[opendtv] Re: Wha' Happened to the FCC?

Craig Birkmaier wrote:

> Broadcast TV as a public safety channel has never been all that
> reliable - Radio does a far better job as mobile and portable
> receivers that DO NOT rely on "mains power" are ubiquitous. And
> now wireless broadband provides on demand access to the
> information we once needed broadcasters to supply.

I used to believe that too. Part of what you say is certinly true, like the 
power mains part (unless you buy one of the rare battery powered DTVs), but it 
all depends how the new DTV stations decide to reinvent themselves.

This past nasty, ugly, annoying winter has made me appreciate what the TV 
weather subchannels CAN do, if they put their mind to it. Channel 7-2, from the 
ABC affiliate here, has 24/7 weather from something called "accuweather" as 
well as from the local meteorologist Doug Hill. So it shows the latest local 
and national weather always. They show all the needed graphics, including radar 
loops and 5-day (or 7-day?) forecasts, the type of info that is simply not 
available over radio.

In tornado weather, they give precise locations and motion of the tornados, on 
a map.

Only WJLA has evolved the service to this level, in DC, so far. It seems more 
up to date than even Intellicast on the web. Or at least, the analysis is more 
up to date, if not the actual radar image. You watch for a few minutes and get 
a good idea of what's about to happen weather-wise.

On the paying for spectrum angle, I get the distinct impression that those who 
are addicted to subscription services would be just as happy if everyone else 
felt their pain too. Heh heh.

Bert
 
 
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