"Unfortunately" my rear end. Politicians didn't force VHF on any station. Those stations CHOSE VHF in order to preserve the low power bills that they've grown so accustomed to from decades of analog operation.
The FCC had ample opportunity to use the Digital Transition to level the playing field between major network VHFs and independent (or minor network) UHFs both in terms of coverage/power levels and operating costs. It was the major network stations that insisted that VHF remain part of the final plan, and to insist on being able to run 1 MW ERP on UHF to replicate their NTSC VHF coverage area.
Many of these stations had a taste of the costs for high power UHF operation when they had to run their 1 MW ERP temporary ATSC facilities in order to protect their coverage area from interference. They couldn't wait to return to their VHF frequencies so that they could return to their lower power bills.
Many of those same stations are now either considering moving back to an open UHF frequency or are petitioning for vastly increased VHF power levels due to the massive reception problems.
Too bad those VHF ATSC operators don't have the option of reducing their bitrates temporarily in order to increase receivability until those petitions are granted...
John----- Original Message ----- From: "Cliff Benham" <flyback1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Unfortunately, a number of Ch. 2 affiliates and O&Os received Ch. 3 as their digital channel.
....
Blame the fiasco on the politicians, who saw a "golden goose" by retaining VHF (Low and High Bands) as TV in the interim, but auctioning it after the transition had been effected.
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