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Alaska Rural Communications Service

August 28, 2023

The Alaska Rural Communications Service (ARCS) is a statewide network of low-powered television stations, serving 235 communities throughout the Alaskan Bush areas. Developed in the late 1970s, the network is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and is operated by Alaska Public Media.[1][2] Programming is beamed via satellite to the rural transmitters owned by the Alaska state government.

Alaska Rural Communications Service
Channels
BrandingARCS
Programming
Affiliations.1: ABC (via KYUR)
CBS (via KAUU)
Fox (via KTBY)
Syndicated programming (via KAUU-DT4)
NBC (via KTUU)
.2: PBS (via KAKM)
.3: UAF TV/FNX
.4: 360 North
Ownership
OwnerState of Alaska
(transmitter owner)
OperatorAlaska Public Media
History
KTVA (CBS, 19??–2020)
KUAC (PBS, 19??-2021)
Links
Websitewww.arcstv.org

Low powered television broadcasts began in 1959, with a transmitter in the Suntrana-Healy area. In 1972, the Alaskan Public Broadcasting Commission (APBC) received FCC permission to test the use of videotapes to bring television to areas of Alaska with no ability to access terrestrial repeaters; tests began in three villages the next year. Alaska's state legislature then provided funding to the state's Office of Telecommunications to lease a satellite transponder and modify existing telephone earth stations for television in 1976. The first satellite-fed television transmissions began on January 15, 1977, in Tenakee Springs. A Telecommunications Committee under the Alaska Federation of Natives selected programming for the new service, the committee became known as the Rural Alaska Television Network (RATNET). In 1995, after state funding cuts, Bethel Broadcasting, Incorporated, operators of KYUK, assumed responsibility for the service, at the time called The Alaska Satellite Television Project (ASTP).[3] Control of ARCS passed from Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc. to Alaska Public Media, which also operates Anchorage's PBS member station KAKM, in 2021.[1]

Programming on ARCS is a selection of shows from the four commercial broadcast networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox) and syndication, via the Anchorage stations; plus PBS programming from KAKM and other PBS members in the state; occasionally, ARCS produces some of its own programming (including local sports coverage). Anchorage stations provide their programming to ARCS free of charge with the condition that advertising is allowed to remain.

There is currently no CW programming available on ARCS (nor did it air programming from The WB), and though in the past the network carried MyNetworkTV programming from KYES-TV (and previously, UPN), it has not since its 2009 conversion from a network to an all-repeat programming service; it did carry other syndicated programming from that station, mainly on weekends, until KYES-TV took over the CBS affiliation from KTVA on August 1, 2020 (KYES-TV's former programming shifted to its fourth subchannel and will continue to air on ARCS on weekends). In late February 2021, KYES's call letters were changed to KAUU, to complement sister station KTUU.

Even though much of ARCS' programming contains commercials, the operation of ARCS is partially funded by donations from its viewers, just like member stations of PBS, as well as those of the Christian-based Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Many of ARCS' stations which were in analog were converted to digital broadcasting as part of the FCC mandated digital television transition which was originally scheduled for July 13, 2021 for low-power TV stations as well as translator stations in Alaska. The network flash cut its transmitters once the transition is completed, shutting down its analog transmissions and switching on their digital transmitters at the same time. This has also allowed ARCS to add new subchannels, including 360 North, First Nations Experience, and UAF TV via Alaska Public Media's KAKM-TV.[4]

In June 2021, the FCC granted a waiver for the service to continue analog television service on 15 of its transmitters until January 10, 2022, so that they could continue to complete the upgrade of its low-powered stations to digital. The FCC cited Alaska's climate and short construction season, the remoteness of the transmitter sites in question, and the fact that all the transmitters represented the sole over-the-air television service in each of the communities involved.[5][6] Another application to extend the construction permits on several other ARCS transmitters was submitted on January 10, 2022; as of February 2022, the application is under review.[7] In a subsequent filing to the FCC in July 2022, the State of Alaska and Alaska Public Media indicated that they planned to let construction permits for 37 of the repeaters lapse.[8]

List of stations Edit

As of June 2021, the ARCS had 169 station licenses, of which 106 were operational.[6] The ARCS is seen on the following low-powered television stations:

References Edit

  1. ^ a b Maguire, Sean. "Alaska Public Media will begin operating ARCS on Friday, but digital conversion is currently on hiatus". Alaska's News Source. from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  2. ^ "Alaska Rural Communication System". doa.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  3. ^ Hudson, Heather E. (2015). Connecting Alaskans : telecommunications in Alaska from telegraph to broadband. Fairbanks, AK. ISBN 978-1-60223-269-3. OCLC 922640765.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Digital Multichannel: The Evolution of ARCS". Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc.
  5. ^ Winslow, George (June 22, 2021). "FCC Gives Alaska LPTVs More Time for Digital Transition". TVTechnology. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "FCC Extends Analog Termination Date for 15 TV Translators in Alaska". Federal Communications Commission. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  7. ^ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  8. ^ "Licensing and Management System". enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

External links Edit

  • Official website

August 28, 2023
alaska, rural, communications, service, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, sch. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Alaska Rural Communications Service news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Alaska Rural Communications Service ARCS is a statewide network of low powered television stations serving 235 communities throughout the Alaskan Bush areas Developed in the late 1970s the network is based in Anchorage Alaska and is operated by Alaska Public Media 1 2 Programming is beamed via satellite to the rural transmitters owned by the Alaska state government Alaska Rural Communications ServiceStatewide Alaska outside Anchorage Fairbanks and JuneauUnited StatesChannelsDigital Various see belowVirtual Various see belowBrandingARCSProgrammingAffiliations 1 ABC via KYUR CBS via KAUU Fox via KTBY Syndicated programming via KAUU DT4 NBC via KTUU 2 PBS via KAKM 3 UAF TV FNX 4 360 NorthOwnershipOwnerState of Alaska transmitter owner OperatorAlaska Public MediaHistoryFormer affiliationsKTVA CBS 19 2020 KUAC PBS 19 2021 LinksWebsitewww wbr arcstv wbr orgLow powered television broadcasts began in 1959 with a transmitter in the Suntrana Healy area In 1972 the Alaskan Public Broadcasting Commission APBC received FCC permission to test the use of videotapes to bring television to areas of Alaska with no ability to access terrestrial repeaters tests began in three villages the next year Alaska s state legislature then provided funding to the state s Office of Telecommunications to lease a satellite transponder and modify existing telephone earth stations for television in 1976 The first satellite fed television transmissions began on January 15 1977 in Tenakee Springs A Telecommunications Committee under the Alaska Federation of Natives selected programming for the new service the committee became known as the Rural Alaska Television Network RATNET In 1995 after state funding cuts Bethel Broadcasting Incorporated operators of KYUK assumed responsibility for the service at the time called The Alaska Satellite Television Project ASTP 3 Control of ARCS passed from Alaska Public Broadcasting Inc to Alaska Public Media which also operates Anchorage s PBS member station KAKM in 2021 1 Programming on ARCS is a selection of shows from the four commercial broadcast networks NBC CBS ABC Fox and syndication via the Anchorage stations plus PBS programming from KAKM and other PBS members in the state occasionally ARCS produces some of its own programming including local sports coverage Anchorage stations provide their programming to ARCS free of charge with the condition that advertising is allowed to remain There is currently no CW programming available on ARCS nor did it air programming from The WB and though in the past the network carried MyNetworkTV programming from KYES TV and previously UPN it has not since its 2009 conversion from a network to an all repeat programming service it did carry other syndicated programming from that station mainly on weekends until KYES TV took over the CBS affiliation from KTVA on August 1 2020 KYES TV s former programming shifted to its fourth subchannel and will continue to air on ARCS on weekends In late February 2021 KYES s call letters were changed to KAUU to complement sister station KTUU Even though much of ARCS programming contains commercials the operation of ARCS is partially funded by donations from its viewers just like member stations of PBS as well as those of the Christian based Trinity Broadcasting Network Many of ARCS stations which were in analog were converted to digital broadcasting as part of the FCC mandated digital television transition which was originally scheduled for July 13 2021 for low power TV stations as well as translator stations in Alaska The network flash cut its transmitters once the transition is completed shutting down its analog transmissions and switching on their digital transmitters at the same time This has also allowed ARCS to add new subchannels including 360 North First Nations Experience and UAF TV via Alaska Public Media s KAKM TV 4 In June 2021 the FCC granted a waiver for the service to continue analog television service on 15 of its transmitters until January 10 2022 so that they could continue to complete the upgrade of its low powered stations to digital The FCC cited Alaska s climate and short construction season the remoteness of the transmitter sites in question and the fact that all the transmitters represented the sole over the air television service in each of the communities involved 5 6 Another application to extend the construction permits on several other ARCS transmitters was submitted on January 10 2022 as of February 2022 update the application is under review 7 In a subsequent filing to the FCC in July 2022 the State of Alaska and Alaska Public Media indicated that they planned to let construction permits for 37 of the repeaters lapse 8 List of stations EditAs of June 2021 the ARCS had 169 station licenses of which 106 were operational 6 The ARCS is seen on the following low powered television stations This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items November 2021 K08KD D Alakanuk K08HU D Aleknagik K11QI D Ambler K07SS D Angoon K13TE D Bettles K13SY D Birch Creek K09QG D Chalkyitsik K09PO D Chevak K07RY D Chignik K09TT D Circle K13UO D Cold Bay K08KO D Cooper Landing K07RU D Dot Lake K09RF D Eagle Village K09TK D Elfin Cove K03GA D Elim K09RP D False Pass K04LZ D Galena K10LJ D Galena K09QR D Gambell K07QX D Golovin K09SG D Goodnews Bay K09PC D Grayling K04MR D Gustavus K07RJ D Holy Cross K07QD D Hooper Bay K04MM D Hyder K09SP D Igiugig K09QP D Kake K09TR D Kalskag K09TX D Kaltag K09QK D Karluk K09QW D King Cove K03GL D King Mountain etc K07OL D Kipnuk K15AT D Kodiak K09SL D Kotlik K09OV D Kotzebue K09SA D Koyuk K11QY D Kwethluk K07TH D Lime Village K13TN D Manley Hot Springs K07TK D Marshall K09QC D McGrath K09NI D Mekoryuk K15AP D Moose Pass K13TJ D Mountain Village K13UV D Napakiak K09QM D Nelson Lagoon K04MT D Newtok K10LU D Nightmute K09OW D Nome K02LJ D Nondalton K04KP D Northway K04JF D Nulato K13RN D Old Harbor K13SV D Pedro Bay K04LB D Pelican K09NK D Perryville K15AF D Petersburg K09NO D Pilot Point K15AU D Pilot Station K13SA D Port Heiden K09SR D Port Lions K09RA D Sand Point K07RD D Savoonga K10KH D Shageluk K09NH D Shungnak K13SM D Slana K12MD D Sleetmute K09RE D St George K07RK D St Mary s K09QX D St Michael K09RB D St Paul K13SE D Stony River K07RB D Tanana K10KG D Tenakee Springs K09QU D Togiak K13RR D Tok K11QG D Toksook Bay K24AG D Trapper Creek K09RC D Unalakleet K04KV D Unalaska K09OT D Valdez K09TW D Venetie K04MN D Wales K13TD D White Mountain K07ST D Womens BayReferences Edit a b Maguire Sean Alaska Public Media will begin operating ARCS on Friday but digital conversion is currently on hiatus Alaska s News Source Archived from the original on 2020 12 30 Retrieved 2021 05 05 Alaska Rural Communication System doa alaska gov Retrieved 2021 05 05 Hudson Heather E 2015 Connecting Alaskans telecommunications in Alaska from telegraph to broadband Fairbanks AK ISBN 978 1 60223 269 3 OCLC 922640765 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Digital Multichannel The Evolution of ARCS Alaska Public Broadcasting Inc Winslow George June 22 2021 FCC Gives Alaska LPTVs More Time for Digital Transition TVTechnology Retrieved July 25 2021 a b FCC Extends Analog Termination Date for 15 TV Translators in Alaska Federal Communications Commission 2021 06 21 Retrieved 2021 08 25 Licensing and Management System enterpriseefiling fcc gov Retrieved 2022 02 11 Licensing and Management System enterpriseefiling fcc gov Retrieved 2022 07 29 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alaska Rural Communications Service amp oldid 1155381578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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