On May 18, the SBE provided a Regulatory Update to members regarding FCC public notice,DA 15-580, (released May 13). The notice concerns the upcoming broadcast spectrum incentive auction and two aspects are of particular importance to television broadcast engineers.
First, the FCC has previously established that all auction eligible stations should review information set forth in the FCC’s databases, including the Consolidated Database System and Antenna Registration System, and correct any errors in that information. The deadline for this review is May 29, 2015.
Second, sometime shortly after May 29, likely no later than June 15, the FCC will issue a public notice listing all stations eligible for participation in the auction or protection in the repacking process. All eligible stations, regardless of whether or not they intend to participate in the auction, are required to complete and submit FCC Form 2100, Schedule 381. The form requires licensees to certify that their facilities are correctly described in the FCC’s database, or to explain any discrepancies. It also requires certain technical information regarding station facilities to be provided.
The SBE suggests stations take the following actions as soon as possible:
■ Carefully review the information set forth in the FCC’s databases and confirm it is accurate. If it is not accurate, correct it immediately.
■ The engineering parameters set forth in the databases will define the facilities that will be eligible for protection following the auction. If certain engineering specifications, for example antenna pattern rotation, are incorrect, this could potentially result in a loss in coverage if the station is repacked after the auction. Review the parameters shown in the databases and make any corrections before May 29.
■ Review Schedule 381 and begin gathering information needed to complete this schedule for all stations.
■ Look for the Eligibility Public Notice that will be released sometime in early to mid-June.
■ Complete and file Schedule 381 for each station within 30 days of the release of the Eligibility Public Notice.
The SBE will provide updates, including when the FCC releases the list of stations eligible for the auction and those eligible for protection in the repacking process.
