DirecTV Fights NAB Request at FCC
Satellite-TV Provider Urges Federal Communications Commission to Use Staggered Timetable for Delivery of HD Signals in All 210 Markets
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/11/2008 6:28:00 AM
DirecTV told the Federal Communications Commission Monday that the National Association of Broadcasters was "attempting to use the digital transition as a vehicle to impose additional mandates on others."
That came in response to what the satellite-TV provider said was the NAB's request that the FCC require direct-broadcast satellite operators to deliver HD signals of TV stations in all 210 markets ASAP, rather than on the staggered timetable offered by DirecTV and Dish Network.
"The commission should not reject the aggressive consensus schedule devised by DirecTV and Dish Network in favor of the NAB’s unrealistic proposal," DirecTV said.
FCC chairman Kevin Martin has been advocating applying the carry-one, carry-all analog-carriage regime to digital, including HD signals. He has said that he is open to considering waivers for capacity-constraint issues, adding that he recognized that satellite has capacity issues not shared by cable.
The FCC last fall required cable to carry the HD signals of must-carry TV stations after the DTV transition.
