gee, it must be a personal problem, since I provided the FCC record citation for such a requirment here last week, and since I mentioned that this was actually addressed in the Copyright report. I won't say on which page, however. John Willkie -----Original Message----- >From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Jul 7, 2008 10:21 AM >To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [opendtv] Re: DTV awareness > >Tom Barry wrote: > >> This is usually not true, at least most places. In Jax I rented >> the HD STB from Comcast without subscribing to digital cable. >> Here in Gainesville on Cox I also take advantage of the Cox >> network HD shows using limited basic and my QAM cable ready PC >> and/or TV. I'm not even sure the cable companies are allowed to >> require digital TV subscriptions for the HD versions of the OTA >> networks. > >As far as I've been able to determine, the ONLY requirement cable >companies have is that they have to provide the OTA channels in their >basic tier, and that they have to make these available to their analog >subscribers through 2012. This can be either via an analog tier, or via >a converter box of their own (i.e. not like the CECB, and you get no >govt assistance for the cable converter). > >I have not been able to find where cable companies MUST provide certain >channels as clear QAM, let alone HD as clear QAM. Although our local >cable companies do offer the local stations, HD and multicasts, as clear >QAM. They probably do this to reduce the number of STBs they have to >make available for basic tier customers? > >Here's what the FCC has to say: > >http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvcable.html > >"... If your cable company decides to move some or all of the channels >it provides onto a digital service tier, it may notify you that you need >to get 'digital cable' equipment to continue receiving that cable >service. This may include renting or purchasing a digital cable set-top >box or purchasing a digital cable ready TV equipped with a 'CableCARD' >slot. This digital cable equipment is different from the >digital-to-analog converter boxes discussed above, and digital cable >equipment is not eligible for the $40 coupons. If you have a digital TV, >you may be able to view broadcast stations through your cable system >without additional equipment. You should ask your cable company about >the equipment options that may be available to you, including any >options to purchase equipment from a retailer if you do not wish to rent >equipment from your cable company." > >Sounds to me like all of this clear QAM stuff is purely voluntary. >Notice the "may" in, "If you have a digital TV, you may be able to view >broadcast stations through your cable system without additional >equipment." > >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. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.