FCC approves rules for 2009 digital TV transition
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 12th 2007 2:35PM
posted Sep 12th 2007 2:35PM
While we passed the T-minus two year mark earlier this year, the FCC has just now approved rules "that it says will ensure that millions of cable subscribers will still be able to watch broadcast programming after the digital television transition in 2009." Judging by reports, not a whole lot of new material was covered, but the new FCC rules reportedly mandate that cable operators "either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where the cable signal originates or supply customers with a down converter device that will change digital signals to analog at the TV set." Interestingly, the FCC "did not require operators to pass through every bit of information, as broadcasters had pushed for," and while smaller cable systems will be able to request a waiver, all providers will be required to "guarantee that analog cable customers will receive broadcast channels until February 2012."[Via BroadcastingCable]
So... broadcasting takes another hit... the lack of a must carry subchannel rule will eventually kill off broadcasting... We will lose free TV.
What we need right now is to add lots of antennas and stop paying the cable and satellite co's to give us what usually arrives for free at our homes.
If you want to see the cable and sat co's give you better prices... put up an antenna and cancel the subscription. If enough of us do this... we could get much better service for better prices.
And think what the $100 per month would do to your budget.
Think what the smaller number of channels would do to your free time...
If we don't preserve free broadcast OTA TV the cable and sat co's will recompress it to death and make our HD sets worth less.
I pWnZ tHe FcCz!!!oNe!
Oh NoEz! NoW ThEyZ aRe At My HoUzEz KiLlInG mE!
Wow! I don't even understand what's going on with all this stuff. I consider myself a tek-lite, but I'm not sure how this will affect me. Is there a breakdown for dummies somewhere?
note: i am a small smatv co's and unable to recevie h/d television from direct or dish. the plate form for this signal information is not provied to co's that can build modulator at a price we can aford. what will we due when the demand for signal to are customers base?
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