FCC Spectrum Auction - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Alan Brady's Hair · 05-10-2017, 09:27 AM

Does anyone understand the recent FCC "Spectrum Auction" that sold TV spectrum to wireless providers (so that over-the-air spectrum currently carrying TV signals will be devoted to broadband instead)?

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...ectrum-auction

The auction was held at the end of March/early April:

http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...A-17-314A2.pdf

It looks like in some markets, over the next three years or so some stations will stop broadcasting, while others will start sharing channels with other stations.

My question, I guess is: if a station with two subchannels starts to share a channel with another station with two subchannels, will it still have room to carry all of those subchannels? Or will some subchannels be closing down?

VisualSensation · 05-12-2017, 08:41 PM

It's pretty complicated and each market will be different, but with less spectrum left for broadcast stations overall, there will be less real estate for digital networks. This will most likely result in some of the less profitable networks going out of business. There is also a new broadcast standard called ATSC 3.0 being implemented in the next three years, which could create more opportunities for subchannels. But nobody really knows what will happen since the new standard isn't going to be mandatory, but at the same time will require consumers to buy new equipment (much like the digital converter boxes from 2009). Personally, I think its going to turn into a real mess.

treky · 05-14-2017, 01:01 AM

sounds like it'll be one gigantic mess and leave a LOOOOT of people confused!

05-10-2017, 09:27 AM	#1
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,825	FCC Spectrum Auction Does anyone understand the recent FCC "Spectrum Auction" that sold TV spectrum to wireless providers (so that over-the-air spectrum currently carrying TV signals will be devoted to broadband instead)? https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...ectrum-auction The auction was held at the end of March/early April: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Rele...A-17-314A2.pdf It looks like in some markets, over the next three years or so some stations will stop broadcasting, while others will start sharing channels with other stations. My question, I guess is: if a station with two subchannels starts to share a channel with another station with two subchannels, will it still have room to carry all of those subchannels? Or will some subchannels be closing down?

05-14-2017, 01:01 AM	#3
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	sounds like it'll be one gigantic mess and leave a LOOOOT of people confused!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

05-12-2017, 08:41 PM	#2
VisualSensation Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 303	It's pretty complicated and each market will be different, but with less spectrum left for broadcast stations overall, there will be less real estate for digital networks. This will most likely result in some of the less profitable networks going out of business. There is also a new broadcast standard called ATSC 3.0 being implemented in the next three years, which could create more opportunities for subchannels. But nobody really knows what will happen since the new standard isn't going to be mandatory, but at the same time will require consumers to buy new equipment (much like the digital converter boxes from 2009). Personally, I think its going to turn into a real mess.