[opendtv] Re: News: DTV Boxes Could Cost $1 Billion
- From: "Nick Kocsis" <kocsis_nick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 13:53:28 -0400
The reality John, is that government is there to protect both the private
AND the public interest. Broadcasting because it makes use of radio
spectrum is considered a public resource that must be regulated in the
interest of commerce and the public good. PC's and sewing machines are
quite a different matter (buyer beware).
Another example is the regulation of prescription drugs. In the interest
of the public health and safety no drug is released for sale in the market
except under rigorous testing to prove that it will do no harm. That is
the role of government since the pharmaceutical industry cannot be trusted
to regulate itself, not because of its unwillingness to do good, but because
of its own self interest in such matters. In the case of Sinclair vs. FCC
we saw a remarkable case of a reversal of roles in the broadcast industry.
When agencies like the FCC because of political expediency of advancing the
digital transition releases for public consumption a broadcast standard that
they knew at the time was seriously flawed they betrayed the public trust.
They, in effect, sanctioned the industry to produce a product that was
incapable of reliable reception relative to analog NTSC. By that I mean
capable of receiving an unimpaired signal from a simple antenna in a
difficult location such as the Schubin Apartment. The equivalent of an
unimpaired signal in analog (IMHO) would be of comparable quality to
standard definition dtv video that does not drop below a background noise
threshold where it becomes noticeable to the viewer or in the case of dtv
causes a dropout. This takes the 'cliff effect' out of the equation and
defines a better measure of equivalency (although some but not me would
tolerate viewing content with significant background noise).
I am elated by the news that the South Koreans have rescued the U.S./
Canada/ Mexico/S. Korea OTA 8VSB transition at LG Electronics by their new
receiver chip. It means that I can bring myself to buy into the ASTC
standard by purchasing a 5th generation or better receiver for the first
time whereas previously I was adamantly opposed to buying into this flawed
system.
Others have not been so lucky. You are suggesting that early adopters and
not the FCC should have the financial responsibility of replacing their
receiver if they are viewers of OTA DTV and have problems receiving their
local stations.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Golitsis" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 9:41 AM
Subject: [opendtv] Re: News: DTV Boxes Could Cost $1 Billion
> Get real! If it doesn't work, return it. But if it works, who cares if
> there's something newer and better on the market?
>
> Can I return my 5 year old Pentium 400 because it doesn't perform as well
as
> a current model?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nick Kocsis" <kocsis_nick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> > You have brought up an interesting question as to how the consumer who
has
> > already bought into the current 8VSB receiver technology, whether
> > integrated into the TV itself or a set top box, would have a claim
against
> > the FCC for having adopted a standard for DTV that has been proven to be
> > substandard (i.e. not equal in performance to NTSC). The five years
> that
> > it has taken to design and develop a working (i.e. equal or better than
> > NTSC) receiver that is now acknowledged by all may get the notice of
> > Consumer's Union and Ralph Nader who will in all likelihood put the case
> > before the public for compensation to early adopters.
>
>
>
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