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Round Two Channel Elections are OVER

M

Mark_Ericson

Guest
This is a list of election nabbed from my own thread over at AVSForum. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=591927

The first round elections have been completed and lists are available at several sites, including the FCC site. Any station who elected to move on to Round Two will get to choose two new channels: a primary channel that is preferred, and a secondary channel that will be used if the primary channel is unavailable and the applicant wishes the secondary one be used instead.

In the below listing, the markets are listed in alphabetical order. The station is listed along with its current channel(s) and network affiliation and then the word 'elects' and the primary/secondary elections. Any that have yet to make elections that I can remember are electing in Round Two but have not yet elected are listed without the word 'elects' after it.

Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL
WBPG-55/0 (WB) Elects 25/23

Montgomery, AL
WAKA-8/55 (CBS) Elects 38/40

Tucson, AZ
KFTU-3/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 36/21

Yuma, AZ/El Centro, CA
KAJB-54/50 (TeleFutura) Elects 36/42

Little Rock, AR
KETS-2/5 (PBS) Elects 7/10

Los Angeles, CA
KRCA-62/68 (Independiente de Español) Elects 35/50

Palm Springs, CA
KESQ-42/52 (ABC) Elects 50

Sacramento, CA
KVIE-6/53 (PBS) Elects 9/6 (NCA)
KTNC-42/63 (Azteca // KUNO) Elects 14/14 (NCA)
KTFK-64/62 (TeleFutura) Elects 26/31 (NCA)

San Francisco, CA
KTVU-2/56 (Fox) Elects 44/38 (NCA)
KRON-4/57 (Independent) Elects 38/44 (NCA) (that's redundant)
KFTY-50/54 (Independent) Elects 22/32 (NCA)

Hartford, CT
WEDY-65/6 (PBS // WEDH) Elects 6/Best Available Channel (Pointless)

Washington, DC/Hagerstown, MD
WHAG-25/55 (NBC) Elects 31/38
WNVC-56/57 (Ethnic) Elects 24/39
WPXW-66/43 (Pax) Elects 34/43
WJAL-68/16 (Independent) Elects 38/39

Orlando, FL
WKMG-6/58 (CBS) Elects 26/18
WTGL-52/53 (FN) Elects 51

Tampa, FL
WEDU-3/54 (PBS) Elects 13/50
WWSB-40/52 (ABC) Elects 24

West Palm Beach, FL
WPTV-5/55 (NBC) Elects 12/25
WHDT-0/59 (DW) Elects 44

Columbus, GA
WLGA-66/31 (UPN) Elects 47/38

Honolulu, HI
KMGT-56/0 (new) Elects 38/44

Champaign, IL
WCFN-49/53 (UPN) Elects 13/11

Chicago, IL
WXFT-60/59 (TeleFutura) Elects 50/38
WGBO-66/53 (Univision) Elects 38/12

Indianapolis, IN
WIPB-49/52 (PBS) Elects 23/7

Des Moines, IA
KDMI-0/56 (new) Elects 31/29

Boston, MA
WWDP-46/52 (ShopNBC) Elects 25/46

Baltimore, MD
WMAR-2/52 (ABC) Elects 38

Alpena, MI
WCML-6/59 (PBS // WCMU) Elects 24

Detroit, MI
WJBK-2/58 (Fox) Elects 7/20

Lansing, MI
WLNS-6/59 (CBS) Elects 36/40
WKAR-23/55 (PBS) Elects 40/25

Saginaw, MI
WCMU-14/56 (PBS) Elects 26

St. Joseph, MO
KQTV-2/53 (ABC) Elects 7/Best Available Channel

St. Louis, MO
KMOV-4/56 (CBS) Elects 24/30

Tupelo, MS
WTVA-9/57 (NBC) Elects 8/Best Available Channel
WKDH-45/0 (ABC) Elects 45/Best Available Channel

Greenville, NC
WEPX-38/0 (Pax)

Grand Forks, ND
KGFE-2/56 (PBS // KFME) Elects 15/20
KCPM-27/0 (UPN)

Albuquerque, NM
KTFQ-14/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 22/38
KOBG-6/0 (NBC // KOB) Elects 12/Best Available Channel

Las Vegas/Ely/Goldfield, NV
KBNY-6/0 (???) elects 27/38
KEGS-7/0 (NBC) elects 50/46

Albany, NY
WNYA-51/0 (UPN) Elects 13/4

Buffalo, NY
WPXJ-51/0 (Pax) Elects 23

New York, NY
WCBS-2/56 (CBS) Elects 33/7
WLNY-55/57 (Independent) Elects 47/34

Syracuse, NY
WNYI-52/0 (Independent) Elects 9/43
WSPX-56/0 (Pax) Elects 15/9

Cleveland, OH
WKYC-3/2 (NBC) Elects 17/32

Tulsa, OK
KJRH-2/56 (NBC) Elects 8/38
KOTV-6/55 (CBS) Elects 19/Best Available Channel (NCA)
KWBT-19/0 (WB) Elects 20/Best Available Channel (NCA)

Portland/La Grande, OR
KPOU-16/0 (Univision) Elects 29/46

Philadelphia, PA
WCAU-10/67 (NBC) Re-Elects 34 (NCA with WYBE again)
WUVP-65/66 (Univision) Elects 29/33

Greenville, SC
WYFF-4/59 (NBC) Elects 36/49

Rapid City, SD
KNBN-21/0 (NBC) Elects 21 (that was pointless)

Memphis, TN
NEW-0/56 (PBS) Elects 10/Best Available Channel

San Antonio, TX
WOAI-4/58 (NBC) Elects 48/29
KENS-5/55 (CBS) Elects 39/35

Lubbock, TX
KUPT-22/0 (UPN)

Salt Lake City, UT
KCBU-3/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 11/16
KBCJ-6/0 (Infomercials) Elects 16/9

Burlington, VT
WCAX-3/53 (CBS) Elects 22

Wausau, WI
WFXS-55/0 (Fox) Elects 50/Best Available Channel

Beckley, WV
WSWP-9/53 (PBS) Elects 11/Best Available Channel

Casper, WY
KCWY-13/0 (NBC) Elects 12/11

Cheyenne, WY/Scottsbluff, NE
KTUW-16/0 (new) Elects 17/25

Thoughts?

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
I'm lost.

What's going on??
What are these "elections"?
and why is my market, Dallas, not on the list?

Somebody please explain.

Thanks,

CTL

> This is a list of election nabbed from my own thread over at
> AVSForum.
> http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=591927
>
> The first round elections have been completed and lists are
> available at several sites, including the FCC site. Any
> station who elected to move on to Round Two will get to
> choose two new channels: a primary channel that is
> preferred, and a secondary channel that will be used if the
> primary channel is unavailable and the applicant wishes the
> secondary one be used instead.
>
> In the below listing, the markets are listed in alphabetical
> order. The station is listed along with its current
> channel(s) and network affiliation and then the word
> 'elects' and the primary/secondary elections. Any that have
> yet to make elections that I can remember are electing in
> Round Two but have not yet elected are listed without the
> word 'elects' after it.
>
> Mobile, AL/Pensacola, FL
> WBPG-55/0 (WB) Elects 25/23
>
> Montgomery, AL
> WAKA-8/55 (CBS) Elects 38/40
>
> Tucson, AZ
> KFTU-3/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 36/21
>
> Yuma, AZ/El Centro, CA
> KAJB-54/50 (TeleFutura) Elects 36/42
>
> Little Rock, AR
> KETS-2/5 (PBS) Elects 7/10
>
> Los Angeles, CA
> KRCA-62/68 (Independiente de Español) Elects 35/50
>
> Palm Springs, CA
> KESQ-42/52 (ABC) Elects 50
>
> Sacramento, CA
> KVIE-6/53 (PBS) Elects 9/6 (NCA)
> KTNC-42/63 (Azteca // KUNO) Elects 14/14 (NCA)
> KTFK-64/62 (TeleFutura) Elects 26/31 (NCA)
>
> San Francisco, CA
> KTVU-2/56 (Fox) Elects 44/38 (NCA)
> KRON-4/57 (Independent) Elects 38/44 (NCA) (that's
> redundant)
> KFTY-50/54 (Independent) Elects 22/32 (NCA)
>
> Hartford, CT
> WEDY-65/6 (PBS // WEDH) Elects 6/Best Available Channel
> (Pointless)
>
> Washington, DC/Hagerstown, MD
> WHAG-25/55 (NBC) Elects 31/38
> WNVC-56/57 (Ethnic) Elects 24/39
> WPXW-66/43 (Pax) Elects 34/43
> WJAL-68/16 (Independent) Elects 38/39
>
> Orlando, FL
> WKMG-6/58 (CBS) Elects 26/18
> WTGL-52/53 (FN) Elects 51
>
> Tampa, FL
> WEDU-3/54 (PBS) Elects 13/50
> WWSB-40/52 (ABC) Elects 24
>
> West Palm Beach, FL
> WPTV-5/55 (NBC) Elects 12/25
> WHDT-0/59 (DW) Elects 44
>
> Columbus, GA
> WLGA-66/31 (UPN) Elects 47/38
>
> Honolulu, HI
> KMGT-56/0 (new) Elects 38/44
>
> Champaign, IL
> WCFN-49/53 (UPN) Elects 13/11
>
> Chicago, IL
> WXFT-60/59 (TeleFutura) Elects 50/38
> WGBO-66/53 (Univision) Elects 38/12
>
> Indianapolis, IN
> WIPB-49/52 (PBS) Elects 23/7
>
> Des Moines, IA
> KDMI-0/56 (new) Elects 31/29
>
> Boston, MA
> WWDP-46/52 (ShopNBC) Elects 25/46
>
> Baltimore, MD
> WMAR-2/52 (ABC) Elects 38
>
> Alpena, MI
> WCML-6/59 (PBS // WCMU) Elects 24
>
> Detroit, MI
> WJBK-2/58 (Fox) Elects 7/20
>
> Lansing, MI
> WLNS-6/59 (CBS) Elects 36/40
> WKAR-23/55 (PBS) Elects 40/25
>
> Saginaw, MI
> WCMU-14/56 (PBS) Elects 26
>
> St. Joseph, MO
> KQTV-2/53 (ABC) Elects 7/Best Available Channel
>
> St. Louis, MO
> KMOV-4/56 (CBS) Elects 24/30
>
> Tupelo, MS
> WTVA-9/57 (NBC) Elects 8/Best Available Channel
> WKDH-45/0 (ABC) Elects 45/Best Available Channel
>
> Greenville, NC
> WEPX-38/0 (Pax)
>
> Grand Forks, ND
> KGFE-2/56 (PBS // KFME) Elects 15/20
> KCPM-27/0 (UPN)
>
> Albuquerque, NM
> KTFQ-14/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 22/38
> KOBG-6/0 (NBC // KOB) Elects 12/Best Available Channel
>
> Las Vegas/Ely/Goldfield, NV
> KBNY-6/0 (???) elects 27/38
> KEGS-7/0 (NBC) elects 50/46
>
> Albany, NY
> WNYA-51/0 (UPN) Elects 13/4
>
> Buffalo, NY
> WPXJ-51/0 (Pax) Elects 23
>
> New York, NY
> WCBS-2/56 (CBS) Elects 33/7
> WLNY-55/57 (Independent) Elects 47/34
>
> Syracuse, NY
> WNYI-52/0 (Independent) Elects 9/43
> WSPX-56/0 (Pax) Elects 15/9
>
> Cleveland, OH
> WKYC-3/2 (NBC) Elects 17/32
>
> Tulsa, OK
> KJRH-2/56 (NBC) Elects 8/38
> KOTV-6/55 (CBS) Elects 19/Best Available Channel (NCA)
> KWBT-19/0 (WB) Elects 20/Best Available Channel (NCA)
>
> Portland/La Grande, OR
> KPOU-16/0 (Univision) Elects 29/46
>
> Philadelphia, PA
> WCAU-10/67 (NBC) Re-Elects 34 (NCA with WYBE again)
> WUVP-65/66 (Univision) Elects 29/33
>
> Greenville, SC
> WYFF-4/59 (NBC) Elects 36/49
>
> Rapid City, SD
> KNBN-21/0 (NBC) Elects 21 (that was pointless)
>
> Memphis, TN
> NEW-0/56 (PBS) Elects 10/Best Available Channel
>
> San Antonio, TX
> WOAI-4/58 (NBC) Elects 48/29
> KENS-5/55 (CBS) Elects 39/35
>
> Lubbock, TX
> KUPT-22/0 (UPN)
>
> Salt Lake City, UT
> KCBU-3/0 (TeleFutura) Elects 11/16
> KBCJ-6/0 (Infomercials) Elects 16/9
>
> Burlington, VT
> WCAX-3/53 (CBS) Elects 22
>
> Wausau, WI
> WFXS-55/0 (Fox) Elects 50/Best Available Channel
>
> Beckley, WV
> WSWP-9/53 (PBS) Elects 11/Best Available Channel
>
> Casper, WY
> KCWY-13/0 (NBC) Elects 12/11
>
> Cheyenne, WY/Scottsbluff, NE
> KTUW-16/0 (new) Elects 17/25
>
> Thoughts?
>
> - Trip
>
<P ID="signature">______________
"Welcome to radio-info.com...where we hate everything!!!!! You people are radio's equivalent to the two old guys in the balcony on the Muppet show!"
~FoReal?</P>
 
>
> Little Rock, AR
> KETS-2/5 (PBS) Elects 7/10
>
> Detroit, MI
> WJBK-2/58 (Fox) Elects 7/20
>
> New York, NY
> WCBS-2/56 (CBS) Elects 33/7
>
> Tulsa, OK
> KJRH-2/56 (NBC) Elects 8/38
>
> Thoughts?
>
> - Trip

I don't quite understand what the election is about, either. I think I've read on this board before that because of spacing on the spectrum and/or the way dtv works, a lot of stations are vacating their VHF channel assignments for the stronger (?) digital UHF band.

Anyway, in the markets listed above, wouldn't KATV-7-Little Rock, WXYZ-7-Detroit, WABC-7-New York and KTUL-8-Tulsa be given priority choice of their existing channel ahead of these elections? Or have these stations already made their dtv channel allocation preference made?
 
Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

In order to get the transition to DTV moving, the FCC allocated a second channel for full-service TV stations to use for their digital signal. They were given a timeframe in which they had to have DTV facilities constructed. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC stations in the top 10 markets were to have their facilities constructed by 5/1/1999. The big 4 network stations in markets 11-30 had until 11/1/1999. All other commercial stations had until 5/1/2002 and non-commercial stations had until 5/1/2003. Extensions were given on a case-by-case basis. The FCC set another time at which analog stations were to be shut off - originally 12/31/2006, but recently moved back to 4/7/2009. Between DTV construction and analog shutoff, full-service stations are operating two channels, one analog and one digital. Stations receiving construction permits after 4/3/1997 were not given a second channel and must "flash cut" to digital, i.e., shut off analog and turn on digital on the same channel.

At the same time, the FCC has decided to reallocate the 700 MHz spectrum for other uses such as communications for first responders, wireless broadband, etc. This means that channels 52-69 will no longer be available for use by full-service TV stations. Channels 2-51 are now considered "in-core". However, due to lack of spectrum in some cities, some stations were assigned out-of-core channels for DTV. Examples: KNWS-DT Houston is on ch. 52; KLDT-DT Dallas is on ch. 54; WOAI-DT San Antonio is on ch. 58.

Further complicating things was the discovery that interference on the low-VHF band (54-88 MHz) makes channels 2-6 pretty much unusable for DTV. Stations are abandoning low-band VHF, including KPRC in Houston and KDFW in Dallas.

At the end of the DTV transition, on 4/7/2009, stations with two channels will have to give one up and continue their DTV operations on the one they selected.

In Fall 2004, in the first round election, stations submitted their choice of which channel they wanted. In Houston KPRC 2/DT35 elected ch. 35, while KHOU 11/DT31 elected 11. In Dallas, KDFW 4/DT35 elected ch. 35, while WFAA 8/DT9 elected 8. Stations could also release their assigned DTV channel and elect to participate in the second round. KAJB Calipatria CA did that.

Most stations' DTV channel elections were approved, however, about 160 stations' elections were disapproved, usually due to interference with another station. Stations could file an engineering amendment indicating how they would eliminate the interference problem, or they could select their other channel, or they could enter into Negotiated Channel Agreements (NCA's) by which they could the channel that another station was planning to give up. First round elections were finalized on 6/23/2005. Stations whose conflicts could not be resolved were permitted to participate in Round Two.

In addition to the stations mentioned above, stations that had no in-core allocations, such as KLDT Dallas, were allowed to participate in the Second Round elections, in which they could select from any available allocation, or could have the FCC assign an allocation to them. Round Two elections are occurring at this time.

Next there will be a time for Round Two conflict resolution, and then Round Three will begin. In Round Three, stations with low-VHF allocations will be allowed to select another station, as will stations which don't have a final allocation after the first 2 rounds.

Hope this helps.
 
> Burlington, VT
> WCAX-3/53 (CBS) Elects 22
----------
Why would they want to move to WVNY's current channel?<P ID="signature">______________
From WNBC-TV New York this is Liiiiive at Fiiiiive!</P>
 
> > Burlington, VT
> > WCAX-3/53 (CBS) Elects 22
> ----------
> Why would they want to move to WVNY's current channel?
>
Channel 3(Current analog) is a low VHF which is bad for digital.

Channel 53 (Current digital) is out of core (new TV channels will go from channel 2 thru 51.

PSIP Mapping will make the actual channel number basically irrelevant
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> The FCC set another time at which analog
> stations were to be shut off - originally 12/31/2006, but
> recently moved back to 4/7/2009.

That date is still tentative as the Senate and House have differing opinions on what date will be in the final bill currently in play.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> Hope this helps.
>

It did...still have questions about the markets I listed in my original post.

In those markets, at least one station was electing channel allocations that are already in existance on the analog vhf band (WJBK electing 7 (first choice) or 20 (second choice). Thanks to other threads, I understand how the PSIP mapping works and that if WABC-7/DT-45 elect(ed)(s) to stay on channel 45, that the receiver will automatically map that signal back to "Channel 7.1, 7.2, etc."

What I don't understand is this (To use WJBK/WXYZ/WDWB as an example): In Detroit, WXYZ already broadcasts on Channel 7 analog (DT is 41) and WDWB broadcasts on Channel 20 analog (DT is 21). Wouldn't both of those stations be given priority to stay on those frequencies after the digital conversions, if they so chose, forcing WJBK to elect a different allocation? Or have both stations (WXYZ/WDWB) already made their allocation decisions, thus freeing up their analog allocation on DTV?

Similar situation, as I noted, occurs in Tulsa, Little Rock and New York City after round two elections.
 
> Anyway, in the markets listed above, wouldn't KATV-7-Little
> Rock, WXYZ-7-Detroit, WABC-7-New York and KTUL-8-Tulsa be
> given priority choice of their existing channel ahead of
> these elections? Or have these stations already made their
> dtv channel allocation preference made?

KTUL has already elected to use 10 for DTV. KATV elected a channel other than 7 as well, but I'm not sure which one (maybe 14?).
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> That date is still tentative as the Senate and House have
> differing opinions on what date will be in the final bill
> currently in play.

Also, I hear we're not likely to see NTSC go away in border zones anytime soon regardless of what's decided in Congress. There's also a good possibility the Miami stations will not convert to digital until Cubans begin giving up their analog televisions, or so I've heard as well.
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> What I don't understand is this (To use WJBK/WXYZ/WDWB as an
> example): In Detroit, WXYZ already broadcasts on Channel 7
> analog (DT is 41) and WDWB broadcasts on Channel 20 analog
> (DT is 21). Wouldn't both of those stations be given
> priority to stay on those frequencies after the digital
> conversions, if they so chose, forcing WJBK to elect a
> different allocation? Or have both stations (WXYZ/WDWB)
> already made their allocation decisions, thus freeing up
> their analog allocation on DTV?

WXYZ elected 41. WDWB elected 21.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
> > Anyway, in the markets listed above, wouldn't
> KATV-7-Little
> > Rock, WXYZ-7-Detroit, WABC-7-New York and KTUL-8-Tulsa be
> > given priority choice of their existing channel ahead of
> > these elections? Or have these stations already made
> their
> > dtv channel allocation preference made?
>
> KTUL has already elected to use 10 for DTV. KATV elected a
> channel other than 7 as well, but I'm not sure which one
> (maybe 14?).
>

KATV is sticking to 22 for DTV (the current dtv allocation). Its directional and low power at the moment though (that's when the CM 4228 comes in *quite* handy).
 
> > > Burlington, VT
> > > WCAX-3/53 (CBS) Elects 22
> > ----------
> > Why would they want to move to WVNY's current channel?
> >
> Channel 3(Current analog) is a low VHF which is bad for
> digital.
>
> Channel 53 (Current digital) is out of core (new TV channels
> will go from channel 2 thru 51.
>
> PSIP Mapping will make the actual channel number basically
> irrelevant

Plus WVNY is staying on channel 13.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> > That date is still tentative as the Senate and House have
> > differing opinions on what date will be in the final bill
> > currently in play.
>
> Also, I hear we're not likely to see NTSC go away in border
> zones anytime soon regardless of what's decided in Congress.
> There's also a good possibility the Miami stations will not
> convert to digital until Cubans begin giving up their analog
> televisions, or so I've heard as well.

Ho, that was a good laugh.

What difference would it make? Cuba is 100+ miles from the Miami transmitters and can't receive them, plus I imagine Cuba would jam the signals even if they did make it.

Hey, New York isn't getting an exception, and I doubt Miami or anyone else is.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> Ho, that was a good laugh.
> What difference would it make? Cuba is 100+ miles from the
> Miami transmitters and can't receive them, plus I imagine
> Cuba would jam the signals even if they did make it.

Actually, Miami TV is watchable in Cojimar, Cuba. It's also watchable in Havana in most weather conditions. The antennas that are required to get Miami TV in Cuba are illegal, but it doesn't stop people from using them. "Sabado Gigante" is one of the most watched programs in Cojimar.

> Hey, New York isn't getting an exception, and I doubt Miami
> or anyone else is.

Well, we'll have to wait and see what happens. One of the big issues with border zones is that no one is going to be able to do much with the TV frequencies without getting approval from Canada and Mexico.
 
Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> Well, we'll have to wait and see what happens. One of the
> big issues with border zones is that no one is going to be
> able to do much with the TV frequencies without getting
> approval from Canada and Mexico.

Actually, most of those issues have been resolved now. There are still a handful of stations (WNYS-DT in Syracuse comes to mind) that are held up over unresolved Canadian coordination issues, but for the most part the allocations have been worked out and the signals are on the air. Nearly everything in Buffalo, for instance, is on the air at full power, and Toronto's now coming on as well. I believe the same is true in Seattle.

The last word I've seen about Mexico is that it could be 2025 before analog goes away across the country, but that's not holding up coordination issues along the border. At least one DTV operation (XETV-DT 23) is on the air in Tijuana, and San Diego's mostly up at full power, too. I don't know as much about the situation along the rest of the border.<P ID="signature">______________
Tower Site Calendar 2006 JUST RELEASED! - <a target="_blank" href=http://www.fybush.com/nerw.html#calendar>www.fybush.com</a></P>
 
A further clarification on one point

> What I don't understand is this (To use WJBK/WXYZ/WDWB as an
> example): In Detroit, WXYZ already broadcasts on Channel 7
> analog (DT is 41) and WDWB broadcasts on Channel 20 analog
> (DT is 21). Wouldn't both of those stations be given
> priority to stay on those frequencies after the digital
> conversions, if they so chose, forcing WJBK to elect a
> different allocation? Or have both stations (WXYZ/WDWB)
> already made their allocation decisions, thus freeing up
> their analog allocation on DTV?

There's a bit of a misconception here. It's actually NOT preferable, all things being equal, for a station to keep its analog frequency after the conversion, because the FCC is giving protection priority to stations' DTV allotments.

Here's an example that may help make more sense of this:

WTTW Chicago has analog 11. WLFI Lafayette IN is analog 18 and was allotted 11 for its DTV. It's only 116 miles from WTTW to WLFI, which makes for some pretty bad short-spacing between WLFI-DT and WTTW analog.

The FCC's policy in this case is to give WLFI-DT protected status on 11 once the transition is complete, allowing WLFI to go full power, nondirectional. Anything that operates on 11 in Chicago after the transition has to protect the WLFI-DT signal, so you can see now why WTTW is eager to keep its current DTV allocation on 47. (There are similar, if not quite as dramatic, situations in most other crowded markets around the country.)

Another reason why it's desirable for many stations to abandon their current analog channel for their DTV channel is simply that they've already spent the money to build out DTV on the new channel. Why change that? It won't matter to viewers - remember, they don't know what the actual RF channel being used is, just what it remaps to on their tuners.

One more note on Chicago: as undesirable as 11 may turn out to be, it's still preferable to WBBM's analog 2/DTV 3 assignments, which is why WBBM entered into a negotiated arrangement with WTTW that will find WBBM-DT moving to 11 when the transition is over. It will presumably have to use a directional antenna to provide the needed protection to WLFI-DT. <P ID="signature">______________
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Re: A further clarification on one point

> One more note on Chicago: as undesirable as 11 may turn out
> to be, it's still preferable to WBBM's analog 2/DTV 3
> assignments, which is why WBBM entered into a negotiated
> arrangement with WTTW that will find WBBM-DT moving to 11
> when the transition is over. It will presumably have to use
> a directional antenna to provide the needed protection to
> WLFI-DT.

I'm not convinced that it will be THAT much better. WMSN-DT in Madison is also on 11 (changed their election to resolve a conflict) and IIRC that's less than 100 miles from Chicago. That means HUGE null to the northwest for WBBM.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
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Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> Actually, Miami TV is watchable in Cojimar, Cuba. It's also
> watchable in Havana in most weather conditions. The
> antennas that are required to get Miami TV in Cuba are
> illegal, but it doesn't stop people from using them.
> "Sabado Gigante" is one of the most watched programs in
> Cojimar.
>
> > Hey, New York isn't getting an exception, and I doubt
> Miami
> > or anyone else is.
>
> Well, we'll have to wait and see what happens. One of the
> big issues with border zones is that no one is going to be
> able to do much with the TV frequencies without getting
> approval from Canada and Mexico.
>

The Texas and New Mexico Senators have already had a say in trying to extend analog as a lot of their constituants speak mainly Spanish and are likely to continue to watch Mexican stations

When I lived in the Florida Keys about once a week I could pull in Havana with TV rabbit ears. The funny things was the baby monitor use to pull in Radio Havana all the time.

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Re: Elections clarified for both Tim and Chris (long post)

> Actually, most of those issues have been resolved now. There
> are still a handful of stations (WNYS-DT in Syracuse comes
> to mind) that are held up over unresolved Canadian
> coordination issues, but for the most part the allocations
> have been worked out and the signals are on the air. Nearly
> everything in Buffalo, for instance, is on the air at full
> power, and Toronto's now coming on as well. I believe the
> same is true in Seattle.
> The last word I've seen about Mexico is that it could be
> 2025 before analog goes away across the country, but that's
> not holding up coordination issues along the border. At
> least one DTV operation (XETV-DT 23) is on the air in
> Tijuana, and San Diego's mostly up at full power, too. I
> don't know as much about the situation along the rest of the
> border.

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure you will!), but another issue, as I understand it, with Canada and Mexico is that we will be finding a new use for spectrum above either channel 50 or 51. Our government has to get permission from them to use those frequencies for something other than TV within the 200 miles, or whatever the exact distance is, from their border. Mexico, especially, doesn't seem all too receptive to us using that spectrum for something else.
 
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