Stations on Mexican Border May Keep Broadcasting in Analog
Senate Commerce Committee to Consider DTV Border Fix Act
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/18/2008 11:40:00 AM
The Senate Commerce Committee next week will consider a bill that would allow full-power TV stations along the border with Mexico to continue broadcasting in analog after the Feb. 17, 2009, cutoff date.
A similar bill was introduced in the House.
The DTV Border Fix Act, which was co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Democrat Barbara Boxer of California, would allow qualified TV stations within 50 miles of the border to broadcast in analog until 2014.
The bill has numerous caveats, including that the stations could not interfere with DTV stations, could not interfere with public-safety communications and could not prevent the auction of public spectrum.
They also have to be between channels 2-51, since channels 52-59 are in the 700-megahertz band that was already auctioned for advanced wireless services.
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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. Oh an this goes for you to miss Hutchingson, except that you're a republican. So' I'll gladly vote for a Democrat.
Jose Olivas - 8/2/2008 9:55:00 PM EDT -
John: Yes, if this passes. But I still believe Congress will opt to extend the deadline for all U.S. stations because of the industry won't be DTV-ready in time to meet the 2009 cut-off.
V. Livingston - 4/21/2008 3:27:00 PM EDT -
Does this mean that the NTSC stations in Detroit and Buffalo can remain in analog too until the Canuk cut-off date?
John Pavlica - 4/21/2008 2:02:00 PM EDT -
PREDICTION: Congress will extend the deadline for the end of analog to match Canada's Aug. 2011 date. Reason: It's clear that neither the industry nor the viewing public will be ready by next February, and it's a chimera to pretend the current deadline can be met. The question of ensuring TV service to the technically challenged (poor, undereducated, elderly), along with concerns about adequate antennas, interference, etc., will auger for a delay. Better to legislate now so that at last, better planning can be formulated and executed. If this means the effective date of spectrum sales must be delayed, so be it. The Republic will survive.
Victor Livingston - 4/19/2008 2:23:00 PM EDT -
Canada's deadline to switch to digital is August 31, 2011. Congress is offering a delay to US stations that broadcast near the border which rely on viewers outside the country. The FCC has no jurisdiction over stations in Canada or Mexico.
David Shaw - 4/19/2008 1:45:00 AM EDT
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