[opendtv] E-petition on HD spectrum is rebuffed

Just like here, it looks like the idea of raking in revenues from a
spectrum auction is hard to pass up. It may be that if Freeview wants to
add HDTV service, they're going to have to do it the hard way, with no
new spectrum.

Craig will say, "let them get HDTV from cable."

Bert

-------------------------------------
http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2274

E-petition on HD spectrum is rebuffed

The Government has side-stepped an e-petition calling on Tony Blair to
force media regulator Ofcom to allocate unused spectrum after digital
switchover to high-definition TV services.

The e-petition was submitted via the 10 Downing Street web site by
Kieran Kunhya and supported by 4,906 signatures. Kunhya said Britain
needed to continue to lead the world in television developments "in the
same way that John Logie Baird did in the 1930s".

But by auctioning spectrum-which Ofcom says is its preferred option in
proposals currently out for consultation-it was likely that liberated
analogue TV spectrum would go to mobile phone companies. "Countries such
as America and Australia are already rolling out this technology but
Britain has been left behind because of the lack of spectrum space,"
said the e-petition.

In its response, the Government said it recognised that HD "is one of
many applications that could utilise spectrum released by digital
switchover". "Like Ofcom, the Government believes that
technology-neutral auctions offer the most effective way of allocating
spectrum. However, we also accept Ofcom's view that some applications
generate benefits for society, and that it is vital that these benefits
continue to be captured in a world where spectrum if (sic) a flexible,
market-based resource."

The response said Ofcom's consultation on its Digital Dividend Review
would end on March 20. "The Government looks forward to the developing
debate the consultation has generated. Given that the consultation is
still in progress, we would advise the petitioners to respond to the
above consultation."

Lovelace Consulting 28.02.2007
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

Other related posts: