OET Releases Final Version of TVStudy

The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology released the final version of the TVStudy software that will be used in the incentive auction and subsequent repacking, OET said in a public notice Tuesday. The FCC had directed OET to release the final version of the software before the procedures PN, which is set for the agency’s July 16 open meeting. The final version, designated Version 1.3.2, “includes certain changes that OET has made to update and improve the TVStudy software,” the PN said. Alongside the software, OET released a list of the coverage area and population served to be protected in the repacking process of all auction-eligible full-power and Class A television stations, the PN said. The list isn't the final list of stations eligible for repacking protection, since that information will be updated based on station submissions of pre-auction technical certifications, the PN said. “OET will release the final baseline data to be used for purposes of the incentive auction and the repacking process well in advance of the auction,” the PN said. The released data includes “the noise-limited, terrain-limited and interference-free coverage area and population served” of the stations, the PN said. The noise-limited data “reflects the coverage area within the station’s contour that will be replicated” and the interference-free population data “reflects the population served by the station that will be protected from interference,” the PN said. “We invite comment on the detailed summary of the baseline coverage area and population served data attached to this Public Notice.”