In latest bout over terrestrial repeaters used by satellite digit...

WCS licensees cited XM data recently released on repeaters operating below power levels of 2 kw. In at least one market, WCS said, XM had network that used only repeaters operating below 2 kw. WCS licensees have argued that SDARS licensees should be required to operate terrestrial repeater networks at power levels no greater than 2 kw. However, SDARS licensees said repeater network design relied on repeaters operating at up to 40 kw to provide proper synchronization. In filing, WCS licensees told FCC that “more than one out of every 4 markets in which XM has deployed repeaters” had no repeater operating above 5 kw EIRP. Filing was signed by AT&T Wireless, BeamReach Networks, BellSouth, Verizon Wireless, Wireless Communications Assn., WorldCom. WCS said: “Clearly there is no technical reason why all SDARS terrestrial repeaters could not serve their intended purpose while operating at much lower power levels than the SDARS licensees would lead the Commission to believe.” It said SDARS licensees had told FCC that single frequency network architecture of their systems required use of “much higher power repeaters to synchronize other repeaters in a market.” Referring to data available from Greenville, S.C., XM market, WCS licensees said that without power cap, XM was using network of repeaters that operated at less than 2 kw. Meanwhile, in Feb. 5 ex parte meeting that NAB said involved all 4 FCC commissioners and FCC staff, group outlined its concerns with SDARS proposal on power limits, including: (1) That it would allow local origination or insertion of locally targeted programming. “On its face, their current proposal appears to echo the SDARS licensees’ pledge not to transmit locally originated programming, but upon closer examination of their broad language, the SDARS proposed language does not preclude locally originated material.” It said that meant proposal ran counter to tentative FCC conclusion to bar use of terrestrial repeaters to transmit locally originated programming. (2) That it didn’t protect all incumbent services from blanketing interference. Broadcasters said they were especially concerned about potential interference to broadcast auxiliary service facilities operating in 2 GHz bands adjacent to SDARS repeaters. Filing said all terrestrial repeater specifications should be available to public on Internet. (3) That “the recent introduction of satellite radio underscores the urgency of terrestrial broadcasters’ digital conversion.” In-band, on-channel (IBOC) radio can deliver “high quality digital service,” so FCC was urged to expedite IBOC proceeding.