>From: Bob Miller <bob@xxxxxxxxxx> >To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:46:51 -0400 > >The mandate is irrelevant now because you will have >receivers that work and that people want. The driver next year will be >USDTV or similar ventures not the mandate. That is ludicrous Bob, when so few people rely on OTA reception. The fact that newer receivers work better than older receivers is what is irrelevant. DTV reception quality or lack thereof was never a significant reason for the slow adoption of OTA DTV by consumers, and no matter how well these receivers work, most people STILL don't want them -- especially not if they have to pay extra for them. The mandate is VERY relevant, because that is the only way to reach mass-market 'adoption' -- if you can really call it adoption, when consumers are foreced to buy something that most of them will never use. But from the FCC's and Congress' point of view, reaching the 85% threshold and reclaiming the NTSC spectrum is extremely relevant, and the mandate is the surest way to speed us toward that goal. "Capable" of receiving DTV programming, as opposed to actually receiving it OTA is what is relevant. -- Frank ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.