PRODUCT         As a general rule, the audience for LPTV stations is virtually nonexistent, because the Federal Communications Commission’s requirement that cable operators must carry the signals of television stations in their local market area generally doesn’t apply to LPTV stations.         This lack of cable carriage forces viewers who want to see these stations to do so the old fashioned way: by installing an outdoor antenna. One of the realities of the 21st century is that most people aren’t aware that it’s possible to receive a TV signal that isn’t on their cable service or satellite dish.         There are, however, some specific instances where the FCC says that cable systems must carry LPTV stations. If an LPTV station meets some rather stringent criteria for providing television service to an area that would otherwise not be so served by a full power station, it must be carried by cable systems within 35 miles of its transmitter.         Happily, W### falls into this specific FCC exception to the "must carry" rules. Thus, unlike most LPTVs, the station is carried by all cable television systems within its coverage area, putting it on equal competitive footing with other television signals carried by those cable systems. Further, on the vast majority of cable systems that carry it, the station’s signal is located on the most desirable tier of cable channels (2-13), where cable viewers are in the habit of looking for local TV stations.         Recently, W### was designated a Class A station by the Federal Communications Commission. That designation elevates the station from secondary to primary status, and confers the same protections as those given to high-power TV stations. Certain qualifying LPTV stations were granted Class A status, in the FCC’s own words, "to facilitate the acquisition of capital needed by these stations to allow them to continue to provide free, over-the-air programming, including locally-originated programming, to their communities. In addition, by improving the commercial viability of LPTV stations that provide valuable programming, our action is consistent with our fundamental goals of ensuring diversity and localism in television broadcasting."          These factors, coupled with the station’s longstanding presence and recognition in the community, provide a strong basis for creating a financially viable broadcast property.

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