Later this fall, after the FCC has qualified the auction eligible station participants, the "band plan" will be announced, based on the actual number of participants and their types of offers to sell (sell, move to VHF, channel share).
From the current modeling of all of the band plans, we know there will be significant displacement everywhere, no matter what. But those markets with limited MHz to move back into, that is a different story and map.
Until the 3rd LPTV NPRM Report & Order comes out (heck, it hasn't even been submitted to the Commissioners yet), we will not know about the new analog to digital sunset date, and their related construction permits; and, the new digital permits from the 2009 rural filing window. We also do not yet know about the future of the channel 6 radio services, or the final ruling on the DRT's. And we still need to see if the FCC's proposed vacant channel order will be approved, modified, or canceled.
On the horizon though, the future of LPTV could be bright and profitable. Congress could authorize a new Class-A window (heard that one for a while now), they could also approve displacement relocation funds (from where?), tax-credits for re-investing auction proceeds back into LPTV (ok, sure), and of course implementing ATSC 3.0 (at some point, but if NAB is 50/50 on it, where does that leave LPTV?).
It's getting there that is the problem. But we are closer to the above than to when the auction legislation was enacted.
dream on....
