FCC OKs HD Waiver for Smaller Cable Ops
FCC gives smaller cable operators waiver from 2001 decision requiring them to pass along TV stations' HD signals in HD after DTV transition.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/21/2008 3:38:00 PM
The Federal Communications Commission agreed to give smaller cable operators a waiver from its 2001 decision that required cable operators to pass along TV stations' HD signals in HD after the transition to digital.
FCC chairman Kevin Martin said earlier this month that he was proposing granting a waiver of the commission's "material-degradation" prohibition for small cable systems, but only those not affiliated with larger cable operators.
The American Cable Association asked for a waiver for smaller systems, and Martin signaled his willingness to do so last April. He circulated an order among the other commissioners that would grant relief to systems serving 2,500 or fewer subscribers or with 552 megahertz or less capacity, but only ones not owned by a cable operator with more than 10% of subscribers nationwide.
The systems that did qualify for the waiver would get three-year exemptions from the requirement that after the Feb. 17, 2009, transition to digital, cable operators have to deliver HDTV signals to their customers if the station delivers the signals to them.
It was not clear whether that proposal had been modified. The item had been on the agenda for the FCC's meeting Friday, Aug. 22, but Martin said he hoped the commissioners might be able to vote those items beforehand. The FCC already held one public meeting this month, which meets the mandatory minimum for monthly meetings.
The FCC released a new agenda for the meeting, saying that the digital-carriage item was withdrawn because it had already been adopted.
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I tend to disagree, these older systems are in areas that are way out of the broadcast range, as a general rule. Even with a huge antenna the people are not gonna get a signal. Remember with DTV it's all or nothing so even with an antenna the OTA signal in analog may work but it won't with digital. I live in Chicago and I am only 5 miles NW of Sears Tower, I only can get three digital stations and I get 16 analog channels. So the building are havoc for DTV.
Eric Post - 8/22/2008 1:59:00 PM EDT -
I echo Vic's comments and they well should be taken by ATT in their PEG channels which are expected to be 1/4 the rez of a SDTV picture. Last night our cable went out and when it came back (after 6 hours) we could no longer get any of our off air HD main stations. Wanting to see the Olympics in HD I immediately swiched to the house antenna after I could get no satisfaction from the cable company (Charter) who said the cable was "fixed". Now, I am thinking of dumping the cable all together. My picture quality was much better off air. It's time for the FCC to force cable companies to carry all stations in thier native format without a cable box so digital tuners can just get them. Renting a cable box to decode the company signals is just one more way of jacking up fees for the cable companies.
Chuck Derry - 8/22/2008 1:24:00 PM EDT -
This is assisted suicide, an invitation for cable subs to head down to Radio Shack, get that $30 outdoor UHF antenna, and discover they can get FREE HDTV. And some of those subs, especially older viewers who signed up for the reception, will discover they can live without cable.
But don't blame the FCC; systems that don't provide subs with broadcast signals as they are intended to be received are hurting themselves and helping assure a "second coming" of OTA broadcast TV.
Cable should be offering added value, not degrading service. Broadcasters: When are you going to start screaming: Get Your Free HDTV"!
Vic Livingston - 8/21/2008 10:36:00 PM EDT
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