An increasing number of LPTV’s using the spectrum that was won by T-Mobile are being given their 120-day notice, many this week, to vacate their channel, prior to the transition phases.
T-Mobile will begin using 600 MHz spectrum later this year, well ahead of expectations.
According to a press release, Ericsson and Nokia already have announced availability of 600 MHz equipment that T-Mobile will use in its network. The carrier has 600 MHz licenses covering over one million square miles where they expect at least 10 MHz to be clear this year, clearing the way for use of the new spectrum.
The FCC has outlined 2 ways that stations who get the 120-day notice can stay on the air:
- Submit a displacement application together with a request for waiver of the Displacement Freeze and request Special Temporary Authority (STA) to operate on a temporary channel; or,
- Choose to enter into a temporary channel sharing arrangement with another displaced station, or submit an application to channel share with another LPTV/translator station that has not received a 120-day notice (which are not subject to the Displacement Freeze and may be filed at any time).
The full FCC release is at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0615/DA-17-584A1.pdf
The T-Mobile release is at: https://newsroom.t-mobile.com/news-and-blogs/tmobile-spectrum-auction-win.htm