LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition Meets With Lake, Epstein

There should be a displacement application window for licensees with unbuilt low-power TV construction permits, the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition said in a meeting last week with Incentive Auction Task Force Chief Gary Epstein, Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake and other Media Bureau staff, according to an ex parte filing posted Tuesday in docket 12-268. Displaced LPTV stations will have such a window, but those with unbuilt construction permits won't, the filing said. The coalition was told “all new digital construction permits would have to wait until after the formal displacement window and process,” the filing said. “And then when they did file, no process other than everyone filing at once in a first come first serve manner,” the filing said. There are 780 LPTV and 760 TV translator stations that haven't completed their conversion to digital, but will be eligible to participate in the displacement application window, the filing said. The coalition also updated Lake and Epstein on its proposed legislation for an LPTV spectrum auction (see 1510150066).