Dielectric Communications has launched a line of digital antennas and filters targeting low-power television (LPTV) broadcasters. The new product family is designed to provide a cost-effective and easy-to-install solution for LPTV broadcasters in advance of this January's FCC open filing window for digital LPTV stations and translators — the first in 11 years.

Dielectric's new low-power product line will enable LPTV and DTS broadcasters, as well as translators and boosters, to optimize their digital coverage with an input power rating of up to 2 kW. The easy-to-install antennas will offer low weight and wind load, and they are designed to operate on channels in the frequency band of 470 MHz to 860 MHz. The simple yet stringent mask filter options will be tunable and rack-mountable and will also provide an input power rating of up to 2 kW. Although LPTV stations were exempt from the switchover to digital broadcasting that culminated earlier this year, their analog signals may be blocked by some of the converters that viewers have purchased to enable digital reception via older television sets. As a result, many stations are looking for lower-cost solutions to help them convert to digital transmissions and take advantage of the FCC filing period, which begins without geographic restriction on January 25, 2010. After this date, the FCC will accept applications for new digital-only LPTV stations and translators, major modifications to existing analog and digital stations, and digital companion channels. After Jan. 25, no more applications for new analog facilities will be accepted.

The FCC created the LPTV service in 1982 to provide opportunities for locally oriented television service in small communities. These communities may be in rural areas or in individual communities within larger urban areas. LPTV service presents a less expensive and more flexible means of delivering programming tailored to the interests of viewers in small localized areas than traditional full-service, full-power TV stations.