|
DTV RF Alert SentChiefs Cooperate to Notify Local Hospitals By Oscar Medina, CSTE Implementation of Digital Television (DTV) took another step forward in San Diego when KFMB (CBS), KGTV (ABC), and KNSD (NBC) combined their efforts and sent out notification letters to all three hundred and forty-six medical facilities in San Diego county. In a market first, the three Chiefs: Richard Lochmann (KFMB), Marge Baldwin (KGTV), and Oscar Medina (KNSD) combined their resources and coordinated a single DTV mailing for all three stations. The coordinated letter provided an explanation of why the medical facilities were receiving the notification along with technical data for all three stations, and an informational packet from the Food and Drug Administration. FCC rules allow for operation of unlicensed devices in the spectrum of unused television frequencies in an area. Typical examples of unlicensed devices are wireless microphones, remote control devices, and medical telemetry devices like heart monitors. As a general rule, the frequencies most often used are in the VHF band and are not impacted by UHF DTV transmissions, but since the uses are unlicensed there are no formal records kept of which frequencies are being used in the area, for unlicensed devices. Last year, as some stations began broadcasting their DTV signals, some medical facilities experienced interference to their patient monitoring systems. A disturbing situation to the hospitals involved. The FCCs response was a mandatory notification requirement for all stations preparing to go on-the-air with their DTV signal. Hence the notification. The notice listed relevant technical data along with the projected on-air dates for each station. The finishing touch was a set of three logos emblazoned along the bottom of the letter. By combining their efforts, the three stations completed the required task in one-third of the time and at one-third of the cost. A win - win situation. The coordination effort was completed via email and a conference call. Now that is a group of managers that know how to make the most of technology! Way to go! |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Previous Story |
Back to Top |
Home Page |
Next Story
|
||||||
|
Web site contents ©1999 Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 36 San Diego. For more information, to become a member or a sponsor, or to make suggestions or comments, e-mail sbe36@broadcast.net. Write to P.O. Box 710702, San Diego, California 92171-0702. Edited by Gary Stigall. Posted 1-Jul-99. |
||||||
