Editing Low-power broadcasting (section)

====Digital transition====
{{See also|Digital television transition in the United States}}
On July 15, 2011, the FCC issued an order to low-power broadcasters that effectively required all remaining television transmitters to vacate channels 52 to 69 by December 31, 2011. Originally, all low power analog TV stations were required to shut off by September 1, 2015, however, the deadline for low-power television stations and translators was postponed due to a spectrum auction that took place. While Class-A television stations were required to sign off on September 1, 2015, the last remaining low-powered analog television stations had signed off by July 13, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0720/FCC-11-110A1.pdf |title=FCC 11–110 Second Report and Order |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314024932/http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0720/FCC-11-110A1.pdf |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db0424/DA-15-486A1.pdf FCC Public Notice: "SUSPENSION OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 DIGITAL TRANSITION DATE FOR LOW POWER TELEVISION AND TV TRANSLATOR STATIONS", April 24, 2015.]</ref><ref>[https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-442A1.pdf FCC Public Notice: "The incentive auction task force and media bureau announce procedures for low power television, television translator and replacement translator stations during the post-incentive auction transition", May 17, 2017]</ref>

Unlike AM and FM, unlicensed use of television bands is prohibited for broadcasting. The [[amateur television]] channels do allow for some very limited non-entertainment transmissions however, with some [[repeater]]s airing [[NASA TV]] during [[Space Shuttle]] [[Space exploration|mission]]s when they are not in local use.

The low-power television industry was represented by the [[Community Broadcasters Association]] (CBA), which held its annual convention each year in October and an annual meeting each year in April at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in [[Las Vegas]]. The meeting was open to anyone interested in the low-power television industry.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} On August 13, 2009, the CBA announced in a statement that it would shut down after 20 years of representing LPTV stations. One reason given was the "restrictive regulations that kept the Class A and LPTV industry from realizing its potential". Another was the inability to reach most viewers, partly due to [[multichannel video programming distributor]]s refusing to carry these channels. In addition, Amy Brown, former CBA executive director, said, "some 40% of Class A and LPTV station operators believe they will have to shut down in the next year if they are not helped through the digital transition."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/327560-Community_Broadcasters_Association_to_Shutter.php?rssid=20068&q=digital+tv|title=Community Broadcasters Association to Shutter|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=August 13, 2009|access-date=August 14, 2009}}</ref>

In February 2006, the FCC released its Notices of Proposed Rules for Digital Radio. The Commission reaffirms its commitment to provide broadcasters with the opportunity to take advantage of [[digital audio broadcasting]] (DAB) technology, proposed criteria for evaluating models and systems, such as the [[In-band on-channel]] (IBOC) system, and inquired on the needs for a mandatory DAB transmission standard.

In section 39 of the Notice, the FCC inquires as how to balance incentives for broadcasters to switch to digital systems with incumbents of new entrance opportunities, stating that they “seek analyses of the minimum power levels that would preserve service within protected service areas in an all-digital environment, and alternatively, the levels that would not result in significant disruptions to current listening patterns.”<ref>{{cite web|website = Prometheus Radio Project, Initials|date = February 12, 2006|title =  Review of fcc proposed rules for digital radio and impact for lpfm|url = http://prometheusradio.org/node/139}}</ref>

The DAB system that was identified as the best fit for LPFM was IBOC. This hybrid system uses existing frequencies and can operate carrying digital information along with analog broadcast signal on the sidebands. However, the digital carriers require the bandwidth to be widened, which would cause interference to stations on the first adjacent channel. If LPFM adopts IBOC, then LPFM would also need to accept a second adjacent channel restriction between two LPFM stations, as there is a potential that the sidebands of two LPFM stations would overlap causing interference. {{as of|2008}}, imposing a second adjacent channel restriction would impact less than 10 LPFM stations.<ref>{{cite web|author = Michelle Eyre|date = September 21, 2008|title =  A {{sic|Compa|rative|nolink=y}} overview of digital audio broadcasting (dab) systems|url = http://home.recnet.com/dab}}</ref>