FCC challenges another Texas TV station’s Class A status

The FCC has issued another order for a Texas Class A stations to show why it should not lose its Class A authorization and be downgraded to low power TV stations.

The latest station hit is KVTF-CA Brownsville, licensed to Entravision Holdings, LLC.

The Community Broadcasters Protection Act of 1999 requires stations seeking to qualify for Class A status to continuously broadcast a minimum of 18 hours per day; broadcast an average of at least three hours per week of programming produced within the market area served by the station; and been in compliance with the FCC’s rules for low power television stations.

In addition, beginning on the date of its application for a Class A license and thereafter, the CBPA requires that a Class A station must also be “in compliance with the FCC’s operating rules for full-power television stations.”

FCC records say KVTF-CA went silent for at least two periods of time, starting on June 22, 2010 and June 15, 2011, when it filed for a Special Temporary Authority to resolve interference issues with KSFE-LP’s digital co-channel in that market.

The latest FCC order said as such, KVTF had been unable to broadcast the necessary amount of programming on a continuous basis.

In March, the FCC cited three other Texas Class A stations on the same grounds.

The move comes as the FCC is seeking to free up unused TV broadcast spectrum for repurposing.