WASHINGTON—At its December open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved new rules for Low Power TV (LPTV), TV Translator, and Class A broadcasters. These updates aim to provide greater regulatory clarity and reflect the significant changes in the broadcast industry since the LPTV Service was first established over forty years ago. The new rules are intended to help LPTV Service broadcasters better compete in local media markets.

The updates were adopted in a Report & Order titled “Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Advance the LPTV, TV Translator and Class A Television Service,” MB Docket No. 24-148.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr highlighted that the LPTV Service was created in 1982 to bring local television to viewers who were not served by full-power broadcasters. Today, these stations are a vital part of the nation’s television system, delivering free, over-the-air programming—including locally produced content—to millions in both rural and urban areas. Carr noted that the previous rules had not kept pace with industry developments or addressed regulatory uncertainties. The new measures are designed to modernize the LPTV regulatory framework, enabling licensees to make informed business decisions while ensuring continued public benefit.

The updated rules include:

• Revised methods for calculating relocation distances for displaced and channel-sharing LPTV/TV translator stations.
• Establishment of a uniform maximum relocation distance for all minor modification applications.
• Creation of a formal process for LPTV Service stations to specify a community of license.
• Requirement for LPTV Service stations to use a call sign that matches their service designation (with existing LPTV/Class A call signs grandfathered).
• Formal process for changing service designation for LPTV Service stations.
• Clarification of required EAS equipment for LPTV stations.
• Clarification of video programming responsibilities for LPTV/TV translators.
• Revisions to the displacement rule, clearly outlining qualifying circumstances and removing the public notice period for displacement.
• Updates to technical rules to prevent interference.
• Removal of obsolete regulations.
• Permission for LPTV/TV translator channel sharing stations to apply for their own channels.
• Decision not to adopt new minimum operating hours, limit community of license changes, restrict service designation changes, or limit applicants’ ability to round distance calculations.

Chair Carr expressed optimism that these changes will ensure the LPTV Service continues to thrive and serve the public interest in the years ahead, and he looks forward to monitoring how broadcasters address the needs of local communities nationwide.

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.