Wednesday January 7 10:22 AM EST FCC Reallocates Lightly Used Television Spectrum WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday it had reallocated lightly used television frequencies for use by public safety services. Portions of the spectrum between 746 and 806 megahertz that had carried channels 60 to 69 will be given over to police and fire departments and other emergency services. The remainder of the spectrum will be auctioned off for commercial use. The reallocation was required by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The FCC had previously announced it would reallocate the lightly used spectrum in an April, 1997 plan for the transition to digital television. FCC chairman William Kennard said on Tuesday the commission would allow some users of the high channels to continue operations, however. "While recovery of unused spectrum is an integral part of the FCC plan for transition from analog to digital television, I am sensitive to the effects of spectrum recovery on Low Power TV and TV translators," Kennard said in a statement. Such broadcasters may continue operations through the transition to digital television "as long as they do not cause harmful interference to primary services," he said. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1997 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon