OUR VIEW: Feds should help stations back on the air

Idaho Public Television fills a unique niche: It is the one broadcast channel with a signal covering nearly all of Idaho.

Digital technology and misguided federal policy-making could soon change that.

IPTV and other channels will go all digital on June 12. However, IPTV's new signals won't reach a half dozen parts of the state, including the Boise Front, Harris Ranch, sections of Emmett and Idaho City. Making a bad situation worse, the Federal Communications Commission is giving channels an unrealistic deadline to fix the problem - which could actually slow down the digital conversion.

Normally, once the FCC licenses a translator, channels have three years to finish the construction. This time, channels have six months to scrape together money for equipment and land acquisition, buy the hardware, and get a new digital translator running.

"It's nuts," says Peter Morrill, IPTV's general manager.

No argument here.

IPTV could very well receive licenses for the six translators, cobble together $450,000 in federal grants - and fail to find $150,000 in matching dollars. If that happens, IPTV would be forced to return the federal grants and reapply for the translator licenses.

This isn't going to pave the way to return "Sesame Street" to Idaho City, or put "Antiques Roadshow " back on the road to Harris Ranch. This would be one more delay. The feds' deadline may be a well-intended response to the digital conversion, but it's ill-advised.

Morrill has gone to the FCC seeking more time for the conversion - a reasonable request. Idaho's congressional delegation should take up the issue as well.

Digital conversion poses technological challenges, but the financial challenges could prove to be more daunting.

Wrestling state budget cuts across the board, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Monday turned down a request for $150,000. IPTV is looking for private donors, Morrill said, "(but) I'm not seeing many options out there."

The looming "dead zones" in the IPTV signal affect only a few thousand viewers here and there. But for years, these viewers have had access to IPTV's educational, entertainment and public affairs programming.

Now, they're staring at the prospect of dead air.

That's progress?

Some IPTV viewers may lose their signal on June 12. At this late date, this may be unavoidable. But the federal government should find ways to help broadcasters get back on the air as soon as they can - instead of making their job more difficult.

"Our View" is the editorial position of the Idaho Statesman. It is an unsigned opinion expressing the consensus of the Statesman's editorial board. To comment on an editorial or suggest a topic, e-mail editorial@idahostatesman.com.