Broadcasters predictably unsettled about FCC taking away spectrum
By Richard Lawler 
posted November 19th 2009 4:18PM
posted November 19th 2009 4:18PM
You had to know that the FCC's investigation into other uses for current broadcast DTV spectrum wouldn't be met warmly by broadcasters, now the NAB has come out and said it needs every bit of frequency available. Apparently up for discussion are its reasons why, as the group is at odds with FCC advisor Blair Levin over whether retrans fees are the only issue or, as NAB VP Jane Mago states, preserving HD for consumers is key. We're sure OTA viewers of channels leaving bandwidth on the table for multicasting, or worse simply unused as we discussed on the podcast would beg to differ, but the one thing that is for sure is the current broadcast TV system won't go quietly into the night, no matter what potential a new paradigm might hold.
This isn't going to be pretty if the FCC pushes this. There are lots of reasons why this won't fly with all sorts of people.
Before even considering doing this shouldn't we have the new tech in place for everyone? This is really jumping the gun, don't you think?
Maybe this can be revisited in about 20 years.
There are many reasons why this is going to be a hard road to pave, but protecting a business model isn't exactly a good argument to continue to allot the most valuable spectrum in America for use by only 10 percent of the population.
@Ben Test
After this whole digital switch, they would have to be crazy to tell people they just decided to scrap OTA TV all together.