Mark said:
I read on usenet "The Tube" has stopped broadcastin on many subchannels?
Some have said because on January 1, 2007 the FCC required all subchannels be able to broadcast the emergency alert system 24 hours a day 7/week.
Others have said it is due to new educational requirements of 3 hours per week for each subchanel.
Anyone know which is right?
From what I've heard, both, more or less.
- It looks like all Sinclair stations that were carrying The Tube on subchannels have dropped it. A number of other station groups were also carrying it and many, if not all, of them are still carrying it. (I believe WTXX, mentioned in another reply, is a Tribune station)
- The same EAS requirements that have always applied to main channels have been extended to subchannels. You must run a Required Weekly Test on your subchannels, and you must relay the Required Monthly Test. (you must also run Emergency Action Notification and Emergency Action Termination, but if that happens FCC inspectors will be the least of your worries!)
- And the E/I programming obligations have been extended to subchannels. As I understand it, you don't actually have to run the E/I material on the subchannel - if you run twice the required amount on your main channel then you don't have to run any on the sub - but you'd better talk to your lawyers before listening to me on that!
Many content regulations aren't the FCC's idea. (the E/I requirements included) It's fairly common for Congress to order the FCC to require something; the Commission has no choice but to enforce the law. (I suppose they *could* argue the law is unConstitutional but it's a lot cheaper for taxpayers to let the regulated industries do that<grin>!)
