Broadcast Tower Companies Tell FCC Incentive Auction Staff of Potential Repacking Delays
Broadcast tower companies told FCC Incentive Auction Task Force members and Media Bureau and other staff there are “'early warning signs' of potential delays in the repack process" of TV channels. American Tower, Sinclair's Dielectric, Stainless and Vertical Technology Services…
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representatives mentioned "unforeseen site failures" and low-power TV "displacements requiring the pulling of equipment and crews, poor weather conditions delaying tower work by months, stations conducting their latter-phase transitions earlier than required by the Commission, and unforeseen structural and permitting delays." Delays "persist despite daily contact with rigging companies to coordinate shipments and request last-minute parts," said a filing posted Tuesday in docket 16-306. "Broadcast Tower Representatives expressed their collective concern regarding the extreme shortage of competent, safe crews available to install main antennas in accordance with the Commission’s repack schedule." The reps said they are "witnessing the effects of an unrealistic expectation of what the repacking of 987 stations, with associated LPTV displacements and FM accommodations, entails." Commission staff "have been in close contact with the stations in Phase 1, and the presentation at this meeting echoes the positive reports we’ve heard about the progress that those stations have made toward completing their transition" this month, an FCC spokesperson responded. "Our transition plan was developed by taking resource constraints into account and we will continue to monitor progress in future phases closely and work with stations who may experience delays. Our ultimate goal is to have every station move according to their scheduled transition phase and stations should continue to work towards their phase deadline." Broadcast officials fear a repacking-related backlog (see 1810260034).