IP: a more coherent view of the DTV decision than found in

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

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Date: Thu, 3 Apr 1997 16:41:25 -0400


From: Kevin Taglang <<kevint () benton org






Update: Digital TV




By a 4-0 vote April 3, the FCC adopted rules that will allocate an


additional 6MHz of spectrum to television station owners so that they
can


transmit digital TV signals.




The new Commission rules will:




*  loan a second channel to the 1,544 TV stations in the US for the
transition


   to digital TV and to use the service to provide at least one free,


   over-the-air broadcast channel




*  require network affiliated stations in the Top 10 US markets to 
begin


   broadcasting digital television within the next two years




*  require all other commercial television stations to begin digital


broadcasts


   within 5 years




*  require noncommercial stations, including PBS stations, to begin
digital


  broadcasts by April 2003




*  require the return of spectrum currently used by broadcasters by
2006.


   (Once returned, this spectrum will most likely be auctioned)




The aggressive rollout schedule, which is a binding rule, will mean 
that


digital broadcasts will be available to 14% of the American public by


December 1998, 30% by April 1998, and 53% by December 1999.




In short order, current broadcasters will be able to self-certify that
they


are eligible for a digital broadcast license. They will then apply to
the


FCC which expects to be able to turn around those requests "within days"
of


receipt. Broadcasters with then receive a paired license, so if a
station


were to lose an analog license for any reason, it would also forfeit 
its


digital broadcast license.




Broadcasters are *not* required to provide High Definition Television


(HDTV), nor are they required to simulcast analog programming on the


digital channel in the early years of the transition.




As to public interest obligations, the Commission adopted rules that
will


ensure that, at a minimum, broadcasters current obligations -- to serve
the


public interest, convenience, and necessity -- will be part of digital


television service. The Commission will examine any additional
"specific,


noncommercial" requirements of digital broadcasters at a later date and
in


coordination with the President's advisory committee. The Commission
will


also examine how digital capacity -- the ability to air multiple
programs


at the same time -- will affect "must-carry" rules upheld by the 
Supreme


Court earlier this week (see


http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/supct.March.1997.html).




The Commission's meeting was briefly disturbed this afternoon when a
member


of the audience stood up and yelled "the Commission is in the pocket of
the


broadcasters. This is a national disgrace." The man was quickly 
escorted


out of the meeting room.




During the same meeting, the Commission changed its rules to allow for


electronic filing of comments in its proceedings.










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