Low Power Stations

• In 1982, the Federal Communications Commission established the Low Power Television service for television in small and rural communities. These broadcasters carry the "LP" designation at the end of their call letters. Analog low power stations are limited to an effective radiated power of 3 kilowatts on the very high frequency (VHF) band, consisting of channels 2 to 13, and 150 kilowatts on the ultra high frequency (UHF) band (channels 14-51). Generally, low power stations may not interfere with the reception of and must yield to intereference from existing or future full-powered stations.
  
  

Class A Television Stations

• Class A stations are low power stations that receive more protection from interference by full-power stations than regular low power stations. To obtain Class A status, the station must provide at least 18 hours of programming per day and devote an average three hours per week to programs produced within the station's market area. The station also must have been a low power provider, meeting these criteria within 90 days of November 29, 1999. Class A stations must provide three hours of regularly-scheduled educational and informative ("E/I") programs for children per week between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and be at leat 30 minutes long. Class A stations also must provide a public file and meet standards for participating in the Emergency Alert System.
  
  

Translators

• Translators provide reception for viewers in mountains.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  A translator station rebroadcasts, or relays, programming from a full power station using a different channel than the full power station. Translators afford reception to viewers who are too far from the full power station's transmitter or are located in mountainous areas. The call letters start with a "W" or "K" and place the channel number between the letters.
  
  

Transition to Digital Television

• Although not presently required, low power stations may offer digital broadcasts. The Federal Communications Commission authorizes these stations to broadcast in analog and digital concurrently or to replace analog with digital broadcasts. A station with a second channel authorization may decide to keep or terminate analog broadcasts. Translators that do not broadcast in digital must convert the digital signals from full power stations to analog. Viewers should have converter boxes with an "analog pass-through" feature to receive the analog low power stations.