[opendtv] Re: Community Broadcaster's Association wants converter boxes to handle analog, too!

  • From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:33:02 -0800

John;

You really have to admire them 'trying' to use jujitsu against the FCC.  I
don't see a clear 'out' for the FCC on this (at least while analog fstv is
still operating), but it won't get into court before the end of the
transition, and even then I suspect the fact that LPTV/tv translator
stations aren't primary users of their channels will come into play.

I was talking last night with a broadcast engineer who now is working on the
sell-side.  He was of the belief -- not relating directly to this matter --
that the analog shutoff would be delayed by the FCC.

I said that I thought there would be some stations disappearing for a few
days or longer after the analog shut-off due to antenna issues.  I had to
remind him that under the legislation, the FCC had no ability to permit FSTV
analog transitions, and all the comments from congresscritters recently
(Senator Clinton excepted) were about how to help those perceived to be less
well-off.

One could even say -- in court -- that the CBA's contention is stale; they
could have participated in the earlier proceedings, and did not, and now
this train is a-moving.

John

-----Mensaje original-----
De: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] En
nombre de John Shutt
Enviado el: Friday, November 16, 2007 7:22 AM
Para: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Asunto: [opendtv] Re: Community Broadcaster's Association wants converter
boxes to handle analog, too!

The NTIA has not made an analog tuner a disqualifying option.  Nor have they

mandated a pass-through switch (like you might find on a VCR.)  They permit 
both.  The rule wording:

"NTIA strongly urges manufacturers to
take into consideration the needs of
consumers to receive analog television
along with digital television in the
development of CECBs and to
investigate minimal signal loss solutions
that would ensure an acceptable analog
signal pass-through. In the Final Rule,
NTIA permits that the converter box to
pass through the analog signal from the
antenna to the TV receiver."

The All Channel Receiver Act however is an interesting twist, and could be 
litigated for years and put off the Analog cut-off date indefinitely.  After

all, it is the All Channel Receiver Act that the FCC hung their hat on to 
mandate ATSC tuners in any device with an NTSC tuner.  Turnabout may be fair

play in this case.

John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


> http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/11/15/daily.2/
>
>
>
> They argue that the STBs violate the All Channel Receiver act if they 
> don't
> also handle analog, too.


 
 
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