Disappearing off the Dial: The Future of Low Power TV

New America Foundation
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Low Power Television (LPTV) was created in 1982 with the intention of providing small communities with local television service. Public interest advocates argued that LPTV would open the door to those who are often locked out of opportunities to have a TV license, and it might deliver programming tailored to the specific needs of often over-looked communities. Unfortunately, many LPTV operators have gone off air and many more are having a difficult time attracting an audience. One reason is that cable is not required to carry LPTV stations. The FCC, meanwhile, is requiring LPTV stations to transition to digital broadcasting by September 2015, so that it can free up spectrum for the expanding wireless telecommunications companies. Is this the right public interest trade-off? What is the future for this local source of broadcast television programming?

Featured Speakers
Peter Tannenwald
Attorney, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth

Tara Ballesteros
Communications Director, ZGS Communications

Moderator
Mark Lloyd
Director, Media Policy Initiative

To RSVP for the event:
http://newamerica.net/events/2013/off_the_dial_future_of_low_power_tv

For questions, contact Stephanie Gunter at New America at (202) 596-3367 or gunter@newamerica.net