[opendtv] Re: FCC rules for cable after the OTA TV digital transition
- From: "John Shutt" <shuttj@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:56:36 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
I basically agree with the sentiment, but I think you missed the point.
Adelstein is saying that if these small cable companies don't have the
full UHF spectrum in their cable systems, simulcasting analog and
digital could be seen as a "burden." It reduces their other
revenue-making transmissions, in principle. And yet simulcasting is the
only reasonable alternative for them, because they don't have the funds
to distribute digital STBs to all their analog subscribers.
I didn't see anywhere in the admittedly brief press release where the FCC
mandated digital carriage of anything. There was no mandatory simulcasting
of analog and digital in the order, hence no burden. If the cable operator
chooses to carry the digital, that's their prerogative, and if they do then
they are required to not degrade the digital quality beyond what they do to
other digital channels.
Quote:
The FCC's ruling today allows cable operators
to comply with the viewability requirement by
choosing to either: (1) carry the digital signal in
analog format, or (2) carry the signal only in
digital format, provided that all subscribers have
the necessary equipment to view the broadcast
content.
So if is a cable system that requires every subscriber to have a digital
STB, then they can carry the primary in digital. Otherwise, if even one
subscriber receives just an analog lifeline basic tier service, then the
cable system must carry the primary of all broadcasters in analog. Simple,
and no mandatory simulcasting of both analog and digital.
John
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