Arizona LP DTV Applications

[dhett]

LPTV stations in Arizona have been pretty busy securing companion digital stations, as opposed to a flash cut conversion. In May, the FCC opened a brief window for filing companion DTV applications.

The following stations have filed applications without competitors in the area (singleton applications). These will likely be issued construction permits.
DTV
Callsign Application ID Chan Location ERP Licensee
K04AI BSFDTT-20060630CIJ 39 PRESCOTT AZ 1.3 kW KSAZ LICENSE, INC.
K07PH BSFDTT-20060630AOI 33 LE CHEE, ETC AZ 0.01 kW UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
K08NY BSFDTL-20060630ATS 58 HOLBROOK AZ 15. kW VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
K20FO BSFDTT-20060630CKZ 10 SIERRA VISTA AZ 0.3 kW KVOA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
K25DM BSFDTL-20060630BPO 50 PHOENIX AZ 5. kW KDMA CHANNEL 25, INC.
K28FM BSFDTL-20060630ALH 17 YUMA AZ 0.49 kW BROADCAST GROUP LTD.
K33CG BSFDTL-20060630CEH 36 SIERRA VISTA AZ 0.1 kW RICHARD RICHARDS
K50JJ BSFDTL-20060630CCB 45 PRESCOTT AZ 15. kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
K64BV BSFDTT-20060630CLA 4 CASAS ADOBES AZ 0.3 kW KVOA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KCOS-LP BSFDTL-20060630DDR 13 PHOENIX AZ 0.3 kW ORTIZ, ARACELIS
KDFQ-LP BSFDTL-20060630CJZ 59 PRESCOTT AZ 15. kW UNA VEZ MAS PRESCOTT LICENSE II, LLC
KDTP-LP BSFDTL-20060630CRH 9 PHOENIX AZ 0.3 kW COMMUNITY TELEVISION EDUCATORS, INC.
KEJR-LP BSFDTL-20060630CIY 40 PHOENIX AZ 15. kW PHOENIX 6 TV, LLC
KESE-LP BSFDTT-20060630BMH 40 YUMA AZ 5. kW GULF-CALIFORNIA BROADCAST COMPANY
KNJO-LP BSFDTL-20060630CCM 15 HOLBROOK AZ 15. kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KPDT-LP BSFDTL-20060630AKG 12 PRESCOTT AZ 0.3 kW WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.
KPHE-LP BSFDTL-20060630CSR 16 PHOENIX AZ 15. kW LOTUS TV OF PHOENIX LLC
KTVP-LP BSFDTL-20060630BJB 6 PHOENIX AZ 0.099 kW MAKO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
KVFA-LP BSFDTL-20060630CCP 36 YUMA AZ 5. kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KWKM-LP BSFDTL-20060630CCS 13 SNOWFLAKE AZ 0.3 kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KWSJ-LP BSFDTL-20060630CCR 9 SHOW LOW AZ 0.3 kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KWTA-LP BSFDTL-20060630ATR 56 TUCSON AZ 15. kW VENTURE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
KWTF-LP BSFDTL-20060630CCN 21 FLAGSTAFF AZ 15. kW KM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
KYUM-LP BSFDTL-20060630BDB 23 YUMA AZ 1.5 kW HISPANIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY NETWORK, INC.


The KVFA-LP application is puzzling, as they have selected channel 36. Full-power KAJB has requested channel 36 after the DTV conversion in 2009. Although they selected channel 42 as a contingency, I don't see the FCC giving a secondary-status station priority over a primary-status station. Unless KVFA-LP is planning on returning to channel 6, where they currently have an analog construction permit, they are going to be forced to find another channel.

Also puzzling is the fact that K64BV, KTVP-LP, KWTA-LP, K08NY, and KDFQ-LP have selected channels 4, 6, 56, 58 and 59, respectively. I would think that licensees would have steered clear of low-VHF channels, and I would think that 700 MHz channels would have been discouraged.

The following stations have submitted competing application (mutually exclusive) and must enter into an auction to determine who gets the desired channel:
DTV
Callsign Application ID Chan Location ERP Licensee
KVPA-LP BSFDTL-20060630BPP 14 PHOENIX AZ 5. kW KDMA CHANNEL 25, INC.
KPDF-CA BSFDTL-20060630BWL 14 PHOENIX AZ 15. kW UNA VEZ MAS PHOENIX LICENSE, LLC

K53JA BSFDTL-20060630BAM 29 FLAGSTAFF AZ 0.3 kW MINTZ, LAWRENCE H
K51AV BSFDTT-20060630DBB 29 COTTONWOOD AZ 5. kW TRINITY BROADCASTING OF ARIZONA, INC.

K20IQ BSFDTL-20060630CXL 33 FLAGSTAFF AZ 1. kW TELECOM WIRELESS LLC
K23HB BSFDTL-20060630DAO 33 FLAGSTAFF AZ 5. kW PRISM BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.

KBHD-LP BSFDTL-20060630AJD 38 BULLHEAD CITY AZ 9.999 kW WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.
KKAX-LP BSFDTL-20060630COW 38 HILLTOP AZ 2. kW TRI-STATE BROADCASTING, LLC
K16GB BSFDTL-20060630COT 39 KINGMAN AZ 5. kW SMOKE AND MIRRORS, L.L.C.

KUDF-LP BSFDTL-20060630BWY 41 TUCSON AZ 2.2 kW UNA VEZ MAS TUCSON LICENSE, LLC
K16EO BSFDTT-20060630CWO 41 ORO VALLEY/TUCSON AZ 5. kW JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION

KDTP-CA BSFDTL-20060630CRG 46 PHOENIX AZ 5. kW COMMUNITY TELEVISION EDUCATORS, INC.
KQBN-LP BSFDTL-20060630CKB 47 PRESCOTT AZ 1.2 kW UNA VEZ MAS PRESCOTT LICENSE I, LLC

KPCE-LP BSFDTL-20060630AKH 49 TUCSON AZ 2. kW WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.
K21CX BSFDTL-20060630BKF 49 TUCSON AZ 0.896 kW VENTANA TELEVISION, INC.

KBBA-LP BSFDTL-20060630COU 51 LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ 5. kW SMOKE AND MIRRORS, L.L.C.
K23BJ BSFDTT-20060630COV 51 LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ 5. kW TRI-STATE BROADCASTING, LLC


The reason KDTP-CA and KQBN-LP are competing is that KQBN-LP, although licensed to Prescott, is building new transmitting facilities on the White Tank Mtns., west of Phoenix.

 

[w9wi]

The KVFA-LP application is puzzling, as they have selected channel 36. Full-power KAJB has requested channel 36 after the DTV conversion in 2009. Although they selected channel 42 as a contingency, I don't see the FCC giving a secondary-status station priority over a primary-status station. Unless KVFA-LP is planning on returning to channel 6, where they currently have an analog construction permit, they are going to be forced to find another channel.

As I understand it, these are considered interim channels, just like the second channels assigned to full-power stations. Some of these companion channels will indeed go away at the end of transition, with the LPTV then flash-cutting to digital on its existing channel.

Also puzzling is the fact that K64BV, KTVP-LP, KWTA-LP, K08NY, and KDFQ-LP have selected channels 4, 6, 56, 58 and 59, respectively. I would think that licensees would have steered clear of low-VHF channels, and I would think that 700 MHz channels would have been discouraged.

700MHz channels *were* discouraged:
"We remind applicants proposing digital companion channels on channels 52-59 that they must certify in their long form application the unavailability of any suitable in-core channel.1 “Suitable in-core channel” is defined as one that would enable the station to produce a digital service area comparable to its analog service area.2

In addition, Section 74.786(d) of the Commission’s rules provides that applicants proposing digital companion channels on channels 52-59 must notify all potentially affected 700 MHz band wireless licensees of the spectrum comprising the proposed TV channel and the spectrum in the first adjacent channels thereto not later than 30 days prior to the submission of their long form application.3 Specifically, notification is required to wireless licensees within whose licensed geographic boundaries a digital LPTV or TV translator station is proposed to be located.4 Notification is also required to co-channel and first adjacent channel licensees whose geographic service area boundaries lie within 75 miles and 50 miles, respectively, of the proposed digital LPTV and TV translator station location.5 The application filing deadline has been extended an additional 30 days to permit additional time for this notification. The identity and contact information for all wireless entities in the 700 MHz band is available through the Universal Licensing System (ULS) on the Commission web site (www.fcc.gov).

Digital LPTV and TV translator stations may continue to operate on channels 52-59 on a secondary basis as long as they do not technically conflict with the operations of a primary service licensee. LPTV and TV translator station authorizations will be explicitly conditioned to that effect. "