Community Broadcasters Association
Encyclopedia
The Community Broadcasters Association (CBA) was a trade organization representing low-power broadcasting
interests, including LPTV and Class A television
stations, in the United States of America. It ceased operations in 2009.
Key issues addressed by the CBA included the provision of interference protection for small broadcasters (for which it successfully petitioned the FCC for creation of the "Class A" designation in 1998) and the need for analog passthrough
in coupon-eligible converter box
es (it had unsuccessfully pursued legal action claiming that the absence of this feature, needed to avoid blocking signals from low-power and foreign stations not converting to digital in 2009
, violates the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1961).
CBA's lawsuit
seeking an injunction
to halt the sale and distribution of DTV converter box
es lacking analog tuners and analog passthrough
was filed in March 2008 but denied without comment in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in May 2008. The FCC
and NTIA
urged manufacturers to include analogue pass-through voluntarily in all converter boxes, and some of the newest generation of models now offer the feature.
Due to the large number of public service announcement
s on full-service stations, which often confusingly claimed that "all TV is going digital" on February 17, 2009, the CBA established websites such as KeepUsOn.com to notify consumers of the continued post-transition operation of analogue LPTV, with information on how to find and install converters which offered analogue pass-through capability.
The CBA also advocated that existing Class A stations be permitted to upgrade to full service
status, obtaining the same must-carry
access to cable television
that was available to full-power broadcasters, and (like full-power broadcasters) opposed expansion of the FM radio band into the frequency range currently occupied by TV channels
5 and 6.
Amy Brown was the executive director of the Community Broadcasters Association when it closed. The corresponding advocacy role for US full-service television stations is filled by the National Association of Broadcasters
.
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
interests, including LPTV and Class A television
Class A television service
The class A television service is a system for regulating some low-power television stations in the United States. Class A stations are denoted by the broadcast callsign suffix "-CA" or "-CD" , although very many analog -CA stations have a digital companion channel that was assigned the -LD...
stations, in the United States of America. It ceased operations in 2009.
Key issues addressed by the CBA included the provision of interference protection for small broadcasters (for which it successfully petitioned the FCC for creation of the "Class A" designation in 1998) and the need for analog passthrough
Analog passthrough
Analog passthrough is a feature found on some digital-to-analog television converter boxes. Boxes without analog passthrough only allow digital TV to be viewed on older, analog-only TVs...
in coupon-eligible converter box
Coupon-eligible converter box
A coupon-eligible converter box was a digital television adapter that met eligibility specifications for subsidy "coupons" from the United States government...
es (it had unsuccessfully pursued legal action claiming that the absence of this feature, needed to avoid blocking signals from low-power and foreign stations not converting to digital in 2009
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
, violates the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1961).
CBA's lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
seeking an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
to halt the sale and distribution of DTV converter box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es lacking analog tuners and analog passthrough
Analog passthrough
Analog passthrough is a feature found on some digital-to-analog television converter boxes. Boxes without analog passthrough only allow digital TV to be viewed on older, analog-only TVs...
was filed in March 2008 but denied without comment in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in May 2008. The FCC
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
and NTIA
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce that serves as the President's principal adviser on telecommunications policies pertaining to the United States' economic and technological advancement and to regulation of the...
urged manufacturers to include analogue pass-through voluntarily in all converter boxes, and some of the newest generation of models now offer the feature.
Due to the large number of public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s on full-service stations, which often confusingly claimed that "all TV is going digital" on February 17, 2009, the CBA established websites such as KeepUsOn.com to notify consumers of the continued post-transition operation of analogue LPTV, with information on how to find and install converters which offered analogue pass-through capability.
The CBA also advocated that existing Class A stations be permitted to upgrade to full service
Full service
Full service is a term that has many different uses. In general the term implies that the customer will receive as much service as is reasonably possible.-Gas station:...
status, obtaining the same must-carry
Must-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
access to cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
that was available to full-power broadcasters, and (like full-power broadcasters) opposed expansion of the FM radio band into the frequency range currently occupied by TV channels
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
5 and 6.
Amy Brown was the executive director of the Community Broadcasters Association when it closed. The corresponding advocacy role for US full-service television stations is filled by the National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
.
See also
- Class A television serviceClass A television serviceThe class A television service is a system for regulating some low-power television stations in the United States. Class A stations are denoted by the broadcast callsign suffix "-CA" or "-CD" , although very many analog -CA stations have a digital companion channel that was assigned the -LD...
- Broadcast relay stationBroadcast relay stationA broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
- Low-power broadcastingLow-power broadcastingLow-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
- DTV transition in the United StatesDTV transition in the United StatesThe DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...