HC2 Wants FCC to Authorize 5G Broadcast Standard for LPTV
The FCC should allow low-power TV (LPTV) broadcasters to use the 5G Broadcast transmission standard on a voluntary basis, said broadcaster HC2 in a petition for rulemaking Friday. The technology “allows an LPTV station to transmit a single 5G signal to its entire service area, which can be received by any compatible mobile device,” the petition said. “5G Broadcast thus provides both the spectrum efficiency of the one-to-many structure of broadcast operations and access to compatible mobile devices on existing 5G networks.” Currently, stations can only broadcast in the standard using an experimental license granted by the FCC, and only a few such stations exist.
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The 5G Broadcast standard is "complementary" to ATSC 3.0, not in competition with it, said Frank Copsidas, who heads the LPTV Broadcasters’ Association. The group, a longtime advocate for 5G Broadcast, fully supports the HC2 filing, he said, adding that his company, XGen Network, is working on creating 5G Broadcast cellphones.
“Limiting 5G Broadcast eligibility to LPTV stations will mitigate any impact on the rollout of ATSC 3.0 by full power and Class A TV stations,” HC2's petition said. The petition also “does not propose any mandates on TV manufacturers or any changes impacting multichannel video programming distributor operation,” it said. “From a policy standpoint, the Commission should encourage market-driven innovation by allowing LPTV stations to use the 5G Broadcast transmission standard on a voluntary basis if they elect do so.”