Overview of FCC TV Broadcast Repacking
The FCC is repurposing critical communication spectrums. Are you ready?
The engineers at Morrison Hershfield have the knowledge and experience to upgrade your towers to the latest specifications.
The United States leads the world in cellular technology. With the rollout of 4G, cellular consumers have unprecedented access to data and are increasingly reliant on cellular coverage for personal and business use. The burden this reliance places on the wireless network strains wireless carrier’s ability to maintain the emergency, economic, and other critical public safety communication spectrums.
In an effort to free up spectrum to meet this growing need, the FCC is repurposing broadcast spectrum.
Broadcasters across the nation will be federally mandated to repackage spectrum in the coming years, an undertaking which will challenge broadcasters and tower owners as they tackle engineering, construction, supply, and management hurdles under an aggressive deadline.
The repacking initiative reorganizes television stations in the broadcast spectrum bands so that the stations that remain on the air after the incentive auction occupy a smaller portion of the UHF band, freeing up a portion of that band for new wireless service.
Currently, 1,675 UHF stations are operating in the US. The FCC will conduct a reverse auction to buy back spectrum / auction it off for wireless use. Until this process is complete, however, the exact impact if the initiative is unknown, though it is estimated (based on auction simulations conducted privately and by the FCC) that 800-1,200 stations will require equipment upgrades.
Stations selected for repacking will require new antenna installation. For most stations, a temporary configuration of the new and old equipment installed on the tower will also be necessary. The structural impact of either is significant, requiring engineering consultation and analysis of the broadcast towers, coordination with equipment suppliers, and management of construction and field crews.
Broadcast tower analysis are significant undertakings limited to a small group of engineering firms with the required experience and proficiency. The sheer size of broadcast towers pose obvious safety concerns, and broadcasters are all too aware of the financial implications should the critical equipment be taken off line for any duration, especially for the time required to restrict these monstrous towers in the event of a failure. It is critical that this work is coordinated efficiently and safely.
Timeline
Reverse Auction
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 20, 2015 | Pre-Auction Process Tutorial Available (via Internet) |
| December 8, 2015 | Reverse Auction Application Workshop |
| December 8, 2015; 12:00 noon ET | Auction Application Filing Window Opens |
| January 12, 2016; 6:00 p.m. ET | Auction Application Filing Window Deadline |
| February 29, 2016 | Initial Commitments Tutorial (via Internet) |
| To Be Announced | Bidding and Post-Auction Process Tutorial Available (via Internet) |
| March 11, 2016; 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. ET | Workshop on Making an Initial Commitment |
| March 24, 2016; 10:00 a.m. ET | Initial Commitment Preview Period Opens |
| March 28, 2016; 10:00 a.m. ET | Initial Commitment Window Opens |
| March 29, 2016; 6:00 p.m. ET | Initial Commitment Deadline |
| Three to four weeks after the initial commitment deadline | Initial Clearing Target and Band Plan Announced |
| Specific date to be provided to each applicant that is qualified to bid by confidential status letter after the initial clearing target is announced | Mock Auction(s) |
| Specific date to be provided to each applicant that is qualified to bid by confidential status letter after the initial clearing target is announced | Bidding in the Clock Rounds Begins |
Event Page for the December 8, 2015 Workshop
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 19, 2016 | Pre-Auction Process Tutorial Available |
| January 27, 2016; 12:00 noon ET | Auction Application Filing Window Opens |
| February 10, 2016; 6:00 p.m. ET | Auction Application Filing Window Deadline |
| To Be Announced | Bidding and Post-Auction Process Tutorial (via Internet) |
| Three to four weeks after the initial commitment deadline | Initial Clearing Target and Band Plan Announced |
| By the deadline announced in the Upfront Payments PN; 6:00 p.m. ET | Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) |
| To be announced in the Auction 1002 Qualified Bidders PN | Clock and Assignment Phase Mock Auction |
| To be announced in the Auction 1002 Qualified Bidders PN | Clock-Phase Auction Begins |
The Repacking Process
February 25th, 2016
The adoption of new building codes: The TIA-222-G
Posted on Friday June 12, 2015
Overview of FCC TV Broadcast Repacking
February 25th, 2016
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will the FCC repacking affect me?
The repacking will directly impact broadcast networks and affiliates whose channels must be reassigned to new spectrum. If a network’s station shifts to a new channel, their equipment will require upgrades. Broadcast tower owners will be indirectly impacted as their tenants swap out equipment.
2. What do I need to do to have my towers compliant?
Structurally, the tower will need new analysis for the upgraded equipment. Depending on when the last analysis occurred, the tower may be required to have modifications to be in conformance with updated code standards.