As the late-March FCC-orchestrated
spectrum auction approaches, speculation grows that too-few tower crews
will be available to make broadcasters’ TV transitions smoothly and
within the three-year window prescribed by the Commission. In November,
the NAB released a study it commissioned Digital Tech Consulting to
perform titled “Broadcast Spectrum Repacking Timeline, Resource and Cost
Analysis Study.” The 60-page report detailed possible obstructions, key
of which was lack of human resources to do the heavy lifting.
While no one knows for sure exactly
how many broadcasters will move or sell their spectrum, as many as 1,200
could and that would immediately initiate a huge demand for tower
teams. During the holiday break, Tom Silliman, president and CEO at
antenna manufacturer ERI (and a tower rigger himself), told TV Technology the number of qualified crews is about the same as it was prior to the DTV transition in 2009. Continue Reading
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