Alaska Rural Communications Service

Last updated
Alaska Rural Communications Service
Channels
BrandingARCS
Programming
Affiliations.1: ABC (via KYUR)
CBS (via KAUU)
Fox (via KTBY)
Syndicated programming (via KAUU-DT4)
NBC (via KTUU)
.2: PBS (via KAKM)
.3: UAF TV/FNX
.4: 360 North
Ownership
OwnerState of Alaska
(transmitter owner)
Operator Alaska Public Media
History
KTVA (CBS, 19??–2020)
KUAC (PBS, 19??-2021)
Links
Website www.arcstv.org

The Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS) is a statewide network of low-powered television stations, serving 235 communities throughout the Alaskan Bush areas. Developed in the late 1970s, the network is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and is operated by Alaska Public Media. [1] [2] Programming is beamed via satellite to the rural transmitters owned by the Alaska state government.

Contents

Low powered television broadcasts began in 1959, with a transmitter in the Suntrana-Healy area. In 1972, the Alaskan Public Broadcasting Commission (APBC) received FCC permission to test the use of videotapes to bring television to areas of Alaska with no ability to access terrestrial repeaters; tests began in three villages the next year. Alaska's state legislature then provided funding to the state's Office of Telecommunications to lease a satellite transponder and modify existing telephone earth stations for television in 1976. The first satellite-fed television transmissions began on January 15, 1977, in Tenakee Springs. A Telecommunications Committee under the Alaska Federation of Natives selected programming for the new service, the committee became known as the Rural Alaska Television Network (RATNET). In 1995, after state funding cuts, Bethel Broadcasting, Incorporated, operators of KYUK, assumed responsibility for the service, at the time called The Alaska Satellite Television Project (ASTP). [3] Control of ARCS passed from Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc. to Alaska Public Media, which also operates Anchorage's PBS member station KAKM, in 2021. [1]

Programming on ARCS is a selection of shows from the four largest commercial broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox) and syndication, via the Anchorage stations; plus PBS programming from KAKM and other PBS members in the state; occasionally, ARCS produces some of its own programming (including local sports coverage). Anchorage stations provide their programming to ARCS free of charge with the condition that advertising is allowed to remain.

There is currently no CW programming available on ARCS (nor did it air programming from The WB), and though in the past the network carried MyNetworkTV programming from KYES-TV (and previously, UPN), it has not since its 2009 conversion from a network to an all-repeat programming service; it did carry other syndicated programming from that station, mainly on weekends, until KYES-TV took over the CBS affiliation from KTVA on August 1, 2020 (KYES-TV's former programming shifted to its fourth subchannel and will continue to air on ARCS on weekends). In late February 2021, KYES's call letters were changed to KAUU, to complement sister station KTUU.

Even though much of ARCS' programming contains commercials, the operation of ARCS is partially funded by donations from its viewers, just like member stations of PBS, as well as those of the Christian-based Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Many of ARCS' stations which were in analog were converted to digital broadcasting as part of the FCC mandated digital television transition which was originally scheduled for July 13, 2021 for low-power TV stations as well as translator stations in Alaska. The network flash cut its transmitters once the transition is completed, shutting down its analog transmissions and switching on their digital transmitters at the same time. This has also allowed ARCS to add new subchannels, including 360 North, First Nations Experience, and UAF TV via Alaska Public Media's KAKM-TV. [4]

In June 2021, the FCC granted a waiver for the service to continue analog television service on 15 of its transmitters until January 10, 2022, so that they could continue to complete the upgrade of its low-powered stations to digital. The FCC cited Alaska's climate and short construction season, the remoteness of the transmitter sites in question, and the fact that all the transmitters represented the sole over-the-air television service in each of the communities involved. [5] [6] Another application to extend the construction permits on several other ARCS transmitters was submitted on January 10, 2022; as of February 2022, the application is under review. [7] In a subsequent filing to the FCC in July 2022, the State of Alaska and Alaska Public Media indicated that they planned to let construction permits for 37 of the repeaters lapse. [8]

List of stations

As of June 2021, the ARCS had 169 station licenses, of which 106 were operational. [6] The ARCS is seen on the following low-powered television stations:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">KAKM</span> PBS member station in Anchorage

KAKM is a PBS member television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Owned by Alaska Public Media, it is sister to NPR member KSKA. The two stations share studios at the Elmo Sackett Broadcast Center on the campus of Alaska Pacific University; KAKM's transmitter is located near Knik, Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska Public Media</span> Operator of public broadcasting stations in Alaska

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KTVA is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with the digital multicast network Rewind TV. The station is owned by Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of local cable provider GCI. KTVA's transmitter is located in Spenard—covering the Anchorage bowl and much of the adjacent Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYUR</span> ABC/CW affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska

KYUR is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Vision Alaska LLC, which maintains joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC, owner of Fox affiliate KTBY, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios on East Tudor Road in Anchorage; KYUR's transmitter is located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Some of KYUR's programming is broadcast to rural communities via low-power translators through the Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTUU-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska

KTUU-TV is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with NBC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUU. The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in midtown Anchorage; KTUU-TV's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.

KTBY is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. The station is owned by Coastal Television Broadcasting Company LLC, which provides certain services to dual ABC/CW+ affiliate KYUR under joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with owner Vision Alaska LLC. The two stations share studios on East Tudor Road in Anchorage; KTBY's transmitter is located in historic downtown Anchorage atop the Hilton Anchorage East Tower hotel.

KAUU is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual NBC/CBS affiliate KTUU-TV. The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in Anchorage; KAUU's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXDF-CD</span> CBS affiliate in Fairbanks, Alaska

KXDF-CD, virtual and VHF digital channel 13, is a low-power, Class A CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. Owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television, it is a sister station to NBC affiliate KTVF and primary MeTV and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliate KFXF-LD. The stations share studios on Braddock Street in downtown Fairbanks, while KXDF-CD's transmitter is located northeast of the city on Cranberry Ridge.

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KATH-LD, virtual channel 2, is a low-power NBC-affiliated television station licensed to both Juneau and Douglas, Alaska, United States. The station is owned by Gray Television. KATH-LD's transmitter is located in downtown Juneau.

References

  1. 1 2 Maguire, Sean (30 December 2020). "Alaska Public Media will begin operating ARCS on Friday, but digital conversion is currently on hiatus". Alaska's News Source. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  2. ↑ "Alaska Rural Communication System". doa.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  3. ↑ Hudson, Heather E. (2015). Connecting Alaskans : telecommunications in Alaska from telegraph to broadband. Fairbanks, AK. ISBN   978-1-60223-269-3. OCLC   922640765.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ↑ "Digital Multichannel: The Evolution of ARCS". Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc.
  5. ↑ Winslow, George (June 22, 2021). "FCC Gives Alaska LPTVs More Time for Digital Transition". TVTechnology. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "FCC Extends Analog Termination Date for 15 TV Translators in Alaska". Federal Communications Commission. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  7. ↑ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  8. ↑ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
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