Special temporary authority
Encyclopedia
In U.S. broadcast law
, a special temporary authorization or special temporary authority (STA) is a type of broadcast license
which temporarily allows a broadcast station
to operate outside of its normal technical or legal parameters. In the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) station database
(CDBS), broadcast STA applications have a prefix of BSTA (general), BLSTA (legal), BESTA (engineering), or BLESTA (both). STAs can also be issued for other telecommunication
services under FCC regulation
.
Often an STA is necessary due to an unforeseen event. While one is no longer needed to replace a particular transmitter, it is necessary to replace a radio antenna with another one that has different characteristics. STAs are often issued for a particular mode of operation while a full application for a construction permit
is pending. Station licensees must exhibit why the STA is necessary and serves the public good
. For example, WANN-LD has a permit to use an omnidirectional antenna
for digital TV, but received an STA to diplex into the same antenna used by analog WANN-CA, which has a slightly directional antenna
. This obviously served the public good by getting the station on the air earlier (before the original full-power analog cutoff in June 2009), than waiting for the new antenna, even though coverage is somewhat less in some directions.
In some cases, an STA can allow a station to operate at low power, often to avoid losing its broadcast license after a year off-the-air
. (The one-year limit was written into law by the U.S. Congress, without regard to extenuating circumstances any station might have, after it was determined that a large number of nominally licensed broadcast stations had remained off-the-air
for years, preventing other applicants from using the frequency allocations.) For example, after WACS-TV
was destroyed by a major tornado
in March 2007, it had to get back on-air by March 2008, and was given an STA to take a broadcast translator off-air for more than 30 days, and another to use its transmitter on the main station's new tower and radio antenna until the new one was delivered. In another case, WYGA-CA
45 is operating on an STA at just one watt, until adjacent channel
46 ends its analog TV signal on 46.
Due to the inherently temporary nature of the DTV transition
, numerous STAs have been issued for DTV
stations. (These have prefixes BDSTA and BEDSTA.) WPSX-TV
was issued several of these for the purpose of testing distributed transmission system
s, when it was still in the experiment
al stage.
The FCC has also allowed AM stations
to put broadcast translators on FM
through STAs, although LPFM advocates often feel this is an abuse of process
, and that there should instead be a rulemaking
proceeeding where formal objection
s can be raised.
An STA can also be used for special events as a Restricted Service Licence
is in the U.K., however this is rare. During a state of disaster or other emergency
, it is only necessary to file for an STA after the fact (but as soon as possible), if the change is due to the disaster (such as a destroyed antenna or radio tower
), or to help the public cope with it by providing local emergency management
information not available from other off-air or distant stations.
Broadcast law
Broadcast law is the field of law which pertains to broadcasting. These laws and regulations pertain to radio stations and TV stations, and are also considered to include closely related services like cable TV and cable radio, as well as satellite TV and satellite radio...
, a special temporary authorization or special temporary authority (STA) is a type of broadcast license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
which temporarily allows a broadcast station
Broadcast station
A broadcast station may be:*a radio station*a television stationIt does not include radio networks or television networks.-See also:*Broadcasting*Broadcast network*Station...
to operate outside of its normal technical or legal parameters. In the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) station database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
(CDBS), broadcast STA applications have a prefix of BSTA (general), BLSTA (legal), BESTA (engineering), or BLESTA (both). STAs can also be issued for other telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
services under FCC regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
.
Often an STA is necessary due to an unforeseen event. While one is no longer needed to replace a particular transmitter, it is necessary to replace a radio antenna with another one that has different characteristics. STAs are often issued for a particular mode of operation while a full application for a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
is pending. Station licensees must exhibit why the STA is necessary and serves the public good
Public good
In economics, a public good is a good that is non-rival and non-excludable. Non-rivalry means that consumption of the good by one individual does not reduce availability of the good for consumption by others; and non-excludability means that no one can be effectively excluded from using the good...
. For example, WANN-LD has a permit to use an omnidirectional antenna
Omnidirectional antenna
In radio communication, an omnidirectional antenna is an antenna which radiates radio wave power uniformly in all directions in one plane, with the radiated power decreasing with elevation angle above or below the plane, dropping to zero on the antenna's axis. This radiation pattern is often...
for digital TV, but received an STA to diplex into the same antenna used by analog WANN-CA, which has a slightly directional antenna
Directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna which radiates greater power in one or more directions allowing for increased performance on transmit and receive and reduced interference from unwanted sources....
. This obviously served the public good by getting the station on the air earlier (before the original full-power analog cutoff in June 2009), than waiting for the new antenna, even though coverage is somewhat less in some directions.
In some cases, an STA can allow a station to operate at low power, often to avoid losing its broadcast license after a year off-the-air
Off-the-air
In telecommunication, the term off-air or off-the-air has the following meanings:# In radio communications systems, pertaining to a radio station or television station that is completely shut down, i.e. that is not transmitting any signal, not even an un-modulated carrier wave...
. (The one-year limit was written into law by the U.S. Congress, without regard to extenuating circumstances any station might have, after it was determined that a large number of nominally licensed broadcast stations had remained off-the-air
Off-the-air
In telecommunication, the term off-air or off-the-air has the following meanings:# In radio communications systems, pertaining to a radio station or television station that is completely shut down, i.e. that is not transmitting any signal, not even an un-modulated carrier wave...
for years, preventing other applicants from using the frequency allocations.) For example, after WACS-TV
WACS-TV
WACS-TV, part of the GPB network, is Georgia's ninth public television station, and primarily serves the southern part of the Columbus market, including Dawson and Americus. WACS' transmitter is located north of Parrott, Georgia...
was destroyed by a major tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
in March 2007, it had to get back on-air by March 2008, and was given an STA to take a broadcast translator off-air for more than 30 days, and another to use its transmitter on the main station's new tower and radio antenna until the new one was delivered. In another case, WYGA-CA
WYGA-CA
WYGA-LD is a low-power television station serving Atlanta, Georgia. Its city of license is Atlanta and it transmits digital TV on physical RF channel 16...
45 is operating on an STA at just one watt, until adjacent channel
Adjacent channel
In broadcasting an adjacent channel is an AM, FM, or TV channel that is next to another channel. First-adjacent is immediately next to another channel, second-adjacent is two channels away, and so forth. Information on adjacent channels is used in keeping stations from interfering with one...
46 ends its analog TV signal on 46.
Due to the inherently temporary nature of the DTV transition
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
, numerous STAs have been issued for DTV
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
stations. (These have prefixes BDSTA and BEDSTA.) WPSX-TV
WPSU-TV
WPSU-TV is the Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station for the Allegheny area of Pennsylvania that is licensed to Clearfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 15 from its transmitter located seven miles north of Clearfield on McGeorge Road in...
was issued several of these for the purpose of testing distributed transmission system
Distributed transmission system
In North American digital terrestrial television broadcasting, a distributed transmission system is a form of single-frequency network in which a single broadcast signal is fed via microwave, landline, or communications satellite to multiple synchronised terrestrial radio transmitter sites...
s, when it was still in the experiment
Experiment
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
al stage.
The FCC has also allowed AM stations
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
to put broadcast translators on FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
through STAs, although LPFM advocates often feel this is an abuse of process
Abuse of process
Abuse of process is a cause of action in tort arising from one party making a malicious and deliberate misuse or perversion of regularly issued court process not justified by the underlying legal action.It is a common law intentional tort...
, and that there should instead be a rulemaking
Rulemaking
In administrative law, rulemaking refers to the process that executive and independent agencies use to create, or promulgate, regulations. In general, legislatures first set broad policy mandates by passing statutes, then agencies create more detailed regulations through rulemaking.By bringing...
proceeeding where formal objection
Objection (law)
In the law of the United States of America, an objection is a formal protest raised in court during a trial to disallow a witness's testimony or other evidence which would be in violation of the rules of evidence or other procedural law...
s can be raised.
An STA can also be used for special events as a Restricted Service Licence
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
is in the U.K., however this is rare. During a state of disaster or other emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
, it is only necessary to file for an STA after the fact (but as soon as possible), if the change is due to the disaster (such as a destroyed antenna or radio tower
Radio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
), or to help the public cope with it by providing local emergency management
Emergency management
Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organizational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organization from hazard risks that can cause events like disasters or catastrophes and to ensure the continuance of the...
information not available from other off-air or distant stations.