Analog Stations Operating On 87.7 FM Get Life Extension

There's a life extension for LPTV and commercial and non-com FM stations operating on the analog-TV channel 6, 87.7 FM.

Late Friday, The FCC announced it is accepting comments on a proposal to extend the digital tranition deadline of September 1, 2015.  The extenion is a reprieve for a handful of stations across the country that broadcast on 87.7 FM, including LPTV owners like Venture Technologies. It owns signals around the country, including the one that Tribune operates in Chicago as “87.7 the Game” WGWG-LP.

Read FCC Proposed Rulemaking: Click Here.

The 36-page FCC decision specifically talked about the 87.7 radio stations that have been created by the channel 6 audio signals.

Chicagoland Radio & Media reports, the FCC is looking into possibly allowing these stations to continue on even after the eventual conversion from analog to digital. The channel 6 stations may still be allowed to broadcast an additional analog audio signal, which would keep the radio stations on 87.7 active "on an ancillary or supplementary basis." The owners of these channel 6 analog stations are proposing a system that would allow them to broadcast the TV signal's visual and audio stream digitally, along with simultaneously broadcasting analog signals for radios to pick up, since FCC rules state that may be allowed.

With the LPTV owners' proposal, the FCC is now in a "comment period" where they are seeking opinions on whether or not allowing this analog ancillary or supplementary service would satisfy the requirement that "use of a designated frequency for such services is consistent with the technology or method designated by the Commission for the provision of advanced television services." They are also seeking comments on whether or not the channel 6 TV analog signal will disrupt the channel 6 digital signal, or if the analog signal will interfere with other primary licensees, since the LPTV signal operates on a secondary interference basis.

If the FCC does choose to allow these 87.7 FM radio stations to continue to exist, they are also seeking comments on whether these stations should then be subject to rules applicable to FM radio stations and not LPTV stations. This includes forcing the stations to file permits and licenses to operate a radio station, pay normal radio station fees, and maintain a main studio and public inspection file -- things the so-called "Franken-FMs" have not had to do prior to this.

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