Federal Communications Commission FCC 08-267
STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN
Re: In the Matter of Alabama Broadcasting Partners Request for Early Transition and Phased 
Transition Relief for Station WAKA-DT, Selma, AL.
I vote to approve this item, because it is important for us to send a clear message to broadcasters 
that the Commission and staff are poised to provide them with the necessary flexibility to upgrade their 
facilities to digital and serve their viewers.  On February 17, 2009, there will be no excuses for 
broadcasters to remain unprepared to cease analog broadcast and operate solely in digital.  Broadcasters 
should not leave any viewers out.
This item presents an unusual set of requests for authority to operate two digital channels for 
approximately one month, to begin early digital operations on WAKA’s post-transition channel 42, and to 
operate at reduced power after the transition deadline. Based on the Media Bureau’s recommendation, I 
support the grant of this temporary authority.  
According to staff and the Alabama Broadcasting Partners, “six percent of existing viewers will 
lose service from WAKA for 34 days and 14% of existing viewers will lose service from WAKA for 
eight days, during which time most of these viewers will have service from another CBS affiliate.” While 
this is unfortunate, the alternative – complete termination of WAKA’s pre-transition DTV operation – is 
much worse.  Providing service to the vast majority of WAKA’s viewers is better than temporarily 
terminating service to all viewers.  Moreover, this arrangement apparently does not cause impermissible 
interference to other stations. 
For these reasons, I approve this item.