A critical step for digital transition

[Chris Blount]

Senate Commerce Committee Bill a Critical Step for the
Digital Transition

DTC Commends Sen. Ensign for Leadership on the DTV Issue

Washington, DC -- Consumers will have more choices and greater access to digital programming as a result of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Rural Consumer Access to Digital Television Act of 2004 introduced today by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), the Digital Transition Coalition said. The legislation will ensure that the transition to digital television will take place more quickly.

The bill would allow DBS providers to offer consumers an HDTV network signal when one is not offered by local broadcasters. This provision is the so-called "digital white area language" advocated by the satellite industry, along with leaders in the consumer electronics industry and consumers and taxpayer organizations.

The Digital Transition Coalition believes the digital white area proposal would be a significant step forward in the transition to DTV and we commend Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the Committee for including this provision in the bill. Sen. Ensign, in particular, should be applauded for drafting this bill and for his leadership on this important issue. As one of the Senate's leaders on hi-tech issues, he understands the importance of this proposal.

"Congress has a significant opportunity to benefit consumers as it considers reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA)," said George Landrith, president of Frontiers of Freedom, a member of the DTC. "The digital white area proposal will be the much needed catalyst for achieving the goal of returning the analog spectrum to the taxpayers and providing choices to consumers across the country."

"We're pleased that the Committee has acted to help consumers receive the benefits of digital television technology," said Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, another DTC member.

The inclusion of the digital white area proposal in this legislation is the latest indication that the plan has continued to pick up critical support in recent weeks. Beyond members of the coalition, the plan has received support from the Consumer Electronics Association, VOOM, a high definition satellite television service offered by Cablevision's Rainbow DBS division, and the Progress and Freedom Foundation.

"Where households do not receive adequate digital signals from their local broadcasters, allowing satellite TV providers to provide distant, network HD signals (such as those put out by broadcast affiliates in cities that are served) will ensure that the transition to digital is not slowed by the broadcasters' pace of digital rollout," wrote Rainbow DBS COO
Michael Alpert in a May letter to members of Congress.

"Both Chairman McCain and [House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman] Chairman [Joe] Barton have spoken forcefully this year about the importance of expediting the transition to digital television because of the great benefits it will bring to taxpayers and consumers," said Tom Schatz, president of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waster, another DTC member.

"The sooner we act, the sooner that spectrum can be returned to the government and re-auctioned to other companies for a great return to the
American taxpayer."

The Digital Transition Coalition last week welcomed a new member to the coalition. The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) announced it was joining the DTC to help advance the transition to DTV. The SBCA is the national trade organization representing all segments of the satellite industry.

As part of the Digital Transition Coalition's efforts to provide information on the campaign to speed up the transition and to encourage citizen support for legislative proposals that will achieve the goals, the group launched www.iwantmyhdtv.com. The website provides information about the digital white area proposal, along with recent news and commentary. It also provides citizens an avenue for communicating their opinions to Congress on these issues.

Members of the coalition include Americans for Tax Reform, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, EchoStar Communications Corp., Frontiers of Freedom, Media Access Project, Public Knowledge, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, and the Small Business Survival Committee.

The Digitial Transition Coalition (DTC) is comprised of consumer organizations, taxpayer groups, technology providers, and other interested parties dedicated to expediting the transition to a digital future. The DTC wants to maximize the use of spectrum to allow opitmal innovation and utilization to meet growing consumer demand. For more information please visit www.digitaltransitioncoalition.org.

Source (http://www.digitaltransitioncoalition.com/digital/media/ensign.pdf)

[Jacob S]

So does this mean that anybody can purchase a distant HD network signal (wherever not available) even if they would not have qualified for a distant SD network signal previously or have their local SD channels available on satellite in their area or does this mean that you would have to qualify for the distant SD networks as before in order to get the HD networks?

[dallas_axelrod]

So does this mean that anybody can purchase a distant HD network signal (wherever not available) even if they would not have qualified for a distant SD network signal previously or have their local SD channels available on satellite in their area or does this mean that you would have to qualify for the distant SD networks as before in order to get the HD networks?

The satellite TV industry has been asking Congress to create a new predictive model to determine whether someone can receive their local digital signals. So even if you don't qualify to receive distant analog signals today, you could qualify for distant digital signals. And the local broadcasters are not making their digital signal available in most markets. There's more information available on www.iwantmyhdtv.com.

[Tusk]

I wish they wouldn't throw the terms HDTV and Digital TV around as meaning the same thing. I can't understand from reading the article exactly what they are trying to get approved.

Case in point, I can receive the digital signal of the NBC affiliate (although they are operating at 4kw on a temporary transmitter license). However, they are broadcasting at 480i and have told me directly that they have no plans to provide HDTV in the next year or two due to cost feasibility.

Will this legislation allow meet to get a national feed of NBC that provides HD programming, or will I be shut out because I receive the digital signal of a local NBC with no plans for HDTV?

"The bill would allow DBS providers to offer consumers an HDTV network signal when one is not offered by local broadcasters."

Ok, based on this I can get a national HD channel.

"The Digital Transition Coalition believes the digital white area proposal would be a significant step forward in the transition to DTV and we commend Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the Committee for including this provision in the bill."

Based on this, it sounds like a digital white area will exist and I will not be eligible for an HD feed due to receiving a DTV signal.

[Jacob S]

Just by allowing consumers to purchase the distant HDTV network signal would help promote more HDTV purchases. Something tells me that it is not going to be that easy (unless they allow the HD feed to have different content than the SD feed in which I do not see that happening either).

[waltinvt]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA436008?display=Breaking+News&promocode=SUPP[/QUOTE]
Sorry about the cross post, but I think this belongs in this thread.

I'm not sure how many realize that if this passes, it's great news for ALL HD viewers. The NAB has been trying to circumvent satellite from providing HD nets in any way, shape or manner and at the same time, allow local affilliates to continue to muddle along with just the bare minium of compliance to the digital transition.

While there is no requirement for any station to provide HD, the fact is HD is the ONLY thing that will bring viewers into the digital transition mandate. The major networks could care less about the NAB but many of the small town independently owned affilliates have long counted on the NAB to lobby for their rights to be the exclusive network providers, even if what they provide is of far less quality than what the parent network wants them to send.

Without competition, many of these affilliates, while eventually meeting the letter of the law for digital compliance, will drag their feet on real, full power HD broadcasting for as long as they can get away with it.

By allowing satellite to broadcast the HD signal of distant networks to anyone whose local affilliate can or will not, is the ONLY way to provide that competition. It will not only kick the locals in the pants, it will also throw the networks themselves into a competive race towards better quality HD programming. It's the shot in the arm we've been waiting for and can do nothing but make things better for viewers.

I don't know what the chances are for this getting through. I know the origional House version had a similar provision but I don't think it made it to the final draft and the previous Senate version didn't have it, so whatever compromise they reached probably wasn't going to have it, but this changes everything.

Facts:
1. This is an election year.
2. Some type of SHIVA extension MUST pass - letting it expire is not an option for congress.
3. While the NAB has a certain amount of control on campaign air-time, congress is also concerned about votes.

My guess is if congress gets a lot of letters, emails and phone calls supporting this legislation over the next few weeks, it WILL pass.

If you want more and better HD anytime soon, you people had better get off your butts and make yourself heard now, because you probably won't get another chance until the next legislation expires.

WaltinVt

[Jacob S]

This allows consumers to watch the analog stations for their local news and perhaps severe weather reports or breaking news while watching the distant HD network for the shows they want to watch in the HD format.