HDTV Expert - To the Federal Communications Commission: STOP

[720pete]

The FCC, once a respected arbiter of the nation's spectrum, has become little more than a pawn of the CTIA - The Wireless Association and apparently wants to do away with free digital TV and HDTV.

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[Roger Halstead]

What you have described has become rampant across regulatory agencies, not just the FCC. There is the EPA, and the NLRB. The NLRB is headed by an ex union official and look what they did to Boeing in a right to work state where the *workers* voted the union out. Take Operation "Fast and Furious" by the DEA which has cost many lives. Try to think of an agency that has not become a political arm and spokesman for the present administration. Look at the cost of student loans which have been completely taken over by the government. Now they are more expensive than they were under private sources. Each of these is no different than what we see as change in the FCC. Look at healthcare which appears will lower access and raise costs dramatically instead of how it was presented to us.

Look at what was tried with LightSquared using a satellite band for basically *high powered, a ground based broad band system. Now that so many have weighed in on that issue, (which is a goal of the current administration) they need find another slot for said broadband, which in my opinions is not really needed. Yes there are those few who have a real need for broadband out in the boonies (I'm close to that), but the number is few, and it's highly unlikely that over half (if that many) of those reached by the new broadband would even be interested. It's also a very small fraction of the total potential users current and future combined. It currently costs me about $100 a month for a 60 Mbs connection. Imagine who high the prices will be out in sparsely populated areas. The only way to exist out there is with some massive subsidies. (Something else to get tacked onto our bills along with delivery charge...etc.

Unfortunately these regulatory agencies have become(by choice or forced?) cheerleading agencies for the administration's projects. This is nothing really new except for the all encompassing scope of the political influence with the regulatory agencies. Cost and inconvenience to the public and current users seem to be of no concern. The country is going broke and they want to spend billions on bridges to nowhere and broadband that will likely remain far underutilized.

It appears that the OTA users of TV would eventually be forced into subscription services whether cable, satellite, or Internet. At the present direction and rate of change, how long will it be before they turn the internet into a subscription service and I don't mean what we pay our ISPs at present, I've said it before, but I see most of the services we've come to take as a given free source are likely to each become much like arms of the networks and studios. Who loses in the end? The OTA stations and in particular the viewers.

When we start talking about these things we see we sound like a bunch of conspirarists but you don't have to read far to verify these things are happening.

[Robz]

The FCC, once a respected arbiter of the nation's spectrum, has become little more than a pawn of the CTIA - The Wireless Association and apparently wants to do away with free digital TV and HDTV.

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I agree with your comments. In addition, Congress is to blame. Congress has directed the FCC to find frequency spectrum for the Telco's and others. I shall make it clear to my representatives that my vote will be against those who do not succeed in the fight for the citizen’s spectrum property rights. Preserve the broadcast spectrum for the citizens. It's ironic, should the Telco's succeed, the citizen will pay to access their own property.

[BobDiaz]

At last a voice of reason!!!!!

Some of the other writers for HDTV Magazine seem to think that broadcast TV is a thing of the past. So the change is OK.

While I'm sure they enjoy their cable connection, what they fail to see is that once Broadcast TV is decimated by this change, cable companies (satellite & fiber too) will go on a price gouging binge. Think about it, with a free option out of the way, what stops them from raising the price again and again...? Your choices will end up being HDTV through a paid provider or nothing.

In the LA area, after the switch to DTV, we've seen a major increase in the diversity of broadcast channels. Some broadcasters are transmitting 9 different SD programs on one transmitter. This reduces the cost for each channel and allows for specialty channels to select narrow markets. IF the FCC leaves Broadcast TV alone, in the next few years we'll see the rise in M-DTV (Mobile DTV) channels.

I understand the cell phone providers want more bandwidth for faster transmission services, BUT at what price? Do we really need a faster mobile connection speed so that some Bozo can surf the WEB faster, while driving down the freeway?


Bob Diaz

[JazzGuyy]

I think this is a lot of hysteria about something very, very unlikely to happen. The most the FCC may be able to do is get the broadcasters to give up some parts of the spectrum that they don't and never have used. Over-the-air TV is not going to be taken away. There are too many powerful lobbying organizations like AARP, Consumers Union, and others that would be all over any serious proposal to end over-the-air broadcasting. The FCC has over the years floated many trial balloons which went absolutely nowhere. I believe this is one of them too.

[BobDiaz]

IF the FCC forces Broadcasters to go from 50 frequencies to 30 frequencies, there will NOT be enough bandwidth for everything. Something has to go:

(1) No more Broadcast HD, everything in SD.

(2) Extra channels from the major broadcast stations removed.

(3) Small, but specialty channels removed.

(4) Mobil-DTV dies, before it even begins.

If I remember correctly, we have 22 different DTV frequencies in use in the LA area. With only 30 frequencies, LA would never be allowed to have all 22 frequencies, that would leave other areas, like San Diego, with next to nothing. Stations out of the area, but close, can NOT use the same frequency. If the FCC forces LA to reduce the number to 15 frequencies, 22 frequencies will not fit into the limited bandwidth; something has to go...

It's an engineering fact, that the lower frequencies, like channel 2 --> channel 6, don't do DTV very well. Most stations avoid those frequencies, BUT with only 30 frequencies to pick from, stations will be forced into the lower frequencies.

Remember that the big money from the Cell Phone Companies and Consumer Electronics Manufactures is pushing this change. Even Cable Companies, Satellite Companies, and other TV Service Providers stand to gain if Broadcast TV is taken down a few notches.

[gartrste]

I think this is a lot of hysteria about something very, very unlikely to happen. The most the FCC may be able to do is get the broadcasters to give up some parts of the spectrum that they don't and never have used. Over-the-air TV is not going to be taken away. There are too many powerful lobbying organizations like AARP, Consumers Union, and others that would be all over any serious proposal to end over-the-air broadcasting. The FCC has over the years floated many trial balloons which went absolutely nowhere. I believe this is one of them too.

I would note that the "powerful lobbying organizations" you mention all represent the American people; I would further note that the American people haven't exactly been well-represented in Washington these last 30 years.

E.g., the switch from analog to digital cut many Americans off from broadcast TV; the precedent has already been set.

[videograbber]

Bravo!

Thanks Pete, for a well-written article, that really needed to be said.

Unfortunately, special interests are gaining more and more leverage in this country every day. Money talks. And unfortunately, our "public servants" are listening to the money interests. And we will be the ones who lose out, as a result.

But if we sit on our hands, we have only ourselves to blame. Contacting your reps, and making them aware of your concerns and positions is one of the few effective ways we have to counteract this trend. Unfortunately there will be many who will remain completely unaware of this situation, until it's too late. And those like the JazzGuy, who will claim it's hysteria, and "can't possibly happen". Until it does.

I intend to contact my gov't reps today, and will encourage others I know to do the same. Other readers here should also strive to get the word out, so people will know what is happening, and can speak up while there is still time. Passivity and lethargy of the masses (being slow to wake up and recognize the threat) are the greatest strengths of the vested interests.

Thanks again,

- Tim

[videograbber]

I think this is a lot of hysteria about something very, very unlikely to happen. The most the FCC may be able to do is get the broadcasters to give up some parts of the spectrum that they don't and never have used. Over-the-air TV is not going to be taken away...

Well if you are correct, what would be the harm in spending a few minutes to let your reps know your position anyway, even if it turned out it wasn't necessary in the end? And nothing came of it.

However, if it turned out you were wrong, what do you think the chances are that ANY actions would EVER be able to reverse the decision and restore the lost OTA frequencies? Absolutely zero.

Is that a gamble you're willing to make? I'm not.

- Tim