[opendtv] Why aren't there more converter boxes?

As the analog cutoff date looms, and we debate why there aren't more ATSC STBs on the market, I am reminded of Title 47, United States Code, Section 309(14)(B). 

<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+47USC309>
Yes, I'm referring to the infamous "85%" rule. For years we thought the driving factor in extending Analog transmissions would be the 85% rule, in which it was stated that if more than 15 percent of a market did not subscribe to a multichannel service, and did not have at least one television in the house that could receive ATSC, the analog cutoff could be extended.
Now it looks as if the 85% rule will be met by a combination of subscribers and the ATSC Tuner mandate. However, the 85% rule only counts if a station in a market cannot be granted a waiver under exceptions (i) or (ii) in the code.
Exception (i) is if a major network affiliate in a market isn't transmitting in ATSC, then all stations in that market can be granted a waiver.
Exception (ii) is a general lack of analog to digital converters in the market.
I would say there is a general lack of digital-to-analog converter technology generally available in ANY market.
Seems the conspiracy against STBs has the broadcasters and the CEA in bed together. Talk about strange bedfellows. 

John




----------------------------------------------------------------------
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: