[opendtv] Re: Community Broadcaster's Association wants converter boxes to handle analog, too!

  • From: "Bob Miller" <robmxa@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:24:31 -0500

Met with the FCC LPTV person in 1999 with the request that LPTV
stations be allowed to use DVB-T and was told first that digital rules
for LPTV would be issued by Christmas of that year and that there was
no reason that he could see not to allow other modulations like DVB-T
on LPTV stations. Since by definition LPTV stations cannot interfere
with FPTV stations that seemed reasonable at the time. Within a few
months, as I remember it, the Sinclair controversy erupted and all
chance of LPTV stations being allowed to use COFDM vanished.

Now that would have been a fantastic help for LPTV stations IMO.

I have begged LPTV station owners for years to do something about it,
to back me in my FCC quest, to just go digital, anything. Twice I have
spoken at their conventions and met with the then FCC Chairman
Kennard, Keith Larson and Hossein Hashemzadeh at their conventions and
by appointment in DC.

In later years met with the now Chairman Martin, Rick Chessen, Bruce
A. Franca, Kathleen Ham, Robert M.Pepper, William Lane, Ken Carter,
William Huber, Alan R. Stillwell, Evan R. Kwerel, David Furth,
Johnathon Levy (lawyer for Martin), Commissioners Abernathy and Copps
and many others in meetings called for us by Ham and Chessen. All
seemed sympathetic to our demonstrations and to DVB-T. All seemed to
agree that DVB-T was a better modulation and that the FCC had "no
rational policy".

A few of the commissioners seemed to have little understanding of the
issue. Martin had no clue while his lawyer, Levy, definitely did.
Martin was hardened against new ideas IMO. MY overall impression of
the FCC was that most people there are resigned to the political
process that negates any rational actions by them and fighting the
ignorance only can imperil their jobs.

Ignorance is the operative word for those in power at the FCC and the
political hacks who control them IMO.  Martin can stand before the
entire population of the US and defy its best interest with a smile
because the democratic process is not going to get him the
multi-million dollar job he wants after his stint at the FCC. Getting
that job entails doing the bidding of lobbyist just like it did for
Chairman Powell and Congressman Tauzin before him.

The system is corrupt. The payoff does not come in an envelope but in
the form of an multi-generational understanding of the "job". Industry
pays off with the "job" openly and since there was no obvious quid pro
quo, no contract in writing or exchange of cash, just the
"understanding" that the "job" is a sure thing if you do the "right"
thing by the lobbyist for the given industry.

Tauzin had to flip a coin to see if he would take the "job" from drugs
or media. A straight unambiguous payoff and criminally corrupt IMO.
This system is probably costing the average US citizen 30% of their
paycheck in the form of extra taxes, utter waste and higher prices for
just about everything.

Bob Miller



On Nov 17, 2007 8:50 AM, Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> At 8:29 AM -0800 11/15/07, John Willkie wrote:
> ><http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/11/15/daily.2/>http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/11/15/daily.2/
> >
> >They argue that the STBs violate the All Channel Receiver act if
> >they don't also handle analog, too.
> >
>
> I like the folks over at the CBA, however, they have a big problem
> with sending mixed messages to the rest of the broadcast community.
>
> At their annual conference a few years ago one strongly held position
> was that the DTV deadline would be good for them, since they would be
> the only analog FTA broadcasts that could be received after the full
> power cut-off. SOme members were talking about trying to strike deals
> to carry the programming of the full power broadcasters after the
> analog cut-off. Another faction was strongly pushing the CBA members
> to bite the bullet and go digital ASAP. While these folks got a later
> start than the full power broadcasters, most will have had time to
> build digital facilities by February 2009, IF they have filed their
> applications in a timely manner.
>
> But there is a gaping hole in their argument about the STBs that the
> NTIA is subsidizing. These boxes are for analog receivers that
> already have NTSC tuners. It is true that when using a digital
> convertor box the user will need to tune to channel 3 or 4, or switch
> to a composite or S-video input; but the analog tuner will still be
> there, just an extra click of the remote away. And some of these
> boxes will integrate the analog stations with the new digital
> stations.
>
> This is very much like what has happened with cable/DBS boxes that
> may or may not include ATSC tuners. You can switch to the ATSC tuner
> to get the local stations, and with some boxes the  ATSC channels are
> integrated in the program guide.
>
> Personally, I would encourage the Low Power broadcasters to build
> digital plants ASAP and to start populating these channels with
> innovative new services that can attract viewers. They will no longer
> be limited to one program stream. They can populate their multiplexes
> with all kinds of sub-channels that are easily programmed and capable
> of carrying "banner ads." Former CBA President Greg Herman, who owns
> WatchTV, which hold several licenses in the Portland area, talked
> about having "web cams" in popular tourist areas like the coast or
> Oregon, so that people could easily observe conditions at these
> locations. And then there are all of those traffic cams that allow
> you to monitor the conditions on major highways.
>
> At any rate, life has never been easy for the LPTV community.
> Hopefully the transition to digital could help.
>
> Regards
> Craig
>
>
>
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