Bill Would Let Stations on Mexico Border Continue Analog Broadcasts
Rep. Hilda Solis’ DTV Border Fix Act Introduced
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/13/2008 8:01:00 AM
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) wants the Federal Communications Commission to allow U.S. TV stations on the border with Mexico to continue to broadcast in analog for five years after the Feb. 17, 2009, hard date for cutting off full-power analog broadcasts.
Solis introduced a bill to that effect, the DTV Border Fix Act, saying it was necessary so that residents along the border who are slow to make the change and still receiving analog channels from Mexico can still get local emergency alerts, news and weather from U.S stations.
Solis said those border households aren't generally cable or satellite subscribers and many use English as a second language. "Because of these challenges, these households are already difficult to educate about the DTV transition. With the added complication of ample analog Spanish-language programming originating in Mexico available in the border region after 2009, thousands of households in these border communities could be left behind in the DTV transition," the congresswoman's office explained in announcing the bill.
She added that the bill takes into account various scenarios in which the FCC would have to prohibit that continued analog broadcasting.
"The DTV Border Fix Act maintains the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to deny full-power stations in the impacted area the ability to simulcast in both analog and digital if it does not serve the public interest," her office said. "Stations allowed to simulcast may not cause interference with other full-power stations or public-safety communications. In addition, if continued analog broadcasting interferes with the recovery and auction of spectrum, the FCC can refuse to allow the station to continue broadcasting in analog."
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I think Entravision and Univision should stop spending money lobbying for bills like this one, and start spending that money buying equipment to Broadcasting in HDTV instead of Stupid definition. Although in My case it won't change my viewing habit's since I started watching Televisa HD from Juarez, on the day I bought my HDTV and discovered that Univison was only broadcasting in stupid Definition. Also I doubt people from Juarez are that freaking lazy or stupid, they'll just buy converter boxes from El Paso. Sure it may cost them more of there take home pay, because of the lower wages, but they'll do it.
Also as far as I know even if this Stupid Law passes there isn't much stoping any channel that wants to from turning off their analog signal on DTV Day. They just have to get permission from the FCC, I think.
One more thing Mr Reyes I'm not voting for you next Election, even if I have to vote for a republican. The whole idea makes me cringe, but I'll do it if I have to.
dsghjlhgf sfgdrhjtyhfg - 8/2/2008 9:49:00 PM EDT -
This would seem to be a wise way to avert an impending train wreck. We should hope that other members of Congress will quickly come to appreciate the unique nature of broadcasting in communities along the U.S. - Mexican border, where stations on each side of the line reach millions of viewers on the other side, and pass this legislation. Mexico is many years behind the US in making the transition to digital. US broadcasters should not be penalized as an unintended result of the differences between the regulatory approaches of the two nations.
Barry Wood - 2/14/2008 8:59:00 AM EST
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