E* needs to butt out

[Link]

Here's part of a letter from SkyReport. Why can't E* mind their own business just because they have been poor in expanding their HD not to mention having to clean up their 2 dish local mess. Plus E* releases receivers such as the 921 that don't work properly but yet they are criticizing Directv's expansion plans.

DISH Comments on DTV Issues, Takes Aim at DirecTV HD
EchoStar, tackling ongoing issues with the digital TV transition, told the Federal Communications Commission it supports a concept floated by the FCC's Media Bureau of including all satellite TV households that receive local broadcast stations within the statutory threshold of 85 percent digital TV penetration.

The FCC, led by the Media Bureau, is expected to aggressively push digital TV transition issues this year. Reaching that 85 percent threshold is considered by some the point marking the completion of the digital TV transition.

In a letter EchoStar sent to the FCC on DTV transition issues, the company said the 85 percent statutory interpretation has been "largely necessitated by broadcaster delays, which have resulted in a DTV penetration rate that is still far lower than the 85 percent target.

"Regardless of the problem's roots, however, something has to be done to solve it, and EchoStar believes that counting satellite households toward the threshold could help accelerate the transition," the company said.

The company's support for the 85 percent threshold came with two conditions: First, satellite TV services should be allowed to down-convert local digital stations for the purpose of complying with their carriage obligations after completion of the transition; and second, EchoStar said it opposes any multi-cast carriage obligations.

Also in its letter, EchoStar took aim at DirecTV's pending high def expansion plans, including DirecTV's effort to offer as many as 1,500 local high def signals during the next three years. The company said the FCC should be "skeptical" of DirecTV's local and national HD plans.

EchoStar said DirecTV's local/national HD expansion relies on modulation compression techniques, and it's not clear how that technology would work. And DirecTV's efforts will use Ka-Band satellites, which EchoStar said present challenges such as rain attenuation, and remain an untested technology.



Also in its letter, EchoStar took aim at DirecTV's pending high def expansion plans, including DirecTV's effort to offer as many as 1,500 local high def signals during the next three years. The company said the FCC should be "skeptical" of DirecTV's local and national HD plans.

EchoStar said DirecTV's local/national HD expansion relies on modulation compression techniques, and it's not clear how that technology would work. And DirecTV's efforts will use Ka-Band satellites, which EchoStar said present challenges such as rain attenuation, and remain an untested technology.

[RAD]

Remember, this is the same company that tried to get the bankruptcy court to force Loral to sell them the satellites that they were building for D*. Sometimes I really don't like E*'s tactics.

[Bill R]

You have got to wonder who comes up with some of the "ideas" to do those sort of things. It seems that Echostar sometimes puts more resources in "bashing the other guy" and overpaying some exectives than they do in getting their own stuff to work as well as "the other guys".

[rocatman]

It needs to be recognized that the FCC is in the process of developing some of the specific details/rules resulting from SHVERA especially related to HDTV locals. SHVERA only provides the framework of the law, the FCC needs to develop the details. In this environment, Dish is only trying to ensure that the new rules are not written based on the DirecTV's proposed HDTV locals plans that will utilize unproven technology. Yes, DirecTV has spent billions on the Ka band Spaceway satellites but they were initially developed for internet access not live television and Ka band is much more susceptible to rain fade than Ku/DBS. I am not saying that DirecTV's plans won't work but there is certainly some risk in the technology they plan on utilizing.

It seems that that some folks on this forum will bash anything that Dish does and bash anyone who questions the plans of DirecTV whether they have an understanding of the technology and issues.

[olgeezer]

I think the main issue with most of the readers doesn't have to do with bashing one company and supporting another, it has to do with the use of the idea of down conversion, which is contrary to the intent of digital tv at any location other than the STB

[JM Anthony]

This has got to be one of the first times I've ever heard of business competitors slinging dirt. Next thing you know, they'll be hiring lobbyists.

[rocatman]

I think the main issue with most of the readers doesn't have to do with bashing one company and supporting another, it has to do with the use of the idea of down conversion, which is contrary to the intent of digital tv at any location other than the STB

First, none of the other posters in this thread specifically mentioned the downconverting issue. Almost all the discussion was related to what DirecTV is planning for HDTV locals and how dare Dish would question the technical feasibility of it. Second, specific details related to downconverting was not presented in the article posted so the Dish bashers in this thread appear to have jumped to conclusions as have you. In addition, just because DirecTV has announced plans for HDTV locals does not mean that the FCC should put in place rules on both DirecTV and Dish based on the DirecTV plans. No where in the article is it mentioned that Dish wants the FCC to put restrictions on what DirecTV wants to do with HD locals. Dish is just fighting the FCC putting restrictions on how it delivers HD locals. There obviously is a great deal of ignorance on how the FCC operates and significant bias against Dish from some of the posters in this thread.