Craig Birkmaier wrote: > > Perhaps you're missing that most of the components used > > for ATSC reception are also used for digital cable > > reception. That's why most consumers will benefit. > > So why include an ATSC tuner then? > > Would it not be better to make the stuff that is used by > everyone standard, and to let the consumer choose the > tuner module that they need (cable, DBS or ATSC)? The best approach is the cheapest approach. If a standard receiver can be installed that handles OTA, cable, and DBS, without having to incur the extra cost of an interchangeable module scheme or of external converter boxes, then this is the cheapest route. The different distribution systems are more similar than they are different. > And the consumer gets screwed by another government > mandate related to something the government has no > business meddling in. The consumer who buys or rents cable STBs today, or uses OTA today, would not get screwed. As of now, the DBS subscriber won't benefit, so they should take that up with their DBS companies. > And then there's the Broadcast Flag... > Will Fair Use survive? I never liked the broadcast flag idea, but this is supposed to be a retransmission control flag. The FCC should crack down on broadcasters or CE manufacturers who use it for any other purpose, e.g. to prevent recording for time shifting or other personal use. And if broadcast flag scheme cannot work as intended, which I believe it cannot, then the FCC is responsible for correcting its mistaken design. Or, of course, Congress or the courts can also nix the whole thing. > I don't want to PAY FOR a cable STB, because the built-in > tuner provides access to everything I am paying the cable > system for today. I could care less about having a STB if > it provides something I want, like a PVR. So we agree completely, then. You don't want an STB when connected to cable, *and* you want a built-in receiver in your recording device. That's what I've been saying all along. > Rubbish. This entire transition was predicated upon the > misplaced notion that broadcasters would not be > competitive in the future without HDTV. The part about HDTV is certainly turning out to be true. How odd that you continue to be in denial. But HDTV is not the reason the govt wants the transition over with. At this point, the govt wants to auction off the extra spectrum. That's all. No mention of HDTV anymore. Bert ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.