The Repacking Process
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.
Repacking will involve a number of players: tower owners, broadcast companies, tower engineering consultants, field teams, and equipment manufacturers operating in conjunction to plan, analyze, and install the new equipment.
While the outline of the project is simple on the surface, the complexity is compounded by the short timelines and the high costs associated with the critical equipment being upgraded.
Simplified Scope of Work for Broadcasters:
- Identify which spectrum is available;
- Design RF to meet needs;
- Select equipment and antennas;
- Verify tower capacity;
- Deploy equipment.
While the SoW is straightforward, digging further into the details reveals the timeline sensitivity that the coordinated efforts will require.
Scope of the Repacking Process for all Parties
- Your station is informed by FCC of the new channel assignment;
- RF consulting engineer is engaged to plan antenna, transmission line, and RF filter requirements;
- If the station is leasing space on a tower, the tower lessor must be engaged to determine possible antenna solutions, the need to modify the tower structure to accommodate the new antenna(s), and the impact on other tower tenants;
- Tower structural engineer is engaged to analyze the current status of the tower and its capability to support a new antenna and a temporary antenna + transmission line (assumes tower is station owned. If the tower is leased, the tower landlord is contacted and the landlord and his approved structural engineer join the process);
- Antenna supplier is engaged to provide antenna options and pricing;
- Decision is made to purchase a temporary antenna + transmission line or purchase a standby antenna + transmission line, unless the station already has a standby antenna (>10%);
- Antenna and RF system planning is completed, allowing RF consultant to prepare technical information for CP application;
- Transmitter manufacturer and/or RF system installer is engaged to review procedure and pricing to retune the transmitters to a new channel assignment;
- Tower rigging company is engaged for pricing and schedule for installation;
- Station engineers finalize budget estimates for repack;
- Station’s legal representation prepares CP and STA applications and justification for replacement equipment and services required to repack – including a documented budget estimate to the FCC;
- Wait for FCC to process;
- FCC issues CP and advanced payment for channel change;
- Orders placed for a new antenna, transmission line and RF system components (Note: If the station already owns a standby antenna, channelized RF components for that system will also be ordered; if not, the station also orders a temporary antenna and transmission line);
- Contracts placed with RF systems installer and tower rigging companies;
- Station files for local zoning or building permits to cover antenna changes;
- Project schedule is finalized;
- RF System crew retunes one transmitter to new channel assignment;
- Tower crew installs temporary or standby antenna + transmission line if required;
- Station switches operation over to temporary or standby antenna;
- Tower crew removes main antenna and transmission line;
- Tower crew installs new main antenna and transmission line;
- RF system installation crew installs new RF system and tests RF system and new antenna;
- Station PSIP is updated to reflect new channel assignment;
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.