Published: TV Technology magazine

Issue: 18 May 98



by  Joe Fedele





CBA Proposes Class A Classification for LPTV



WASHINGTON

 On April 21, the FCC issued a public notice requesting comments on a petition filed by the Community Broadcasters 

Association (CBA) that would create a new class of low-power licensee. The CBA request was originally submitted to 

the commission on Sept. 30, 1997, and would effectively elevate LPTV operators from “secondary” to “primary 

status” in a number of ways. The petition was later revised on Mar. 18, 1998, to include all the legal and technical re-

quirements needed for stations to qualify as a “Class A” licensee. 

  Under the proposal, LPTV stations would also qualify for a second DTV channel assignment or may convert to digi-

tal transmissions on their existing NTSC channel at any time.

  A provision for interference protection to a low-powered station’s Grade B contour would also allow Class A licen-

sees to apply for a new channel when their service area is affected by another station. An overall increase of power 

levels is also being sought by the CBA that would increase ERP levels from 3 kW (VHF) and 150 kW (UHF) to as 

much as 31.6 kW and 500 kW respectively (see chart below).



Applications for Class A authorization would be filed on Form 301. Standard four-letter call letter assignments would 

also be issued upon request to all Class A stations. Comments for the petition are due by May 22 with reply comments 

due on June 8.    The full text of the CBA submission is available on the Internet at 

www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Filings/rm9260.pdf





  The following are key provisions of the CBA request:



Classification Requirements

    Applications filed two years after the effective date of the rules or two years after the initial license was granted 

(whichever is later).

    Each station must certify that it was in continuous operation for at least six months prior to its application’s sub-

mission.

    Applicants must broadcast a minimum of three hours of local programming per calendar week 

    Maximum ERP levels and antenna height restriction based on Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) of 2,300 

meters.

    Minimum DTV technical standards of field strength coverage based on F(50,90) curves.





NOTE:  SEE CHARTS 1 & 2