Garrett Wollman wrote:
the coverage.) So it's conceivable that, after the transitional
period is through, channel 6 could still be cleared for other
purposes.

There are nine stations whose analog assignment is channel 6 and whose
digital is above 51. Those stations would have to be accomodated
elsewhere to clear channel 6 after transition. (I suppose that might be
possible by using one of the channels freed by other stations in the
same market.)

FWIW those nine stations a

KVIE Sacramento (DTV-53)
WABG Greenwood, Miss. (DTV-54)
KOTV Tulsa (DTV-55)
WIPR San Juan (DTV-55)
KWQC Davenport, Ia. (DTV-56)
WCML Alpena, Mich. (DTV-57)
WKMG Orlando (DTV-58)
WLNS Lansing (DTV-59)
WPVI Philadelphia (DTV-64)

Also FWIW, there are eight stations whose analog assignment is channel 5
and whose digitals are outside core.
--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com