With the FCC spectrum repack now complete, several more Upper Midwest TV stations are seeking to move from VHF to UHF to alleviate reception problems.
Earlier petitions by Tegna NBC affiliate KARE/11 (Minneapolis) and Gray TV NBC affiliate KSNB/4 (Superior-Hastings) to move to UHF frequencies have already been reported here. Now, similar channel substitution petitions have been filed by Gray ABC affiliate KCRG-TV/9.1 (Cedar Rapids), Sinclair FOX affiliate WLUK/11.1 (Green Bay), and Sinclair ABC/FOX affiliate KHGI/13.1 (Kearney, NE).
All three stations cite difficulty with VHF High signals penetrating buildings and problems with indoor antennas receiving VHF. Sinclair’s petitions also mention the desire for stations to have shorter UHF wavelengths to reach mobile devices after the future switch to ATSC 3.0.
KCRG is proposing a move to RF channel 32 with 1,000kW, the maximum for UHF stations. It says the change would resolve “significant” problems with over-the-air reception within KCRG’s viewing area.
Meanwhile, WLUK recently moved from RF channel 11 to 12 as part of the spectrum repack and is now proposing a move to channel 18 with 500kW. The move would make Green Bay an all-UHF market.
KHGI is proposing a move to RF channel 18 with 1,000kW.
In all three cases, the stations could continue to remap to their legacy channel numbers.
It appears the next step in the process will be for the FCC to set windows to accept comments on the proposed changes to the DTV table of allotments.
The petitions come as several other regional TV stations seek to increase power on their existing channels.