What Would Pushing Back The Digital TV Transition Mean?
from the on-hold dept
As the deadline for the shutdown of analog TV broadcasts and the transition to digital draws closer, calls for a delay in the switchover grow louder, thanks largely to poor management of the converter subsidy program and inadequate education. But while consumer groups and politicians fret over the few million people who will need converters but haven't gotten them, Kevin Fitchard over at Telephony Online has a nice roundup of the wireless and mobile companies that will feel the effects of any delay in the transition.The reason for the digital switchover is to free up the 700MHz spectrum that's used by analog broadcasts. The spectrum's low frequency gives it great propagation characteristics for mobile broadband, while the sheer quantity of it the TV broadcasts occupy translates into a lot of capacity for next-generation mobile networks. Also, keep in mind that the government has already auctioned off the licenses to this spectrum, so companies like Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless, which have already shelled out billions of dollars to set up shop in it, will have to push back their investments and rollouts. This could have a carry-on effect on consumers. For instance, Cox Communications bought 700MHz licenses in many of the markets in which it offers cable TV service with the intention of setting up its own mobile networks, introducing new competition for incumbents. One other group that stands to lose out if the transition is delayed: public safety agencies, which were allocated 700MHz spectrum in order to build interoperable, unified communications systems. This transition has been pushed back for years; it's important now that the hard deadline stands, and that the vast amount of spectrum used by the analog broadcasts -- broadcasts that relatively few people rely on -- can be refarmed and put to a more valuable use.
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Filed Under: conversion, digital tv, impact
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Bail out
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Re: Bail out
Sorry, but I'm TIRED of seeing those "Just 30 more days" commercials, and personally, I dont care if my local NBC affiliate loses some ratings because of a couple backwoods grandmas haven't asked their kids what it all means. Personally, I think this whole thing will be a non-issue, and they're overreacting.
Continue as planned. Full speed ahead!
http://www.bothsidesarewrong.com
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pfftt..
Regardless, not ALL of the analog stations will be going away, you DTV lemmings just keep repeating it as though it is the truth. There are exceptions for several different types of stations that won't be required to convert to digital-only, including people who live in mountainous regions where line-of-sight to the transmitter is impossible, and this has been known since before they auctioned off that part of the spectrum.
So, in actuality, delaying the transition would mean absolutely NOTHING to anyone.
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Re: pfftt..
They might not have access to DTV signals but everyone has complete access to satellite signals. The problem is the advertisements are very confusing to older, non-technical people a lot of the advertisements in my area make it sound like you have to buy a new TV to watch TV.
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Misplaced Comma?
Do you really need that comma?
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Re: Misplaced Comma?
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Re: Re: Misplaced Comma?
Actually, they're always welcome. Fixed the post too.
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Re: Misplaced Comma?
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Re: Re: Misplaced Comma?
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Re: Misplaced Comma?
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What it means
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Re: What it means
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Re: Re: What it means
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What? Every time i watch tv i see something about the DTV switch... i guess if you have not seen the Public Service Announcements, you dont watch enough tv and/or you use other methods for getting information...(The Interwebs)
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Just do it
Extend the deadline and those who don't have the equipment right now, won't have the equipment then either.
They will continue to procrastinate until they are forced to do something.
The lowest denominator indeed.
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Re: Just do it
In light of the real problems this country is facing, this is an easy problem to solve. Fire the people who are in charge of managing this silliness and get an action-oriented team to deal with it. This is NOT a difficult problem to solve.
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Who owns the radio spectrum?
I thought that the "airwaves" belonged to the public, like the Mississippi river or the ocean or the airspace aircraft fly in. The government regulates it "for the public good" and has found a way to auction off licenses to that spectrum but the likes of Cox and Verizon do not own it now.
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Re: Who owns the radio spectrum?
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Inadequate Education?
If you don't know about this, you don't watch TV. Therefore, the switch doesn't matter to you.
The MISTAKE was handing out free converters to the "poor". If you can't save up $40 over the last 3 years, you have bigger problems than not getting TV.
Make a plan, educate everyone on the plan and DO IT. If you took the whole "handout" program running out of money, then then I'd say everything has gone smoothly.
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Re: Inadequate Education?
On the other hand, I would already have a $40 converter box for the TV I watch out in the garage, except that I'm waiting for my coupon to come in. Why pay for it if Uncle Chump will give it to me for free?
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Re: Inadequate Education?
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Down with television
yay America!
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unfair
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I'd like to know
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Your DTV lemmings comment is also pointless, well maybe not..I could say "all you analog tv lemmings need to get off your ass and get a converter or a new tv. I mean we have been told about this transition since 1996. What rock are YOU hiding under."
Morons, plain and simple.
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This is a Big Deal exactly why?
All this brouhaha over the HD switchover starts with the erroneous assumption that it is important. The Electronic Wasteland has not had enough good content to justify its existence in several years now, and HD isn't going to change that.
--
www.chl-tx.com --Thanks to the Chicago Politician with the Blank Resume, my business is booming.
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I can wait now
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TV stations will have extra expenses, too
Dumping the schedule and causing all of planned overtime and consulting costs to be moved might make it impossible for some TV stations to make the new schedule.
In addition, there are extra fees that will occur because stations didn't plan on keeping both transmitters running for an extra 3/6/12/whatever months. Licensing is one of the major issues, as many stations will have to get special FCC dispensation to continue the analog transmission. It's not like the FCC would fine them or anything during the interim, but with an unknown delay, the stations have to plan this as if there will never be a transition.
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Two points
I was tired of seeing the "only six months left" commercials last July, as if the world was ending right then and there.
But the bigger point is: Welcome to America, the land where we try to offend no-one. If the THREE people can't save $40 to their converter, then we can't inconvenience them! Push back the transition date!
If those three people can't understand English, form a government committee to get forms printed in their language, no matter the cost! We can't have these people upset with us! Get those forms printed in their Outer Mongolian Cantonese dialect so they know they'll lose over-the-air American Idol in February!
I'm exaggerating of course, but why would the government push back the transition date because it might inconvenience some TV watchers when delaying the transition date would inconvenience corporations who have spent millions (or billions) getting ready for it? And if the transition is delayed now, when will it actually happen? Or will it keep getting pushed back as the over-the-air TV watchers still "haven't gotten around" to getting a converter? Are these few people really worth more than the future telecommunications infrastructure?
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Urging a delay of shutting off analog
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That's all I'm asking.
No one in the PSA's said I needed a new antenna. I'm only finding that out now.
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Re: Delay It!!
What a relief to find one person out there who's just as fusterated as myself. Although for me I would wish the whole digital era away for a bit longer but I guess I can't be that unrealistic and for the most part it's around. Yes keeping analalog until summer would be a compromise, as it would give more people to really seriously prepare and shop around etc. I responded before you #30, which expresses more of my thoughts but what you said is more of what I've been thinking.
Good luck
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