Will FCC Revoke DTV Spectrum?

Lee Stewart · 10-30-2009, 07:19 PM

Will FCC Revoke DTV Spectrum?

Quote:

October 30, 2009 — It's been just three months since the completion of the DTV transition and the Federal Communications Commission is already thinking of violating the agreement it made with television broadcasters when they switched from analog to digital broadcasting. In a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, the FCC is thinking of taking back some DTV spectrum and reallocating it to wireless broadband.

http://hometheatermag.com/news/103009revokedtv/

NonMcTubber · 10-30-2009, 08:52 PM

Its a rather strange question with up and downsides. There is an arguable need for both OTA television and WIMax frequencies that
can bring high speed wireless internet to the rural areas. Sadly, IMHO, both telco's and OTA operators greed amounts to a public be damned attitude which should not be rewarded by the FCC.

And we can somewhat make a distinction between Urban and Rural areas.

Only in very high population density areas do we see the commercial deployment of OTA television and very high speed internet by wired means. With channels 6 through 51 fairly well utilized by OTA operators. But even then, given that we have the potential 45 times 5 multicasts, most OTA operators are doing an absolutely miserable job of using their bandwidth. With many still offering only one choice. And if they don't use it, why should they not lose it to other companies that can use the frequencies for the public good.

In lower density population areas like mine, the OTA frequencies are not even 1/3 populated, and with crying need for rural wireless broadband that amounts to a tremendous amount of under utilized frequencies better given to companies that will and be able to act in the public interests.

And even if I am forced to transition to paid subscription TV, I strongly suspect that the FCC will act in my interest and not force me to buy package deals where I am forced to buy a pile of Channels I do not want.

I may not trust the government but my distrust of the private sector delivery is far higher, and I have the under served results to fully justify my distrust of the private sector.

Lee Stewart · 10-30-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

The Consumer Electronics Association weighed in with a study that found taking back the DTV spectrum would cost $12 billion in payments to broadcasters and another $9 million to "migrate all households that rely on over-the-air broadcasts to subscription services." But it would also bring in $62 billion from new users. Bear in mind that the feds have just spent $2.15 billion to implement the DTV transition, which reached its climax on June 12, 2009.

There's an attention getter for the US GOV.

10-30-2009, 08:52 PM	#2
NonMcTubber High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 812	Its a rather strange question with up and downsides. There is an arguable need for both OTA television and WIMax frequencies that can bring high speed wireless internet to the rural areas. Sadly, IMHO, both telco's and OTA operators greed amounts to a public be damned attitude which should not be rewarded by the FCC. And we can somewhat make a distinction between Urban and Rural areas. Only in very high population density areas do we see the commercial deployment of OTA television and very high speed internet by wired means. With channels 6 through 51 fairly well utilized by OTA operators. But even then, given that we have the potential 45 times 5 multicasts, most OTA operators are doing an absolutely miserable job of using their bandwidth. With many still offering only one choice. And if they don't use it, why should they not lose it to other companies that can use the frequencies for the public good. In lower density population areas like mine, the OTA frequencies are not even 1/3 populated, and with crying need for rural wireless broadband that amounts to a tremendous amount of under utilized frequencies better given to companies that will and be able to act in the public interests. And even if I am forced to transition to paid subscription TV, I strongly suspect that the FCC will act in my interest and not force me to buy package deals where I am forced to buy a pile of Channels I do not want. I may not trust the government but my distrust of the private sector delivery is far higher, and I have the under served results to fully justify my distrust of the private sector. __________________ High definition is not the definition of my life. But knowledge is power and HD does have some potential to increase content variety and choices.