Great. This makes "FCC sense" as usual. Now, we will all have to watch 90% of local and network programming in crappy analog cable or off-air conditions. Few broadcasters bother to insert the ghost cancellation test signal and no TVs, VCRs, DVD recorders or cable set top boxes, EVEN those made by PHILIPS, include the ghost cancellation circuitry necessary to make NTSC watchable on a 30 inch widescreen TV or larger. -----Original Message----- From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of John Shutt Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 4:39 PM To: OpenDTV Subject: [opendtv] FCC Eliminates Simulcast Rules 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." =20 =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at = FreeLists.org=20 - 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.