RSSThe DTV Delay Act might not delay DTV for some
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published January 27, 2009, 10:48 AM
While the DTV Delay Act, passed unanimously in the Senate yesterday and likely to be passed on the House floor today, moves the official DTV transition date for the nation from February 17 to June 12, it specifically allows US broadcasters to throw their own switches at any time they see fit in the interim.
"Nothing in this Act is intended to prevent a licensee of a television broadcast station from terminating the broadcasting of such station's analog television signal (and continuing to broadcast exclusively in the digital television service) prior to the date established by law," reads the text of S. 328 released this morning to the Library of Congress. Should broadcasters within a given region vacate the analog spectrum prior to June 12, the FCC may determine whether public safety officials may be granted access to the vacated frequencies...evidently in separate determinations per region.
Should an individual have been given a government coupon toward the purchase of a digital converter box, the Act states, and that coupon has not yet been redeemed, the government may issue a replacement coupon. This instead of simply extending the validity of existing coupons, and instead of what was touted to have been an unnecessary waiting period for folks trying to re-apply for coupons.
The stated purpose of the DTV delay was to reduce confusion.
The National Association of Broadcasters, which had earlier expressed its preference that the February 17 date be kept, now supports the Delay Act because it enables broadcasters to make the switch at any time between mid-February and mid-June.
UPDATE: At least one organization, the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) [no relation], has come out against the DTV delay. In a statement this morning, NATE argues that the businesses of its member contractors who work on broadcast transmission towers, depends on the current itinerary not being messed with:
The livelihoods of small businesses nationwide and their employees depend on plans that have been made around the February 17, 2009 DTV transition. For years, leases on tower space and special broadcast operations have been scheduled around the February 2009 analog sunset. By delaying the transition further, many millions of dollars will be wasted in unnecessary additional costs while simultaneously damaging our industry and increasing the potential for job losses in an already fragile economy.
Broadcast infrastructure support companies were severely impacted when Congress enacted the first delay in 2002. Overnight, contracted work was halted and entire companies folded or merged with others, just to survive. Throughout our industry, specially trained laborers, technicians, and project managers lost their jobs. The industry feels that this conversion can be completed safely with the ample time that remains before the February 17 deadline. During these difficult economic times, an action to postpone this deadline would create more financial stress and uncertainty, while doing significant -- and avoidable -- harm to the many small businesses that provide essential supplies, materials, equipment and labor to the television broadcasters.
The transition has been carefully planned for years. Congress mandated this change and broadcasters have responded. Now is not the time to second guess the plans that have been made, plans that hardworking small businesses have staked their livelihood on. The entire industry is ready to help make this transition happen. DTV is the way, don't delay.
Making it sound like small businesses that are at stake. It is indeed big business that is running this show. Lobbyists are legally allowed to lie -- I know, I was one. also, many people are having major problems getting decent reception with ATSC. Problems need to be worked out
The GOP congress does not give a crap about the poor who will not be able to receive broadcast TV, including emergency and weather. President Obama knows what he is doing, and what he is asking. He campaigned by talking to the people, not Corporate America. Also what good will those analog frequencies for an "improved" public safety communication system do if they are overwhelmed by calls from people who did not know an emergency was happening or on its way. every disaster, no matter how small, could turn into a Katrina.
I keep hearing "free DTV." I is not free!
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|The National Association of Tower Erectors have made a very compelling argument. Analog TV broadcasting should go extinct as originally planned on February 17. The small business community that has made this technological evolution possible should not be punished on the threshold of the Digital Age.
Bob Arnold
Ancient Analog Era TV broadcaster of the 20th Century
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|Just like the idiots that wouldn't leave New Orleans before Katrina. You have been told.... if you fail to act, it's your own fault if you get stranded.
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|Just cut the old analog out. We dont need it. Its been on the air for 4 years and last year was extremely IRRITATNG to insert that broadcast telling us where to get the box. Its plain stupidity not to be able to make the change for 4 years of giving everyone the chance. It is supposed to be the law and change it. NO need to change the plan. They gave everyone so much time to change. This does not affect their job or ability to work and find work. Its just plain entertainment. 90 percent on the TV are couch potatoes and should just go out and exercise.... Cut and change NOWWWW....
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|Just cut the old analog out. We dont need it. Its been on the air for 4 years and last year was extremely IRRITATNG to insert that broadcast telling us where to get the box. Its plain stupidity not to be able to make the change for 4 years of giving everyone the chance. It is supposed to be the law and change it. NO need to change the plan. They gave everyone so much time to change. This does not affect their job or ability to work and find work. Its just plain entertainment. 90 percent on the TV are couch potatoes and should just go out and exercise.... Cut and change NOWWWW....
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Just why do you and the other idoits give a damn? It's not going to be affecting you in any way whatsoever, so why are you acting so pissy over this?
Could it be that you all are upset over the fact that there's a whole world of people who don't give a damn about chasing after every bright and shinny object that crosses their path like you losers do?
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|Because of someone doesn't push progress we'll end up lagging behind the rest of the world in technology. (Which seems to be your comfort area.)
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|Really? You're kidding me?
So, now instead of having the hard cut date that's been talked about for over 2 years, we now have the potential for individual broadcasters to cut off analog while other broadcasters in the identical market are still broadcasting analog. All on their own accord?
The DTV law has been passed for almost 4 years, I've seen crawlers about the analog termination date on the major broadcast stations for well over a year.
There are Markets that have already converted to digital only. (All of Hawaii and Wilmington, NC.)
And now...because people can't stand up and pay attention, take some action on their own accord to get a new TV or converter, we're going to make this transition more confusing and convoluted than it already is for them?
This has disaster written all over it.
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|This is insane. My station converted Dec 1 2008. The people who are not ready yet are people who simply will not accept the transition will occur. This only reinforces their last little grasp on the hopes they can still use their 30 year-old TV's with rabbit ears. It needs to be done, it needs to move on. Given the clause that stations can still do the switch on the 17th, I bet more than 90% do. It is impossible to reschedule all the tower crews at this late date.
Thank-you slObama
Jeff in Central Nebraska
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|Hi Jeff; if that's your ZIP I know your part of the state well. (I also know how some of the folks around there feel about those 30-year-old sets with the rabbit ears -- not to mention the idea of paying for cable.) Would you be with the mighty KHAS by any chance?
You're in pretty good shape where you are, again assuming the ZIP, according to the FCC's Map Book (http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/). As nearly as I can tell the "digital cliff" (for anyone reading this thread who hasn't kept up on the jargon, the rather abrupt line between signal and no-signal, as opposed to the snowy channels on the edges of analog transmissions) won't affect most central-NE stations much -- in fact there are really nice gains in reception for some channels. It's down now to getting folks to do what's necessary, and I hope you've helped explain to the elderly and nontechnical in your viewing area, or at least on your block, what's needed. Maybe even offered to help with installing the new antennas in your copious time off? That would be very decent of you -- and it's not like they're not going to ask you anyway. Sort of like how all my mom's friends save up computer problems 'til I visit...
Have a look, though, at the map for KLNE. That looks to me like a station that's going to go missing for a number of folk, especially to the south. Since that's a PBS station, we're talking a lot of older folks who would switch on Lawrence Welk on Saturday the 20th, and HE WOULD NOT BE THERE. And do you really want to tangle with a bunch of elderly farmers with polka cravings? If the DTV delay can save even one television professional from being pitchforked by a overalls-wearing gentleman in "champagne music" withdrawal, I'd say it's time well spent.
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