Bill Overview
Title: Low Power Protection Act
Description: This act provides for a one-year period during which eligible low-power television stations may apply to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for Class A licenses. To be eligible, a station must serve a media market with a limited number of television households, broadcast a minimum number of hours, and meet other requirements. A low-power station with a Class A license obtains certain broadcast rights, including primary status with respect to its allocation of the electromagnetic spectrum. (Typically, low-power stations have secondary status and may be displaced from their spectrum in the event the FCC reallocates it to a primary user.)
Sponsors: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Target Audience
Population: People who watch low-power television stations
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill targets low-power television stations, which have a smaller footprint compared to full-power stations and generally serve smaller, often rural or underserved communities.
- By granting these stations Class A licenses, it would offer them greater broadcast rights, which generally includes protection from being displaced in spectrum reallocation.
- Class A status may also allow stations to reach a larger audience within their existing market, potentially increasing the station's viewership and advertisements.
- There are approximately 2,000 low-power television stations in the United States.
Reasoning
- The population impacted by the Low Power Protection Act includes viewers of low-power television stations, which tend to be in rural or underserved areas. These areas might depend on these stations for local news, community events, and niche content unavailable from major network affiliates.
- The act's budget is $15,000,000 USD annually, which suggests a strong allocation towards administrative processes and ensuring that qualifying stations meet new standards. Since the policy does not directly fund development or content improvements, impacts are more likely indirect through improved access and stability for stations' operations over the covered year.
- The stations' new class A status means enhanced broadcast stability, potentially improving content's reliability and quality. Another likely impact is increased local advertising, improving the economic viability of small stations.
- Commonness scoring reflects how typical the different interviewed profiles are within the estimated 5 million viewers of low-power TV stations.
Simulated Interviews
retired (rural Kentucky)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I depend on my local TV station for news about my community, especially when I can't easily get around town.
- Upgrading our station to Class A would mean fewer disruptions during my favorite programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
mechanic (suburban Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the station I advertise with gets more viewers, that could be good for my shop's business.
- I don't heavily rely on low-power TV but more visibility would be a plus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
teacher (urban Montana)
Age: 46 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an educator, I believe having stable, reliable local media is important for my students.
- Having our stations protected ensures we'll continue to have local cultural programming.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
small business owner (northern California)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved broadcast rights could boost viewership and in turn help my business advertising.
- I think it's important to support local stations—they play a crucial role in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
fisherman (remote Alaska)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The local station is my main source for quick weather updates—I hope this policy secures its future.
- Any stability for my TV reception is greatly appreciated in such a remote area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
farmer (Midwest)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on TV for important market news that affects my livelihood.
- This protection for our station would mean more reliable access to critical information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
student (New Mexico)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Local cultural programming helps me connect with my heritage and roots.
- This policy seems vital for preserving unique local content.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
nurse (upstate New York)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Health segments on local TV help keep me informed without a lot of fluff.
- Maintaining these broadcasts' stability is important to my career and wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
freelancer (southern Idaho)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Local TV gives me leads on gigs and keeps me entertained during slow times.
- Anything that strengthens these stations indirectly helps my freelance career.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
hospitality worker (Louisiana)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Local ads are crucial for the tourism industry in my area.
- Supporting low-power TV has a downstream effect on my job security and community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill's immediate fiscal impact centers around administrative costs to process license applications.
- Long-term benefits are more qualitative, potentially impacting local economies and strengthening rural community media infrastructure.
- The policy aligns with objectives of supporting rural and underserved areas' access to local media.