reason to
intentionally reduce numerical precision and we believe that full-
precision location data should be used in the TVStudy software.
Establishment of Calculation (cell) Grid. The present OET-69
software is designed to establish calculation grids that are for the
most part unique to each station considered. This approach requires
that all desired and undesired signal levels be calculated for each
cell of each station studied and results in cell-level data that cannot
be directly compared between different potential channel allotments
and/or stations. Another approach is to establish a single, global
calculation grid, common to all stations. Such a global approach
results in data that can be used to directly compare interference
impacts at the cell level, and also speeds calculations since the study
grid only needs to be established one time. The TVStudy software is
designed to generate and use a global calculation grid.
Treatment of Internal (Longley-Rice) Warnings. The propagation
algorithm underlying OET-69 is the Irregular Terrain Model (ITM), also
known as Longley-Rice (or simply L-R). It is based in part on actual
measurements of path loss made by the Department of Commerce over
different terrain profiles. Although the measurement data collected
were used to create generalized computational models of different types
of terrain profiles, not every single terrain profile possible was
represented. In particular, terrain profiles lying outside the range of
collected data still produce results, but those results are ``flagged''
as being ``unusable or dubious.''
The software used to develop the original DTV Table of Allotments
treated cells having such ``flags'' (whether from desired or
interfering stations) as having coverage. This determination results in
areas where we have no real information about predicted coverage or
interference. Such cells are assumed to have coverage, even if
neighboring cells do not. This treatment of ``flagged'' results
implemented the Commission's decision that assumption of service is
appropriate where the Longley-Rice propagation model indicates that
service calculations may be dubious or unreliable. Comparisons with
other propagation models suggest that the ``flagged'' results are
typically not unreasonable.
We note that while this approach was taken for purposes of
implementing OET-69, a different approach was taken in implementing OET
Bulletins 72 and 73 (OET-72 and OET-73, respectively) dealing with the
availability of TV service for purposes of the Satellite Home Viewer
Act and subsequent legislation. In those cases, the L-R propagation
model is used differently and for different purposes. Specifically,
OET-72 and OET-73 use the L-R model to estimate whether a TV station's
signal is receivable at an individual location (a viewer's home),
whereas OET-69 estimates a station's signal coverage, population served
and interference received over the entire geographic area it serves.
With regard to OET-72 and OET-73, the Commission found that ignoring
the appearance of so-called ``error codes'' and accepting the
calculated field strength value was appropriate for determining
eligibility for satellite delivery of network programming at individual
locations.
We ask whether we should to continue to assume coverage in areas
that have flagged results in implementing the Commission's decision
that assumption of service is appropriate where the Longley-Rice
propagation model indicates that service calculations may be dubious or
unreliable. If not, we ask what assumptions should be made relative to
coverage and population served under such conditions to more
effectively implement the Commission's decision.
Availability of Developmental Software and Data
The Commission is making available its developmental TVStudy
software and the data required to run it on its Web site at: https://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/OET-69/.
Installation and operating instructions are included as separate
files.
The software was developed on an Apple iMac, but it is expected
that the source code can be compiled on other Unix-like platforms (e.g.
Linux). Compatibility of the C source-code with Microsoft Windows-based
compilers is not guaranteed, but only minor modification would be
expected. The Java code, which was developed in Java version 1.6, is
expected to be platform independent. In addition to the source code, a
fully-compiled version of the software is supplied for use on Apple
computers running OS10.6 or higher. The software also requires certain
MySQL client libraries, which can be obtained by installing MySQL
Community Server (available at no cost from Oracle). To ensure
compatibility, MySQL Community Server version 5.529 is recommended.
Parties seeking to evaluate the TVStudy software will also need
various data files for terrain and population. Some of the necessary
data files are quite large and so have been archived using TAR and GZip
(collectively TGZ) and encoded using PAR2 to facilitate error detection
and correction. The necessary data files for population and terrain are
supplied at the URL given above, together with a reference copy of CDBS
for television stations as of February 22, 2012.
Federal Communications Commission.
Julius P. Knapp,
Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2013-03486 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
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