Media Access Project: MAP Press Releases on Digital TV

Digital Television and Spectrum Allocation

Digital TV Main Page

Digital TV transmission will use a technology that uses the spectrum much more efficiently than analog. One disputed question has been who should benefit from this efficiency.

Because analog transmission signals can interfere with each other, TV stations have traditionally been seperated in their positions on the dial. For example, a station that is assigned to channel 3 cannot be in the same geographic region as another channel 3, or even a channel 2 or 4. But digital transmission will suffer less interference, and will allow channels 2, 3, and 4 to exist in the same region. The spectrum allocated to TV broadcasting could be "packed" into a smaller range of frequencies.

Therefore, MAP asked whether, in the digital age, broadcasters should retain all the spectrum they currently use? Or should some spectrum, (specifically UHF Channels 60-69) be freed up for other public uses?

The FCC's final decision allocates digital channels in a way that will ultimately place broadcasters within the range of channels 7 to 51. This will free up valuable spectrum at both ends of the broadcast band, benefitting the public by perhaps someday allowing public access and community broadcasting, a wider variety of new voices, and public safety uses.

More resources on the Channels 60-69 Debate:

FCC's Sixth Report and Order on allocation of channels for Digital TV, and the accompanying press release.

Recent press statements.

Comments filed by MAP on behalf of Citizens for a Sound Economy, et al.

FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Digital TV channel assignments (also in WordPerfect format).

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This page last modified 8/24/00.