Verizon Chief: Don't Delay DTV Transition
Ivan Seidenberg argues that move would create disruption, confusuion, postpone availability of wireless spectrum.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/13/2009 4:49:00 AM
Verizon Chairman Ivan Seidenberg has asked the key legislators not to delay the DTV transition date.
That came in a letter Tuesday to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Commerce Committees.
Seidenberg argued that moving the date would create disruption, consumer confusion and, more to Verizon's point, "postpone the availability of spectrum critical for advanced commercial and public safety communications systems."
Seidenberg pointed out that Verizon had paid $9.3 billion for the spectrum in an FCC auction last spring, and plans to roll out advanced wireless communications, perhaps as early as this year.
"Delaying the DTV transition will delay our ability to upgrade those frequencies to 4G [fourth generation] broadband for American consumers and have a negative impact on our nation's international competitiveness," Seidenberg argued.
In making his case, Seidenberg cited a letter to Congress from the Consumer Electronics Association arguing the date should not be delayed and one from first responders pointing out the importance of getting spectrum for interoperable communications, although in that letter, they asked for a carve-out from the delay for their spectrum.
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But if broadcasters choose not to build out digital coverage to match their former analog's, is it the FCC's role to force them into that? I'd say no.
However, if a broadcaster, in choosing not to replicate its old analog coverage leaves behind significant white areas of unserved population, then maybe the FCC should pay for translator construction to serve such areas, and let the people in those areas choose what station it should rebroadcast. Bet it wouldn't be the station that left them in the snow.
Russ Johnson - 1/13/2009 8:33:00 PM EST -
WIRED CO.'S WANT TO END FREE TV? Could that explain Verizon's position? The longer the public has to get educated and ready, the more viewers realize they can get their network and local HIGH DEFINITION, uncompressed TV for free with a well-aimed antenna (preferably, a reversion to a rooftop antenna). If the FCC requires stations to install repeaters to maintain their signal coverage, more financially strapped viewers, especially older consumers, will opt out of pay TV entirely. And Verizon's wireless devices may interfere with DTV signals... furthering this ultimate goal of the wired barons, the end of free TV. Broadcasters benefit from the ubiquity of robust broadcast signals; don't let "them" take away broadcasting's birthright!
Adam Smith - 1/13/2009 11:58:00 AM EST -
WIRED CO.'S WANT TO END FREE TV? Could that explain Verizon's position? The longer the public has to get educated and ready, the more viewers realize they can get their network and local HIGH DEFINITION, uncompressed TV for free with a well-aimed antenna (preferably, a reversion to a rooftop antenna). If the FCC requires stations to install repeaters to maintain their signal coverage, more financially strapped viewers, especially older consumers, will opt out of pay TV entirely. And Verizon's wireless devices may interfere with DTV signals... furthering this ultimate goal of the wired barons, the end of free TV. Broadcasters benefit from the ubiquity of robust broadcast signals; don't let "them" take away broadcasting's birthright!
Adam Smith - 1/13/2009 11:58:00 AM EST
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