Low Power Broadcasters
Kevin Gerfen writes:
Are very small local stations, such as KWEM TV-31 in Stillwater, going to have to make the change to digital broadcasting, too? Or are they exempt because of their low power status?If they are required to make the change, are they on the same DTV changeover/transition timetable as the higher-powered stations? Just curious.
Note: It would seem as though the situation with low power stations is complicated as shown in this recent request by FCC chairman Kevin Martin that players in the transition help out low power broadcasters by having large broadcasters carry low power signals on excess bandwidth and retailers carry DTV tuners that also support analog signals. The Community Broadcasters Association has started a campaign to keep low power stations from losing all their viewers when the digital transition happens next year.
We are going 100% digital in the US; er, well maybe no? I see no reason to except LP stations nor any reason full power ones should have to offer a free ride. And if a full power station does offer to carry them, then,they are no longer a LP station — they are going full power with LP status. Maybe I missed something here.