[opendtv] FCC Eliminates Simulcast Rules
- From: "John Shutt" <shuttj@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "OpenDTV" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 16:39:11 -0400
The FCC, in it's second periodic review of the Digital Television
transition, has eliminated the rules requiring simulcasting the programming
on a station's analog channel on it's digital channel.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-192A1.pdf
"131. Accordingly, we will eliminate, for the time being, the
requirement that broadcasters air on their digital channel the programming
aired on their analog channel. We expect broadcasters to use this increased
flexibility to provide innovative, value-added programming to consumers; if
this expectation proves misplaced, we will take appropriate action. However,
as we continue to monitor the progress of the transition in future DTV
periodic reviews, we will continue to consider whether reimposition of a
simulcasting requirement is advisable. Our concern is to ensure that, as the
end of the transition nears, significant numbers of viewers will not be
denied access to desirable programming aired only on analog channels. We
believe that eliminating rather than reducing the simulcasting requirement
is appropriate at this point in the transition. There is no evidence of the
need for any simulcasting requirement at this time. While we recognize that,
as NCTA argues, viewers could lose access to
programs at the end of the transition if programs available on analog
channels are not available on digital channels, we believe we can address
this concern if the need arises closer to the end of the transition. Because
we are eliminating the simulcasting requirement, we do not address herein
the issue of how to define simulcasting in the context of the digital
transition."
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