On Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:35:34 -0400, Rick T wrote:
Well, I count about 60 stations licensed for high-power
digital TV operations nationwide on 7-13.....not a huge
number by any means.

I think you're working from a very early table. I count 137 stations
currently licensed to operate DTV stations on these channels. Those are
interim operations. Another 300 or so stations will be moving their DTV
operations to 7-13 from other channels, usually UHF.

Here in Arizona, there are very few
remaining after the transition. The public safety folks,
having failed to take any of the 138-174 spectrum from the
military here (Mainly because of the Army base at Ft.
Huachuca) are now looking at the possibility of getting some
of that 174-216. I doubt that it will happen though.

I count eight. There are nine analog stations currently operating in tha
t
spectrum in the state.

To pick two more states more or less at random:

Kansas: 11 analog stations in 7-13 today.
2 interim DTV operations in 7-13 today.
13 permanent DTV operations in 7-13 after transition.

Pennsylvania:
7 analog stations in 7-13 today.
4 interim DTV operations in 7-13 today.
9 permanent DTV operations in 7-13 after transition.

Yes, there is no deadline yet, and the Commission hasn't indicated if
they will eventually set a firm deadline for LPTV and Translators. Ther
e
are a huge number of translators in northwest Arizona.....at a cost of
over $3,000 each to convert the translators times about 50, plus the
LPTV stuff in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. I think the FCC will
allow at least 5 years, if not more, unless they're in the 60's
spectrum. However, they're mostly already chased out of that area.

From a FCC document dated February 11th:
"While the February 17, 2009 deadline for ending analog broadcasts does
not apply to low-power, Class A, and TV translator stations, the FCC will
require these stations to convert to digital broadcasting sometime
thereafter. ... The FCC is currently considering the remaining issues inv
olved with the
low-power digital transition and will make decisions regarding these
stations in the future. "

I read that as meaning that they *will* set a firm deadline.

My two-year figure, on the other hand, is just my gut feeling. Your five
year + figure could well be right. (but I doubt it)