This is a review of low-power television stations (LPTV) in the United States, transmitting on VHF channel 6, which also operate as radio stations capable of being picked up by many standard FM receivers. These stations are colloquially known as "Franken FMs", a reference to Frankenstein's monster, because TV stations functioning as radio stations had not been envisioned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). [1] The FCC commonly refers to these stations as "FM6" operations. All of these FM transmissions are authorized for operation on a center frequency of 87.75 MHz.
First devised in 2002, until July 14, 2021 most of these stations employed the original NTSC-M analog TV transmission standard. However, as of that date the FCC required that all TV stations that had not received a waiver had to cease analog transmissions, which meant that only the stations using a modified version of the ATSC 3.0 "NextGen TV" digital standard could still be received by standard FM radios.
On July 20, 2023, an FCC "Report and Order" restricted these operations to only the 13 stations holding Special Temporary Authority (STA) grants as of that date, with no additional authorizations permitted other than WVOA-LD in Westvale, New York, [2] which began FM6 transmissions on December 15, 2023.
The following channel 6 LPTV stations have been authorized to offer FM6 service, a version of the ATSC 3.0 digital TV standard that includes an FM analog signal receivable on standard radios at 87.75 FM.
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Nevada
New York
Tennessee
Virginia
These stations transmit an analog FM signal centered on 87.75 MHz, designated by receiver and station marketing as "87.7 FM". This is just below the lowest FM band frequency of 87.9 MHz, and within the internationally recognized Band II, which extends down to 87.5 MHz and is thus receivable by most consumer radios. Although primarily functioning as radio stations, they are formally licensed as TV stations, thus are still required to provide some sort of video signal in order to comply with FCC regulations. However the type of TV programming is not specified, and low-power TV stations are exempt from educational and informational programming mandates and are thus — unlike full-power and Class A TV stations — not required to provide three hours of educational children's programming per week.
The existence of largely unregulated commercial radio stations on 87.7 MHz, adjacent to the 87.9 to 91.9 FM frequencies (channels 200-220) reserved for non-commercial operations, led to requests that the FCC either eliminate, or formally regulate, these stations. [3] In an October 2014 review, the FCC requested comments on "whether to allow LPTV stations on digital television channel 6 (82-88 MHz) to operate analog FM radio-type services on an ancillary or supplementary basis pursuant to section 73.624(c) of the rules". [4] In 2015 the commission further stated that: "We intend to issue a decision on whether to permit digital LPTV stations to operate analog FM radio type services on an ancillary or supplementary basis at a later date." [5] On December 4, 2019 the FCC issued a Public Notice that solicited additional public comments, in preparation for the July 13, 2021 deadline for all LPTV stations to switch from analog to digital transmissions. [6] However, the commission never made a formal decision about the status of these stations.
On May 17, 2022 Jessica Rosenworcel, head FCC commissioner, announced that one of the agenda items for an upcoming FCC Open Meeting, "Preserving Local Radio Programming (MB Docket No. 03-185)", "will consider a proposal to allow these broadcasters to continue their existing FM6 radio service, provided that they meet certain conditions, including interference protection and the provision of a synchronous TV service to consumers." [7] However, this agenda item was dropped as being no longer needed, [8] due to the June 6, 2022 adoption of a "Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" for MB Docket No. 03-185, which requested additional public comments about the best use of the frequencies assigned to TV channel 6. [9]
On July 20, 2023, the FCC's fifth "Report and Order" was unanimously adopted, establishing a grandfather clause for the thirteen stations holding special temporary authority (STA) grants to operate audio on 87.75 MHz on that date and, for the first time, formally defining regulatory standards for those stations. [2]
Under the original NTSC-M analog standards, a TV station's audio and video components are broadcast separately, with the audio transmitted as an FM signal. In 1945, TV channel 6 was assigned use of 82-88 MHz, [10] with the channel's audio located at a center frequency of 87.75 MHz. That same year the standard FM broadcasting band was reassigned to 80 channels from 88.1 to 105.9 MHz, which was soon expanded to 100 channels ending at 107.9 MHz (channels 201–300). [11] [12] One additional FM channel, centered on 87.9 MHz (channel 200), was added in 1978. [13]
The location of TV channel 6's audio just below the FM band meant that many consumer FM radios could readily pick up the sound from channel 6 stations. Full-power stations sometimes promoted this as a valuable feature for commuters and in emergency situations, although the primary audience remained TV viewers. A few specialty "TV Sound" receivers were sold that could pick up audio from the VHF band TV stations, which were sometimes marketed to office workers who wanted to listen to their favorite daytime TV programs. [14] Also, some Japanese and Soviet receivers could tune further down the VHF low band, making it possible to receive audio from VHF channel 5 at 81.75 MHz using Japanese band receivers that tuned to 76 MHz, while Soviet OIRT band receivers included audio reception of VHF channels 4 (71.75 MHz) and 3 (65.75 MHz).
In 1982, licensing began of a new classification of "Low Power Television" stations (LPTV). [15] Eventually a small number of channel 6 LPTV stations determined it was more profitable to operate as de facto radio stations, although this had not been anticipated by the FCC. On August 1, 2002 KZND-LP, a channel 6 LPTV station in Anchorage, Alaska, began promoting itself as a musical format radio station on 87.7 MHz. [16] Competing local conventional radio stations quickly challenged this as a misuse of a TV station authorization, but the FCC determined that as long as KZNP transmitted sufficient visual features, which did not have to be coordinated with the sound, the station was in compliance with regulations. Moreover, as a TV station it was exempt from having to follow any radio station rules. [17] In early 2008 Monitoring Times magazine reported the existence of three channel 6 de facto radio stations in addition to KZND: KSFV-LP in Los Angeles; K06NC in Kauai, Hawaii; and WNYZ-LP in New York City. [18] A Radio World review later that year identified a total of eight ongoing examples. [19] In late 2019, InsideRadio identified 28 active stations. [20]
While operating using analog transmissions, television video commonly consisted of minimal offerings, such as still frames, test patterns, automated weather conditions and news, or silent films. Audio for both television and FM reception was identical. (TV signals potentially could have carried separate audio through their Second audio program (SAP) feeds, although none did so as of 2019.) With the mandatory 2009 digital television transition in the United States, full power TV stations were required to switch from analog to ATSC 1.0 digital transmissions. This meant that their audio could no longer be picked up by FM radios, as the ATSC 1.0 format is incompatible with both FM's analog and digital in-band on-channel HD Radio standards.
The following channel 6 low power TV stations previously included radio-style programming on an FM analog signal centered on 87.75 MHz when broadcasting using the NTSC-M analog TV standard:
Alaska
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
New York
Texas
Virginia
Wyoming
Attempts to have analog FM signals coexist with the original ATSC 1.0 digital standards proved unsuccessful. In 2009 WRGB, a full-power channel 6 station in Schenectady, New York, was ordered by the FCC to cease experimentation. [21] [22] In 2012 Venture Technologies Group, which owns several channel 6 low power TV stations in major markets, applied to install modified versions of the ATSC 1.0 standard in order to add an FM signal for channel 6 LPTV stations KFMP-LP in Lubbock, Texas and WBPA-LP in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. However, the FCC denied this request, stating that, among other deficiencies, this "proposal is likely to increase the interference potential to co-channel DTV operations". [23]
A newer, and currently optional, digital TV transmission standard, "NextGen TV" ATSC 3.0, was determined to have more potential, and Venture Technologies developed a revised approach for allowing an analog FM audio subcarrier to coexist with an ATSC 3.0 digital TV signal. [1] [24] The company cited the FCC rules, which provides that "DTV broadcast stations are permitted to offer services of any nature, consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, on an ancillary or supplementary basis", and in general affords broadcasters broad permission "to offer services of any nature" as long as they "do not derogate DTV broadcast stations' obligations" to transmit at least one over-the-air video program signal at no direct charge to viewers, [25] a distinction that Venture says allows a digital television signal to incorporate an FM analog subcarrier. [26]
The basic ATSC 3.0 standard specifies a full 6 MHz channel for the digital signal, but running a hybrid DTV/FM service reduces the DTV transmission bandwidth slightly, shifting the center frequency of the digital signal about 160 kHz below the channel center. [27] To ensure the analog FM signal does not interfere with the ATSC 3.0 DTV signal, a modified combiner and filtering system must be used prior to feeding the broadcast signals to the antenna. [28]
A switchover to digital transmissions was not immediately required for low power TV stations, and some channel 6 stations retained their analog transmitters in order to function primarily as radio stations. The FCC notified these stations that eventually all low power TV stations would be required to convert to digital transmissions, which, after a series of extensions, was set for July 13, 2021. [29] On July 6, 2021 an FCC Public Notice reiterated that "After 11:59 p.m. local time on July 13, 2021, LPTV/translator stations may no longer operate any facility in analog mode and all analog licenses shall automatically cancel at that time, without any affirmative action by the Commission." [30] (A waiver, delaying the required change until January 10, 2022, was issued for 15 Alaska translators, but a low-power Alaska station broadcasting on channel 6, KNIK-LP in Anchorage, was not included in this waiver.) [31] The prohibition of LPTV analog transmissions resulted in the elimination of an estimated 28 de facto radio operations, [32] although some of these stations eventually returned after installing upgraded ATSC 3.0 transmitters.
Venture's KBKF-LD in San Jose, California began transmitting an FM subcarrier using the ATSC 3.0 TV standard in February 2021. On June 10, 2021 the FCC issued a six-month Special Temporary Authority (STA) grant allowing KBKF-LD to include analog FM broadcasts on 87.75 MHz using this dual transmission approach. [33] A second Venture station, WRME-LD in Chicago, was also provisionally authorized to use the new standard, until January 10, 2022. [32]
STA applications for ATSC 3.0/FM operation by KXDP-LD in Denver, [34] WMTO-LD in Norfolk, Virginia [35] and WTBS-LD in Atlanta [36] were approved July 16, 2021, for the period through January 15, 2022. On July 27, 2021 an STA was issued for KZNO-LD in Big Bear Lake, California, expiring on January 27, 2022. [37] As of July 20, 2023, the FCC had issued STA authorizations to a total of 13 stations. [2]
Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standards are an international set of standards for broadcast and digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable and satellite networks. It is largely a replacement for the analog NTSC standard — like that standard — is used mostly in the United States, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago. Several former NTSC users like Japan, have not used ATSC during their digital television transition, because they adopted other systems like ISDB developed by Japan and DVB developed in Europe, for example.
WTBS-LD is a low-power television station in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, which has been owned by Prism Broadcasting since 1991. The station's transmitter is located at the American Tower Site on Chester Avenue in downtown Atlanta.
WNYZ-LD is a low-power television station in New York City, owned by K Media. It broadcasts on VHF channel 6, commonly known as an "FM6 operation" because the audio portion of the signal lies at 87.75 MHz, receivable by analog FM radios, tuned to the 87.75 frequency. Throughout its existence, the station has operated closer to a radio station than a television station. WNYZ-LD broadcasts video, usually silent films, which are repeated throughout the day to fulfill the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirement that video be broadcast on the licensed frequency. The station airs this programming without commercials, while viewers hear the audio of WWRU out of Jersey City, New Jersey.
WTCL-LD is a low-power television station in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, affiliated with Telemundo. It is owned by Gray Television alongside two full-power sister stations: CBS affiliate WOIO and CW affiliate WUAB ; WTCL-LD also functions as an ultra high frequency (UHF) repeater for WOIO. The stations share studios at Reserve Square in downtown Cleveland; WTCL-LD's transmitter is located in suburban Parma. WTCL-LD's visibility is extended to the southern part of the Cleveland market via Canton–licensed WOHZ-CD, which has a transmitter located northeast of Canton.
A digital channel election was the process by which television stations in the United States chose which physical radio-frequency TV channel they would permanently use after the analog shutdown in 2009. The process was managed and mandated by the Federal Communications Commission for all full-power TV stations. Low-powered television (LPTV) stations are going through a somewhat different process, and are also allowed to flash-cut to digital.
WRME-LD is a low-power television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States, affiliated with Jewelry Television. The station's audio channel, transmitting at 87.75 MHz, lies within the FM band; as a result, WRME-LD's audio channel operates as a radio station at 87.7 FM. Owned by Venture Technologies Group and operated under a local marketing agreement (LMA) by Weigel Broadcasting, the station airs a soft adult contemporary/oldies format via the 87.75 MHz audio channel under the brand 87.7 MeTV FM, a brand extension of Weigel's MeTV television network. The WRME-LD studios are co-located with Weigel's headquarters in Chicago's Greektown neighborhood, while the transmitter resides atop the John Hancock Center.
KZNO-LD is a low-power television station in Los Angeles, California, United States. Owned by the Venture Technologies Group, it transmits from Mount Harvard, a peak adjacent to Mount Wilson in Los Angeles County, as a Spanish-language religious radio station that can be received at 87.7 FM. Its ATSC 3.0 video feed broadcasts Jewelry Television on digital channel 12.1.
KLOA-LP, VHF analog channel 6, was a low-powered television station licensed to operate in Inyokern, California, United States. Because the allocation of channel 6 in NTSC fell approximately within the lower fringes of the FM broadcast band, KLOA-LP took advantage of the station's audio carrier, broadcasting on 87.75 MHz, and marketed itself as a radio station. It aired a Classic Country format under the moniker "87.7 Country Gold". According to the Federal Communications Commission, television stations must operate both the audio and video carriers; however, the carriers are not required to "accompany" each other, meaning that the audio and video can operate independently. This meant that KLOA-LP needed not broadcast any particular image, as long as they broadcast a video signal.
Digital television in the United States is available via digital terrestrial television (DTT), digital cable, satellite television, and IPTV providers.
The digital television transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of terrestrial television programming. Under the Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, full-power broadcasting of analog television in the United States was initially planned to have ceased after February 17, 2009, but this was delayed to June 12, 2009, after the passage of the DTV Delay Act on February 4, 2009. This date was a further delay from the original date of December 31, 2006, as stipulated in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The delay to June 12 was to assist households on a waiting list for coupons for digital converter boxes, funding for which was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
WDCN-LD, branded on air as DC 87.7FM, is a low-power television station licensed to Fairfax, Virginia, United States, serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Owned by Signal Above LLC, WDCN-LD markets itself as a conventional FM radio station, broadcasting Spanish contemporary hits.
KXDP-LD, virtual channel 18, is a low-power television station licensed to Denver, Colorado, United States. Owned by Mount Pleasant, South Carolina–based Syncom Media Group, it broadcasts a Regional Mexican radio format as "La Invasora 87.7".
KBKF-LD is a low-power television station in San Jose, California, United States. Owned by Venture Technologies Group, it transmits from an antenna on Loma Prieta Peak.
ATSC 3.0 is a major version of the ATSC standards for terrestrial television broadcasting created by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC).
WVOA-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Westvale, New York, United States, serving the Syracuse area. The station is owned by Metro TV, Inc., one of the numerous holding companies owned or co-owned by Craig Fox. WVOA-LD's transmitter is located on the WOLF radio tower on West Kirkpatrick Street northwest of downtown Syracuse.
WPGF-LD is a low-power television station in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The station's audio channel, transmitting at 87.75 MHz, lies within the FM band; as a result, WPGF-LD's audio channel operates as a radio station at 87.7 FM. Owned by Flinn Broadcasting, the station airs an urban oldies format via the 87.75 MHz audio channel under the brand "Right On Radio". WPGF-LD's transmitter is located on the northeast side of Memphis near Bartlett, Tennessee, just off US 64.
KSHW-LP, VHF analog channel 6, was a low-powered television station licensed to Sheridan, Wyoming, United States. The station was last owned by Lovcom, Inc., and last broadcast a sports radio format with programming from Fox Sports Radio.
KGHD-LD is a low-power television station in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The station is owned by Obidia Porras.
WBPA-LD is a low-power television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with Rev'n. The station is owned by Venture Technologies Group.
