FCC Gives TV Stations More Flexibility in Digital Switch

The Federal Communications Commission changed some rules to give television stations additional flexibility in switching to digital signals, as sought by Paxson Communications Corp. and other broadcasters.

The FCC agreed to extend some deadlines for TV stations that agree not to use some of their allotted airwaves as part of an effort to clear the frequencies used by broadcasters on channels 60 to 69. Stations using those channels can shift their TV signals to other channels while installing digital equipment.

Paxson has urged more than 100 stations using the channels to agree to clear out, making the spectrum more valuable for Verizon Wireless and other mobile-phone companies that want to offer video and fast Internet access. Paxson wants the FCC to share payments from phone carriers with the stations.

“There is going to be billions of dollars spent to get this spectrum, and part of it will go to the FCC and part of it will go to the broadcasters,” said Lowell Paxson, chairman of Paxson Communications.

Digital TV promises viewers better sound and picture quality and more program choices. It’s costly for broadcasters, cable companies and set makers to overhaul equipment to use the new technology.

TV stations are licensed to use a single frequency for analog broadcasts and a different channel for digital. Many stations haven’t started using the digital spectrum.

Under the new rule, any station that gives up a channel gets an additional three years to build its digital facilities, provided fewer than 70% of households in its local market receive digital signals. The deadline for other stations to install the new equipment is May 1.

The FCC also gave such stations an extra 31 months of protection from interference during the transition to digital TV and agreed to process any application to clear channels 60 to 69 within 90 days.