On GCI purchase of KTVA
w-gregg.juneau.ak.us/2013/2013b22-ktva - Permalink -
Home. Apparently, comments should say that one is an
actual viewer; that a copy has been sent to KTVA (1007 West 32nd Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503); and that the
information is true. The original and two copies should be
received by the FCC by Mar. 4.
By Walter Gregg,
a concerned viewer P.O. Box: 21693 Juneau, Alaska99802 retL "at"
w-gregg.juneau.ak.us
[2021: 2013 Phone Redacted]
[2021: 907-586-6978]
February 22, 2013
License Renewal Processing Team Video Div., U.S. FCC 445 12th Street SWRoom 2-A665 Washington, DC20554
Standing. I am a viewer of the on-air signal
from KTVA Anchorage via the relay station KXLJ-LD Juneau. KXLJ
broadcasts on RF and virtual channel 24. (This is also carried on
cable channel 14, but I don't have cable.) They currently carry live
CBS programming (e.g., 60 minutes, The Late Show w/Letterman) in
standard definition (480i) format. Juneau once had only one over-air
station, in black and white and tape-delayed. If you didn't have
cable TV, you basically had no service. Now, for the first time in
the history of Alaska's capital city, all major networks (PBS, NBC,
ABC, FOX, CBS) are represented over-the-air. Cable TV is no longer a
necessity. Competition finally arrived, thanks to digital TV. I
obviously have a personal interest in the continued availability of
the major network programming over-the-air. What happens to KTVA
matters to me because it's presently the source of our KXLJ CBS
programming. I have no knowledge of whether KXLJ will be able to
obtain an alternative CBS feed, should GCI finalize its purchase of
KTVA and discontinue the CBS affiliation.
Parties; Application. The current licensee of
KTVA, Affiliated Media, Inc. FCC Trust, has filed an application to
reassign the license to Denali Media Southeast, Corp. This is a
subsidiary of GCI, Alaska's dominant Cable TV company. GCI, through
their subsidiary, is planning to purchase a number of Alaska stations
including KATH-HD (NBC Juneau) and KTVA (CBS Anchorage).
Origin of concerns. GCI has provided no
assurances of continued over-the-air availability of NBC or CBS
programming. In fact, their news release indicated that they want to
re-brand the stations, transforming them into a news and
entertainment leader, a statewide platform for news and information,
as well as providing unique content.[1] News articles suggest this is
connected with GCI's existing cable channel 1.[2] This certainly
implies the end of the current programming. The entire transaction
raises a number of concerns.
The reassignment may be anticompetitive.
GCI lost about 6,000 cable subscribers in Alaska during 2011 through
March 2012.[3] Clearly, they're feeling the bite of competition.
Free, over-the-air programming is part of that competition. Is it an
acceptable response to competition to buy it up and snuff out the
on-air programming that viewers are only now coming to realize is
available? Juneau would apparently stand to lose both over-air NBC
and CBS. (As aforementioned, our over-air CBS is relayed from KTVA
Anchorage. GCI is also purchasing the Juneau NBC affiliate, for which
I have filed a separate objection.)
Cable TV may be an unaffordable alternative to
on-air programming. Stand-alone basic cable in Juneau currently
costs hundreds of dollars a year ($270/year for one set, per a GCI
telephone representative). But free, over-air major network
television has been one of the things everyone could share, for
better or worse. If the transaction is allowed and GCI terminates
existing on-air NBC and CBS programming, it becomes simply
unavailable to many in the community. It is difficult to see how this
serves the public interest, convenience, or necessity.
Tek-Pal Antenna DTV
Remote
GCI does not support the use of digital cable-ready sets for basic cable
without a converter box. They provide no PSIP (virtual channel) signals.
Basic programming can be received, but in random channel order which may
change without notice. GCI does not even provide a channel map for this
setup. The simplicity of using a simplified remote such as the Tek Pal
with a digital cable-ready set is thus impractical.
GCI Cable DTV
Remote
GCI instead expects everyone to rent a cable converter box -- one per
set. But the universal remote provided is inaccessible to those with
cognitive disabilities, vision disabilities, and manual dexterity
issues.[4] It is simply far too complex. If the transaction is allowed
and GCI terminates existing on-air NBC and CBS programming, it becomes
effectively unavailable to viewers who cannot cope with the added
complexity of cable. Again, it's hard to see how this serves the public
interest. By no stretch of the imagination can it be called convenient
or necessary.
The cable company's interest may conflict with that
of over-air viewers. Cable operators make money in part by
selling basic cable TV subscriptions. Pouring money into
uninterrupted high quality over-air service that helps customers
cancel basic cable and switch to free over-air reception doesn't seem
to be in their financial interest.[5]
There has been inadequate public notice. I wrote
to tvinfo@fcc.gov on February 1[6] and sent a followup fax on
February 11[8] in an attempt to obtain information on the commenting
procedures, where to find further information, what the deadline for
comments might be, and so forth. Yet to date I have received no reply
by email, phone, or postal mail. It transpires that the FCC published
public notice of the license transfer in the daily digest dated
January 30. That document contains no reference to a right to comment
or procedures to do so. There is at least some doubt over the
validity of public notice that omits such information particularly
when compounded by the lack of response to a specific inquiry about
the matter.
I object to the reassignment of the license at this
time. Given the above concerns and the lack of detailed
programming plans from GCI, I object to the reassignment of the
license to Denali Communications Southeast, Corp. Assurances that
existing network programming will continue would make a difference to
me, and might be possible if they choose to transmit multiple
channels. More meaningful public notice would also make a difference.
But in the absence of that, I'm opposed to the license transfer. I
don't think it serves the public interest and I am far from certain
that public notice requirements have been met.
Station copy. I certify that a copy of this letter
has been mailed to KTVA, 1007 West 32nd Avenue, Anchorage,
99503.
True information. I certify that the statements made
in this letter are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Jensen,
GCI Income Flat as Customers Cut Cable, Alaska J. of
Com., May 10, 2012, at
http://alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/May-Issue-2-2012/GCI-income-flat-as-customers-cut-cable/.
Existing broadcasters also view on-air reception as less critical so
long as cable reception is uninterrupted. For example, theCW, the third
subchannel of KJUD (virtual 8, carrier 11) has been unavailable on-air
to most sets since at least June 2, 2012. Similarly, 360 North, the
third subchannel of KTOO (virtual 3, carrier 10) has been unavailable
on-air to most sets since at least February 10, 2013. Emails to Walter
Gregg from Ed Youmans, KJUD Directory of Engineering (Jul. 6, 2012) and
Bill Legere, KTOO Station Manager (Feb. 2013) have confirmed that both
stations are having over-air PSIP (virtual channel) problems and that
the fix may be some way down the road. Because they're available on the
cable, the on-air signal is not considered critical. The cable company
has even less incentive to maintain on-air transmission.
eMail from Walter Gregg to tvinfo@fcc.gov , Feb. 1,
2013, inquiring about GCI cable TV's proposed purchases and requesting
information on when the public would have an opportunity to learn more
and to comment. The message was sent via gMail. It did not bounce, but
no confirmation or reply was ever received via email (I did check the
spam folder) and no postal reply was received either.
Fax from Walter Gregg to the FCC tvinfo section at
1-202-418-2827 on February 11, 2013, inquiring about the same matter and
requesting a timely response. An automatic fax confirmation of
successful transmission was received, but no response of any kind was
has been received to date.