You may have heard about an upcoming TV rescan required for your community but still have questions. What is it all about, why is it happening and what do you need to do about it? In today’s blog, we break it down for you and unpack the spectrum repack.
What is the spectrum repack and why is it happening?
Several years ago, Congress authorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – the agency that governs the public airwaves – to auction off broadcast TV frequencies (or airwaves) to make more channels available for wireless services. By law, as a result of the auction, the FCC is requiring nearly 1,000 TV stations to change frequencies. The TV station frequency transitions began in September 2018 and are scheduled to continue at least through the summer of 2020.
What does the spectrum repack entail?
In most cases when stations move frequencies, it requires moving their existing antenna, which sits on top of their current tower. However, some stations will need new, heavier antennas and may need to reinforce their current tower or build a new one that can hold the weight of the new antenna. It can be a long and complicated process, and some stations, including WFTV in Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla., are using helicoptersto replace antennas on towers more than 1,500 feet tall. To learn more about the process stations go through to plan and execute a frequency change, click here.
These changes are happening behind the scenes, and after you rescan your TV, you will find your favorite stations on the same channel numbers as before. You might even end up with more channels that you didn’t even know you could access.
What do I need to do about it?
If you pay a monthly fee to subscribe to a television service – such as cable or satellite – you do not need to do anything. If, however, you’re one of the 72 million people who use an antenna to access free, over-the-air TV, you’ll need to rescan your TV after your local TV stations change frequencies. Up to 81 TV stations in 19 states will be changing frequencies by March 13.
Rescanning your TV is free and requires only a few steps using your TV remote. You do not need to purchase new equipment or services to rescan. TV rescan days are occurring at various times in communities across the country. Since you should rescan your TV after your local stations transition, it’s important to be notified when it’s time to take action.
To find out exactly when you need to perform a TV rescan, sign up for text and email alerts. You can also find out if and when your local stations will be transitioning by clicking here and entering your zip code to see all known stations in your market scheduled to move to new frequencies. And always stay tuned to your local stations to learn more about when their rescan days will take place.
What if I’ve rescanned and I’m still not getting my channels?
If you’ve confirmed that your local station has already changed frequencies, but your rescan isn’t successful, check out these rescan tips and tricks.
In some cases, a TV station might need to operate at reduced power for a period of time while the transition is occurring. The best way to confirm this is to call the station directly and ask if they are operating at reduced power, and if so, when they expect to be at full power. Due to technical issues, some stations may be at reduced power for weeks or even months, going well beyond summer 2020.
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