[opendtv] Genachowski: DTV Transition Not Over for FCC

The example given here of a station that is being granted a TEMPORARY
waiver on power limits is WJZ in Baltimore. A station now tramnsmitting
15 dB ERP less, on real Ch 13, than it was in analog.

The waiver is apparently only "while they wait for new antennas"?

So what, this means that the FCC is sticking with their 15 dB less power
than analog formula?

Wish I knew what the new antenna consists of. If it's circularly
polarized, as Doug Lung suggested might be the case, someone ought to
inform the FCC that a return to 9.8 KW ERP will not hack it.

Bert

-----------------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/83460

Genachowski: DTV Transition Not Over for FCC
07.02.2009.

Commissioners say broadband rollout will be even more transformative
than the 1996 Telecommunications Act

The Federal Communications Commission will now focus on what went right
and what went wrong as the nation's television stations transitioned to
digital on June 12. "Our mission is not yet accomplished," said new
Chairman Julius Genachowski on the agency's open monthly meeting on
Thursday. "Consumers and broadcasters need an FCC that is still focused
on the transition," he said.

Three items, including the rule change to allow AMs to operate on FM
translators, had been voted on earlier in the week to clear the meeting
agenda for updates on the DTV transition and the development of a policy
to rollout broadband.

Bob Ratcliffe, acting chief of the Media Bureau, said during the meeting
some 970 full power television stations are now broadcasting in digital
only. The call centers have handled over a million calls from consumers
seeking help so far. The FCC has sent engineers to select markets to
help troubleshoot both interference and reception issues, he said.
Solutions may involve new antennas, new translators or temporarily
allowing some stations to operate at higher power, he said because the
DTV signals of some stations are having trouble penetrating buildings.
The FCC is granting some stations, like WJZ(TV), Baltimore, waivers to
operate at higher power while they wait for new antennas.

Chairman Genachowski and Commissioners Michael Copps and Robert McDowell
also heard an update on plans to coordinate a national broadband plan
policy. Blair Levin, who was chief of staff under former Chairman Reed
Hundt, has returned to the agency to help coordinate that effort.

The group working on that effort has beta launched a Web site:
broadband.gov to make the development process more transparent and make
it easier for the commission to receive public input on the effort,
Levin said. The group hopes to have information ready in September on
the current state of broadband deployment, both here and in other
countries. The final policy plan is due to Congress Feb. 17, 2010.

All three commissioners called the broadband rollout even more
transformative than the 1996 Telecommunications Act in terms of its
effect on the nation's economy. Genachowski called for an aggressive
game plan, saying there must be a strategy to make sure regular
Americans can afford broadband. He also cautioned that "we can unlock
the power of spectrum," however, "the reality is we are slipping. Other
countries have faster connections for lower prices."

During the meeting, the public first one he has chaired since reporting
to work this week at the Portals, Genachowski said this was also the
first open monthly FCC meeting he's attended since 1997, during the Reed
Hundt era.
 
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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: