FCC Bureau Works on HD Issues

[Steve Mehs]

The Media Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission is contacting DBS operators concerning efforts to roll out more HDTV.

The bureau sent a letter last week asking for information on HD delivery, at the direction of FCC Chairman Michael Powell. The bureau said it needs the information "to assess the impact of prior policy initiatives and to inform future efforts in this area."

In the letter, the bureau asked DBS services if they carry at least five digital programming services that are providing HDTV or other "value-added" digital programming during at least 50 percent of their prime-time schedule. The bureau also asked for current and future plans to promote and market HDTV.

In addition, the bureau asked whether capacity constraints or other issues require subscribers to obtain larger dishes or additional dish antennas to access HD programming, and whether capacity constraints may limit the ability of DBS to provide local HD or other value-added digital programming in the future.

Similar letters were sent to cable operators, consumer electronics manufacturers, broadcasters and others.

From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com) (Used with Permission)

[Jacob S]

At least they are looking at this and trying to get somewhere with it and asking instead of telling them what to do. Maybe they will work with the satellite providers on this and give them more space and what they need to get more HDTV up and going. They would each get at least 5 full time HDTV channels up easily. Dish and Direct are probably close to that now.

[Sony Salesman]

This report is a little misleading. The prime focus was the digital rollout with HD being a part of course.

Bottom line is that there is no financial advantage for any business area except hardware manufacturers and retailers to push ahead with DTV/HDTV

[RichW]

Gee, thats like saying there was no financial advantage for any business when music went from vinyl records to CDs or when movies went from videotape to DVD.

Digital TV, especially with respect to broadcasting, has significant advantages, financial and otherwise, to everyone involved in the business, as well as the end consumer. In addition, the bandwidth saved by digital broadcasting can be used for other services such as wireless internet, etc.

It is good to see a pro-active FCC on this matter.

[Jacob S]

The price, thats what makes it a disadvantage, trying to force it onto people is a bad thing. Phasing it out is a good thing if done right and over a long enough period of time.

If they cannot make any additional money than they are making now off of it then they dont see an advantage but a disadvantage since it costs so much to convert over to digital for customers and the stations themselves as well.

[Ken_F]

Jacob,

The government is planning on the sale of spectrum to help balance the budget in years to come. Current projections of deficits and the like are based on expectations of revenue from the spectrum sale. Thus, the FCC has the responsibility for doing everything it can to encourage the transition.

A long, drawn out spectrum sale is not in the interest of the American taxpayer or the American economy. Corporations are waiting in line to buy up to buy spectrum to deliver new commercial products and services for the public and/or businesses.

[Jacob S]

Yes, that is true, and I would favor to not have a drawn out spectrum sale, but consumers would not all favor paying out money for new vcr's, dvd players, tv's, satellite receivers, etc. to switch over until the prices became good and it probably would not be that cheap even when everything becomes digital at first.

[waydwolf]

    Six of one, half dozen of the other. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

    As technology advances, higher resolutions make sense because displays will eventually reach the point of being able to have resolutions measured in the many thousands of pixels on each axis. Laser based projectors are finally starting to get someplace in the labs and can't be too far off. Holography will be ultra-resolution-intensive. Not increasing recording resolution would be insane.

    Hopefully the FCC will prod cable on this as well and get a better composite picture. Seems to me that DBS, like cable, is adopting it as a value-added thing for the higher-end customers right now, but it will be the norm eventually. Better than letting it run amok in a senseless war of formats and platforms that does no one any good. We the public just want stuff we want to watch that works easily.

 

[Jacob S]

Yes, it should be a higher end product at this time until it does become the norm. Its kind of like comparing the luxery of current model of a chevy cavalier (one of the cheapest cars) to the luxery of a lot more expensive car (like a lincoln or cadillac) that was made 20 or 30 years ago.