Comments on Behalf of the Community Broadcasters Association In the Matter of Broadcast Localism
Document - cbalocal4.pdf

All Class A television stations are required to have a copy of the FCC publication "The Public and Broadcasting" in their public inspection file.  The FCC released a new version of this document today.  Please alert all Class A stations that they must replace the version in their public file with the new version immediately.

In the Matter of Promoting Diversification of Ownership, MB Docket 07-294, FCC 07-217, released March 5, 2008:

G. Must-Carry for Class A Television Stations 99.

In its Supplemental Comments, DCS urges the Commission to take action in accordance with a proposal advanced by the Community Broadcasters Association ("CBA").[1] CBA proposes that the Commission "actively support cable must-carry legislation for Class A stations."[2] We agree that cable carriage of Class A television stations could promote both programming diversity and localism, given that all such stations are required to originate local content. We seek comment on whether we have authority under the Act to adopt rules requiring such carriage. ________________________________

1] DCS Supplemental Comments at 10-11.
[2] Reply of Community Broadcasters Association at 2 (Nov. 1, 2007).

Comment Date:  [30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register]
Reply Comment Date:  [45 days after date of publication in the Federal Register]

Not published in Federal Register yet, so no deadline yet.

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In the Matter of Broadcast Localism, MB Docket No. 04-233, FCC 07-218, released January 24, 2008:

141.    As a final matter, we understand the concerns of commenters that
would like to upgrade LPTV stations to Class A status.  We agree that
this action would provide investment protection for low power TV
stations looking to make investments in the DTV transition.  Because the
Class A rules require such stations to provide locally produced
programming, increasing the number of Class A stations would ensure the
existence of continued community programming.  We tentatively conclude
that we should allow additional qualified LPTV stations to be granted
Class A status.  We seek comment on this tentative conclusion, as well
as on how to define eligibility and our statutory authority to take this
action.

Revised date for filing Comments: April 28, 2008
Revised date for filing Reply Comments: June 11, 2008

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Upgrading Class A to full power status.  This is currently only an idea
from Chairman Martin.  All four of the other Commissioners have
indicated a reluctance to support it, but they have not given their
reasons.  It has never been put out for any formal comment and is not
embodied in any public written document.

KEEPUSON.COM

DTV Submitted Letters
A Collection of Letters sent in regards to the Digital Converter Set-top Boxes. 

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LPTV Industry Calls DTV Converter Box Program Into Question
December 7, 2007
Today the Community Broadcasters Association (CBA), the trade association of the nation’s Class A and Low Power Television (LPTV) stations filed a complaint at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that potentially... 

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Notice of Availability of Funds for Low-Power Television and Translator Broadcast Stations: On October 29, 2007, NTIA announced the start of the LPTV Digital-to-Analog Conversion grant program that will help low-power television stations continue analog broadcasts. 

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As things now stand, says the president of the Community Broadcasters Association, many of the 2,800 LPTV stations are faced with losing all of their over-the-air viewers in February 2009 when full-power stations make the switch to digital and they are still stuck in analog.
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FCC Comments filed for the reporting on the ex parte meetings held on November 14, 2006, regarding leased cable access, attended by the Community Broadcasters Association, Caribevision, Inc., ZGS Group, Inc., and the Media Access Project.
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The Community Broadcasters Association would like to share some information it has gathered about how the FCC may deal with certain issues in processing digital companion channel applications.

• It is an established requirement that the protected service contour of
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ASCAP TELEVISION LICENSING

Television Licensing administrates the license agreements with ASCAP's 1,200 local television station customers, as well as the ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and Univision networks. We have also just introduced blanket and per program agreements for the LPTV industry.

Our local station customers can be licensed under a blanket or a per program license. Both license types provide full and complete access to ASCAP's ever-growing repertory. The choice of license is made by the station.

To learn more about Television Licensing, or to speak to an ASCAP Account Manager regarding an existing television account that you may have, please contact us at:

TVLicensing@ascap.com
or toll free at:
1-800-99-ASCAP

The link is: http://www.ascap.com/licensing/tvcablesatellite/