Now that the LPTV/translator digital transition is complete, the FCC wants to require digital LPTV/translator stations to comply with new station identification provisions. They’re accepting comments on the proposal.
A new rule, § 74.783, is proposed as follows:
§ 74.783 Station identification.
(a) Each low power TV and TV translator station not originating local programming as defined by § 74.701(h) must transmit its station identification as follows:
- (1) By transmitting the call sign in the short channel name field of the PSIP (or its ATSC 3.0 equivalent) for at least one stream on the station; or
- (2) By arranging for the primary station, whose signal is being rebroadcast, to identify the translator station by transmitting an easily readable visual presentation or a clearly understandable aural presentation of the translator station’s call letters and location. Two such identifications shall be made between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. each broadcast day at approximately one hour intervals during each time period. Television stations which do not begin their broadcast day before 9 a.m. shall make these identifications in the hours closest to these time periods at the specified intervals.
(b) Licensees of television translators whose station identification is made by the television station whose signals are being rebroadcast by the translator, must secure agreement with this television station licensee to keep in its file, and available to FCC personnel, the translator’s call letters and location, giving the name, address and telephone number of the licensee or his service representative to be contacted in the event of malfunction of the translator. It shall be the responsibility of the translator licensee to furnish current information to the television station licensee for this purpose.
(c) A low power TV station shall comply with the station identification procedures given in § 73.1201 when locally originating programming, as defined by § 74.701(h), on its primary stream. Other streams may use the method in (a)(1). The identification procedures given in paragraphs (a) and (b) are to be used at all other times.
(d) Transport Stream ID (TSID) values are identification numbers assigned to stations by the FCC and stored in the Commission’s online database. Two sequential values are assigned to each station.
- (1) All low power TV stations shall transmit their assigned odd-numbered TSID, if one has been assigned. All TV translator stations shall transmit their assigned odd-numbered TSID, if one has been assigned, or else the assigned TSID of the originating station if one has not been assigned to the TV translator station.
- (2) In ATSC 3.0, a similar value is used called a Bit Stream ID (BSID). LPTV/translator stations operating in ATSC 3.0 mode shall utilize their assigned even-numbered TSID as their BSID, and transmit it as otherwise required in (d)(1).
Full Order and Sixth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-58A1.pdf