HC2 Broadcasting Holdings has requested that the FCC grant Low Power Television (LPTV) stations permission to transmit a 5G signal to their service areas, which will be received by compatible mobile devices.
“5G Broadcast provides both the spectrum efficiency of the one-to-many structure of broadcast operations and access to compatible mobile devices on existing 5G networks,” HC2 said in a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Wilkinson Barker Knauer. “LPTV stations utilizing 5G Broadcast are poised to deliver numerous benefits across multiple services, including enhanced programming, datacasting, connectivity, and public safety.”
Allowing 5G services on LPTV spectrum would require a few rule modifications, according to HC2. Although the proposal includes a requirement to deliver at least one free-to-air standard-definition signal, HC2 encouraged the Commission to consider allowing all 6 megahertz of LPTV spectrum to be used for datacasting.
5G Broadcast is a global standard approved by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, which has been endorsed as a standalone terrestrial broadcast system by the International Telecommunication Union-Radiocommunication Sector. HC2 limited its 5G Broadcast petition to LPTV stations to mitigate the impact on the rollout of ATSC 3.0 by full power and Class A TV stations. Further, stations would be able to opt to use the 5G Broadcast transmission standard voluntarily, market by market, HC2 said.
“LPTV stations have historically been viewed as testbeds for the broadcast service,” the petition reads. At a time when demand for 5G spectrum is skyrocketing, this petition presents a unique opportunity for the Commission to release significant amounts of existing spectrum in a manner that will expand mobile broadband opportunities for providers and enable LPTV broadcasters to repurpose their licensed spectrum if they choose to do so.
HC2 operates 250 broadcast stations in more than 100 television markets in the United States, plus Puerto Rico, including full power, Class A, and low power.
