The Low Power Television Service (LPTV) was established by the Federal Communication Commission in 1982.  It was primarily intended to provide opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small communities, both rural and individual, within larger urban areas.  LPTV presents a less expensive and very flexible way of delivering programming tailored to the interests of viewers in small localized areas, providing a means of local self-expression.  In addition, LPTV has created abundant opportunities for new entry into television broadcasting and has permitted fuller use of the broadcast spectrum.  The Video Division is responsible for processing applications for Television Translator stations.  TV Translator stations are stations in the broadcast service operated for the purpose of retransmitting the programs and signals of a TV broadcast station.

The Commission has mandated that all analog LPTV and TV Translator stations are required to convert to digital operations and cease analog operations by July 13, 2021 at 11:59pm.

Related Documents

Internet Queries

Our popular internet queries may be used to retrieve information about television and radio broadcast stations.



For more information on Television broadcasting, please visit the Video Division page.

FCC > Media Bureau > Video Division, (202) 418-1600.

Bureau/Office:
Updated:
Tuesday, June 15, 2021