[opendtv] News: FCC boss opposes broadcasters on digital multicast
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 10:49:09 -0500
=46CC boss opposes broadcasters on digital multicast
Wed Jan 19, 2005 08:50 PM ET
By Jeremy Pelofsky
WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal=20
Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell=20
has proposed rejecting a request that cable=20
companies be required to carry all the digital=20
signals offered by a broadcast television=20
station, sources close to the matter said on=20
Wednesday.
Current law permits a television broadcaster to=20
have its primary signal carried on cable, but=20
with the advent of digital signals broadcasters=20
can now offer multiple channels, known as=20
multicasting. Some had requested that cable be=20
required to carry those additional streams.
In 2001, the FCC ruled that cable had to carry=20
the digital television signal but it only had to=20
carry one video stream of the broadcaster's=20
choosing. Paxson Communications Corp. and others=20
petitioned the agency to reconsider.
Powell has circulated a proposal that would=20
uphold that decision and has scheduled to=20
complete the voting at the FCC's next open=20
meeting, slated for Feb. 10, two sources said,=20
declining further identification.
However, he could modify or withdraw the=20
proposal at any time and he must convince two of=20
the four other FCC commissioners to support the=20
item. Powell voted in 2001 against requiring=20
carriage of more than one digital broadcast=20
channel.
Representatives for the FCC, Paxson and the=20
National Association of Broadcasters were not=20
immediately available for comment. Paxson had=20
recently gone to court to force the FCC to act on=20
its petition.
"The extensive record in this proceeding gives=20
the commission ample reason to reaffirm its=20
previous rulings," said Brian Dietz, a spokesman=20
for the National Cable and Telecommunications=20
Association.
Some industry representatives had seen=20
multicasting as a possible bargaining chip as the=20
=46CC tried to reach a compromise for broadcasters=20
to only air digital television signals and give=20
up their old analog airwaves sooner.
The FCC has been trying to figure out a way to=20
finish the transition to higher-quality, crisper=20
digital television so it can reclaim valuable=20
airwaves that could be sold for commercial=20
wireless services for billions of dollars.
At present, broadcasters only have to return=20
their analog airwaves by the end of 2006 or when=20
85 percent of households can receive the new=20
signals, whichever comes later. FCC officials=20
expect that could take a decade or longer.
Many stations already broadcast both digital and=20
analog signals. But relatively few Americans own=20
digital televisions, which are expensive, and not=20
many cable subscribers get digital service which=20
offers those channels
Some broadcasters have reached agreements with=20
cable operators to carry additional digital=20
television streams, like Walt Disney Co.'s ABC=20
News Now.
"Without any government requirements, cable=20
operators today are voluntarily carrying high=20
definition and other compelling digital=20
programming from more than 450 TV stations around=20
the country," NCTA's Dietz said.
The FCC has revealed one proposal aimed at=20
completing the digital transition by 2009 by=20
counting toward that 85 percent threshold those=20
homes that get their broadcast channels from=20
cable, which can send subscribers the digital=20
signals or a signal converted back to analog.
Broadcasters have expressed grave reservations=20
about the plan because it would require them to=20
stop airing analog signals by 2009. They have=20
warned millions of Americans who do not subscribe=20
to pay television services and have not bought a=20
new set would not be able to see digital signals.
So far, Powell has not yet put that proposal to=20
a vote and it was unclear if and when he would do=20
so.
=A9 Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
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