[opendtv] 4 more monts?

  • From: Larry Bloomfield <Larry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: sbe member discussion mail list <sbe@xxxxxxx>, Open DTV list <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, TV-Tech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:31:26 -0800

Hi all:

I sent off the following to my two Senators and Congressman in Washington, DC today. Don't know how much effect it will have, but at least I've let them know my displeasure. You may wish to do the same.

"The delay in terminating analog television on February 17th at full power television stations is a HUGE MISTAKE on your part, for Congress and THE ECONOMY. According to FCC records this involves about 1700 full power TV stations and will have a serious impact on the broadcast industry's economy.

"I need not tell you about the economy heading for the dumpster. Apparently YOU are either misinformed or unaware that there are tower crew schedules, equipment vendors, changing channel assignments, and other spectrum users that are among the possible headaches YOU and the rest of your constitutes in Congress are causing by forcing this delay on the broadcast industry. According to one official at Sinclair Broadcasting, who has about 60 stations affected by this, it will cost their company over $1.25 MILLION to continue transmitting in analog. In addition to this, there are literally millions of dollars of contracts around the country for people to move at the last minute. Screwing with the February 17th date will cost stations money that they could use to pay employees and keep jobs.

"What YOU apparently don't know or are misinformed about is that work is needed to move DTV antennas to the preferred positions on towers, and some stations are waiting for analog transmissions to cease so their DTV signals can shift to those channels. Public-safety and wireless users may delay plans for rollout and testing; and the costs of the changes will trickle down to other companies, including many small businesses. The coordination for the transition had been in place, in some cases, for years and there are many, many, hundreds of companies affected in a negative way. For God's sake, the economy and the broadcast industry WAKE UP!"
--

*Larry Bloomfield, KA6UTC*
1980 25th St.
Florence, OR 97439
(541) 902-2424 (everything number)
*www.Tech-Notes.TV <http://www.Tech-Notes.TV>*
See you on the Taste of NAB Road Show

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  • » [opendtv] 4 more monts? - Larry Bloomfield