[opendtv] Re: Why aren't there more converter boxes?
- From: Mark Schubin <tvmark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:51:22 -0500
Alas, that was superseded by the law specifying February 17, 2009.
TTFN,
Mark
John Shutt wrote:
As the analog cutoff date looms, and we debate why there aren't more
ATSC STBs on the market, I am reminded of Title 47, United States
Code, Section 309(14)(B).
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+47USC309>
Yes, I'm referring to the infamous "85%" rule. For years we thought
the driving factor in extending Analog transmissions would be the 85%
rule, in which it was stated that if more than 15 percent of a market
did not subscribe to a multichannel service, and did not have at least
one television in the house that could receive ATSC, the analog cutoff
could be extended.
Now it looks as if the 85% rule will be met by a combination of
subscribers and the ATSC Tuner mandate. However, the 85% rule only
counts if a station in a market cannot be granted a waiver under
exceptions (i) or (ii) in the code.
Exception (i) is if a major network affiliate in a market isn't
transmitting in ATSC, then all stations in that market can be granted
a waiver.
Exception (ii) is a general lack of analog to digital converters in
the market.
I would say there is a general lack of digital-to-analog converter
technology generally available in ANY market.
Seems the conspiracy against STBs has the broadcasters and the CEA in
bed together. Talk about strange bedfellows.
John
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at
FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways:
- Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org
- By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word
unsubscribe in the subject line.
Other related posts: