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FCC RIN: 3060-AI77 Publication ID: Fall 2010 
Title: DTV Signals Pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (ET DOcket Nos. 10-152 and 06-94) 
Abstract: Consistent with the provisions of section 204 of Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA) (Pub. L. 108-447, 204, 118 Stat 2809, 3393, 3423-24, (2004), codified at 47 U.S.C. 339(c)(1)) and the Commission's Report to Congress (SHVERA Report) ("Study of Digital Television Field Strength Standards and Testing Procedures" (SHVERA Report), ET Docket No. 05-182, 20 FCC Rcd 19504 (2005)), the Commission proposes to amend the rules to include procedures for measuring the field strength of digital television signals. These new measurement procedures are needed to account for the differences that are inherent between the NTSC (analog) and digital television signals. While the proposed procedures would be generally applicable for measuring digital TV signal strengths, they would specifically be used in determining if a household is served by a digital television signal as part of an evaluation of the household’s eligibility to receive a distant digital network signal from a satellite television provider. The Commission proposes to implement provisions of the “Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010” (STELA) that require the Commission, within 270 days after the date of its February 27, 2010 enactment, to “develop and prescribe by rule a point-to-point predictive model for reliably and presumptively determining the ability of individual locations, through the use of an antenna, to receive signals in accordance with the signal intensity standard in Section 73.622(e)(1) of [our rules], or a successor regulation, including to account for the continuing operation of translator stations and low power television stations,” and to issue an order completing its rulemaking to establish a procedure for on-site measurement of digital television signals in ET Docket No. 06-94. The Commission previously sought comment on a variety of issues related to establishment of a procedure for on-location measurements pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA), but has not yet adopted final rules specifying such a procedure. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) portion of this action, the Commission proposes to prescribe a point-to-point predictive model for determining the ability of individual locations to receive an over-the-air digital television broadcast signal at the intensity level needed for service through the use of an antenna, as required by the STELA. Our goal in proposing this model is to provide a means for reliably and presumptively determining whether the over-the-air signals of television stations, including low power stations, can be received at individual locations for purposes of establishing the eligibility of individual households to receive the signals of distant television broadcast network stations from their satellite carriers. The Commission believes that the proposed predictive model, which is based on the current model for predicting the intensity of analog television signals at individual locations, will allow such determinations to be made in a timely and cost effective manner for all parties involved, including network TV stations, satellite carriers and satellite subscribers. In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the Commission seeks information to update the record in ET Docket No. 06-94, based on which it intends to prescribe rules for determining eligibility of satellite subscribers for receiving distant network signals from their satellite TV provider using on-location testing/measurements. The Commission previously sought comment on a variety of issues related to establishment of a procedure for on-location measurements pursuant to the SHVERA, but has not yet adopted final rules specifying such a procedure. In the STELA, Congress modified some of the testing requirements set forth in the SHVERA. The Commission is now addressing these modifications to both refresh the record and obtain additional information and comment on STELA requirements that differ from the SHVERA requirements. 
Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 73   
Legal Authority: 47 USC 339(a)(2)    47 USC 151    47 USC 154 (i) and (j)   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  07/06/2006  71 FR 38346   
NPRM Comment Period End  08/07/2006    
NPRM & FNPRM  08/04/2010  75 FR 46885   
Next Action Undetermined  To Be Determined    
Additional Information: ET Docket No. 06-94
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
David Sturdivant
Engineer
Federal Communications Commission
Enforcement Bureau, 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554
Phone:202 418-1227
Email: david.sturdivant@fcc.gov