The Federal Communications Commission “sold off” television channels 38 to 51 locally after doing the same with channels numerically higher than that in prior years. The Millard County Commission responded by approving $30,000 to adjust the channels to 24 to 36 numerically in most areas of the county, County Television Technician Dee Hollingshead told the Millard County Chronicle Progress.
“We weren’t the only ones caught up in this thing,” Hollingshead said about local governments’ efforts to preserve the stations in the wake of the action by the Ajit Pai-led agency. “Everything 36 on down legally we can use. … That’s the only choice we had … fit what we already have into those lower channels and still make the thing, the system work.”
The county had to buy a new amplifier, which comprises the vast majority of the $30,000 needed, Hollingshead said. The commission approved the amount when making eight budget adjustments in its Sept. 11 meeting.
Station numbers will not change; for instance, KSL channel 5 and associated channels 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, if available, will still appear that way, Hollingshead said.
“I’ve tried to keep the public in the loop,” he remarked.
Viewers will need a new antenna to see the channels, Hollingshead said.
“They have to have an antenna that they put on the roof,” he explained, “to get a television signal.”
A purchase of a new television would mean that a converter would not be necessary, Hollingshead said.
The cost could have been a lot more if the county needed to purchase new towers.
“We lucked out,” Hollingshead said. “Our buildings are in good shape … we did not have to build bigger buildings.”
EskDale is an exception to the new 24-to-36 range, as that is 30 to 36 on ultra-high frequency. A 14th channel is available “depending on the site,” Hollingshead said.
Millard and surrounding counties are in touch with each other about their respective television operations.
“I know what Beaver County is doing … I know what Iron County is doing and they know what I am doing,” Hollingshead said. “If Millard County … interferes with Juab County, we will work it out ourselves by adjusting the antenna power … it worked out for us to have this master plan.”
The FCC “appreciated” the plan, essentially using it to accept the counties’ applications, Hollingshead said.
“Normally, they would give it more scrutinizing,” Hollingshead said, noting it was different this time because the agency saw that all of the counties were in agreement.
Describing why the cost to the county could have been much greater than $30,000 to make channel adjustments, Hollingshead said that if he had to replace all associated equipment in Oak City with brand-new equipment – starting “from scratch” – it would cost a quarter-million dollars.
“We don’t waste,” Hollingshead said. “Some of these antennas … are probably 25, 30 years old … but they are well-built. They had to be.”
The county is “waiting for equipment,” Hollingshead said on Sept. 17. “Hopefully, we can get it before the weather gets bad.”
The county was “forced to go into lower channels,” Hollingshead said. “It just so happens that half of the channels were above channel 37, or the cutoff point, which is channel 36.”
The county operates five television sites and two channels in Oak City and Fillmore. The channels are owned by the University of Utah.
The TV spectrum 30 years ago went from channel 2 to 83, Hollingshead said.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
