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

Alas, that was superseded by the law specifying February 17, 2009.

TTFN,
Mark


John Shutt wrote:
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




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