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- Juab County Commissioners need a relay tower; now waiting until the ground thaws out and dries
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
In June 2009, federal law required that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format.
That created a problem for many people in Nephi who wanted to watch television by using roof antennas and still receiving free over the air reception. Juab County Commissioners determined that they would need a relay tower in order to get a strong enough signal to the area.
Malquist, attended county commission meeting to find out how the process was coming along.
“We have been working with Maury Parsons [representing the University of Utah and KUED], in getting our tower up and running,” said Val Jones, commission chairman.
The television translator tower will be ready for transmission by mid-summer, he said.
“We are just waiting until the ground thaws out and dries,” Jones said.
Congress mandated the conversion to all-digital television broadcasting, also known as the digital television (DTV) transition, because all-digital broadcasting will free up frequencies for public safety communications such as police, fire, and emergency rescue.
Also, digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options for consumers through multiple broadcast streams (multicasting).
“You are supposed to get excellent digital television once the installation is complete,” said Mike Seely, county administrator.
One of the reasons the commission determined that the tower was needed to allow for better signals was that there needed to be communications in times of emergency.
In addition to freeing up frequencies for public safety communication, digital television will allow some of the freed up frequencies to be used for advanced commercial wireless services for consumers.
“Bicknell has a similar set-up and the television coming through antenna service is very clear reception,” said LuWayne Walker, commissioner.
However, said Jones, while the quality will be excellent, the number of channels available will be limited. There should be somewhere in the neighborhood of nine or so channels available—the number has not yet been announced—but there will not be as many channels as are available through cable or satellite.
As of March 1, 2007, all television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported into the United States were required to contain a digital tuner. In addition, effective May 25, 2007, the Commission required sellers of television receiving equipment that did not include a digital tuner to disclose that fact at the point-of-sale.
KUED provides service to one of the largest geographic areas of any public television station in the country and reaches portions of five states, including all of Utah and parts of Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona.
The signal is carried through a transmitter on Mount Vision, 17 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, which covers the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Front.
The signal is extended statewide and to adjoining states by a network of 80 translators.
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