[opendtv] Re: Martin: 15% of Stations Face Smaller DTV-Coverage Areas

  • From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:06:16 -0400



Bob Miller wrote:
> And I believe the spectrum at issue is far more valuable than those
> who now control it think it is.

Agreed, and that's the part that bothers me most. I'd prefer the government lease all new spectrum instead of selling it for pennies on the dollar. OTOH, they can correct this later on and get the same effect by annually taxing the heck out of it if needed, especially if those controlling it do not appear to be using it well.

In many ways the spectrum is like land. The government used to give land away when there appeared to be an unlimited amount of it compared to need. But it is a finite and valuable resource.

These days land is subject to annual real estate taxes.

- Tom



Which has been my point since 1999. That OTA dies with 8-VSB as it was
then and surprisingly as it is now.

My daughter's apartment is very much like Mark Shubin's with her
window pointing directly away from the broadcast antenna's and having
no line of sight.

My argument is that 8-VSB is not the tool you want as a broadcaster
today in a city like New York. How many other places in the US have
similar problems or even MUCH smaller but still deadly problems I
don't know.

And I believe the spectrum at issue is far more valuable than those
who now control it think it is. To them and to the public. It is so
valuable that they should be willing to spend as much as new
broadcasters like AT%T and Verizon or others to come on a network that
will ensure very good reception and be able to deliver the most bits.

At the moment the only competition is to cell phones but that will not
last. AT&T, Verizon, Dish or others may decide to do what Aloha was
demonstrating in Nevada and come out with higher quality mobile DTV
nationwide.

At the moment no one is comparing the reception experience of say
mobile DTV from Verizon or AT&T in NYC with OTA DTV reception from
current broadcasters. What happens when they do next February?
Qualcomm's coverage is going to explode on February 18th. Their power
levels will increase where they are already on the air and they will
begin real advertising of their service.

Someone in the news media may decide to see what the reception
differences are. I may not be the only one.

Bob Miller



On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 8:45 PM, Don Moore <don@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 8:27 PM, Manfredi, Albert E
<albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Over here, in such circumstances, almost everyone happily caves in and
buys cable.
Bert
And thus ends OTA broadcasting.

Don Moore
Greensboro


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