A Q-and-A with National Association of Broadcasters
Vice President of Spectrum Policy Bob Weller
Q: Can you provide a basic explanation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectrum repack?
A: The FCC is requiring certain TV stations to move frequencies in order to make room for new 5G services. This move is happening behind the scenes and the actual channel number you see on your TV will not change.
Q: Why might a viewer lose access to a channel during this process?
A: The FCC assigned new frequencies and facilities that are supposed to provide the same coverage as the existing ones. Therefore, most viewers should not lose permanent access to any channels. However, in the event that the viewer experiences temporary channel loss, there are a few reasons why it might’ve happened. A station’s signal might be marginal to begin with and any change in frequency may be enough to impact reception. In this case, the viewer’s antenna might need to be relocated closer to a window to restore reception. Secondly, a station may have changed bands from UHF to VHF, which may necessitate a new antenna to ensure the signal can be received. Lastly, a station might be temporarily operating at reduced power to complete the transition work – in which case, the only option is to wait for the station to finish work and resume operations at full-power. The specific station in question will be the best source of information on when full-power broadcasting will resume.
Q: Why would a station need to lower its signal strength during its move to a new frequency?
A: Some stations may operate at reduced power for a period of time either because new transmitting equipment hasn’t arrived yet or the tower needs to be rebuilt to accommodate the new antenna. There are a limited number of workers who are trained to perform antenna, transmitter and tower work and they are in high demand during this repack period. So, if a particular task is delayed due to weather or for other reasons, subsequent tasks also get delayed and stations are forced to operate with reduced power during that time.
Q: Can topography affect signal strength?
A: Yes. Airwaves generally travel along the “line of sight,” so, any blockage, whether it’s a building or a mountain, reduces the signal. The amount of reduction depends on a number of factors, including the station’s frequency, the time of day and even the foliage. Predicting the signal strength of a TV station is not an exact science, so when a station changes frequency you might be able to pick it up even if you couldn’t before. Unfortunately, this also means you might lose a station if it changes frequency.
Q: Is there any way a viewer can overcome topography challenges to receive local broadcast signals?
A: The main thing that a viewer can do is to adjust their antenna or get a stronger one. If you are using an indoor antenna, try to move it near a window that faces in the direction of the station’s transmitter site. If that doesn’t help, you may need to raise the antenna, either outdoors or in an attic.
Q: Are there any other reasons a viewer’s reception might be affected by stations’ frequency moves?
A: In some cases, stations have decided to relocate their transmitting facilities to allow them to share facilities with other stations. Changes in transmitter sites means that the topography is different and some viewers may get access to stations they couldn’t receive before, while others may lose access to stations.
Q: What can viewers do if they have already rescanned their antennas and are still without reception?
A: Contact the station that you have lost (or check their website) to see if they are temporarily operating at a lower power and when they might resume full power operations. If there’s a way to set up an antenna outdoors or at least in the attic, you will likely be rewarded with channels you couldn’t receive before. If neither of these options are available to you, try relocating the indoor antenna closer to a window and avoid placing it behind any furniture or structures.
Q: Can you explain the difference between UHF and VHF frequencies and how each is affected by TV stations’ frequency moves?
A: To work properly, the viewer’s antenna needs to be matched to the frequency of the station it is receiving. Since indoor antennas are usually small, they often don’t pull in VHF stations very well. Most stations will stay in the same band (VHF or UHF) when they move to a new frequency, but others may move from UHF to VHF. Stations moving from UHF to VHF frequencies are more likely to result in viewer disruptions, and viewers are more likely to need a large outdoor (or attic) antenna to receive service.
Viewers who need to make the switch from UHF to VHF antennas can find the type of antenna they need at www.antennaweb.com.
Q: How can a viewer recognize which type of frequency (UHF vs. VHF) their antenna receives?
A: Some antenna manufacturers participate in a receiving “zone” labeling program, but it mostly applies to outdoor antennas. See https://antennaweb.org/Info/AntennaInfo for details. Indoor antennas typically perform poorly on VHF channels, but if you are in a strong signal area they may work for you. The website RabbitEars.com can provide an estimate of your signal level, as well as a mapping page that can help determine where transmitter sites are located and what kind of antenna you may need. If you’re outside the green zone and trying to receive a VHF station you will probably need a large outdoor (or attic) antenna.
The program information is blank. What do I do to bring it back. They told me to keep rescanning but that has been to no avail. I called The FCC but they sent me back to UNCTV. I called Sony as that is the brand of my TV but they also sent me back to UNCTV.
Thanks,
Mary
Hi Mary,
So sorry to hear you are having issues! If you have rescanned and not been able to find local programming, we recommend checking with your local station (UNC-TV) to make sure they are still operating at the same broadcast power and frequency type (see the above description of different frequencies). Depending on where you live in North Carolina, the station’s team should be able to give you more accurate information. Good Luck!