Penalty phase. (Programming).(FCC plans sanctions against non-digital television stations)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, May, 2002 by McConnell, Bill

At its meeting this week, the FCC will propose a plan for sanctioning TV stations that can't justify missing the May I DTV deadline. Those sanctions could include fines or even license revocation. More than two-thirds of the country's 1,300 commercial stations failed to meet the target Of those, 525 have been granted a six-month waiver.

Another 324 have been asked for more info, and most are expected to get waivers once they spell out their efforts and provide timetables for service. The commission also is expected to extend waivers to the handful of stations in top-30 markets that haven't launched DTV due to zoning disputes, interference and other problems. Those were supposed to have gone digital Nov. 1, 1999.