Nov 18 2008
So, what do the huddled masses do?
As the antenna users fall off the digital cliff on February 17, 2009, what do they do?
It appears the answer from the FCC and the broadcasters is simple. Get cable, or satellite. Well, I’m sorry, but that just is wrong. These genuine American citizens likely have free over-the-air television because that is what they choose to afford, either out of necessity, or as a monetary choice. The DTV cutover stinks of lobbyist influence at every level.
What happened to free broadcasting? It got hijacked by big powerful cable operators and the satellite guys and their high priced lobbyists for the good of their own companies. And congress and the FCC is letting it happen. Why not free all the spectrum and tell the broadcasters to cease all transmission except by cable, satellite and internet. That would free up tons of spectrum that could be auctioned.
The thing that makes me the madest is that the broadcasters themselves have their head in the sand. So they realize what they are losing? Do they care? Or are they part of the problem?
Reality is we are going to have a mess on our hands on February 18th. And the solution is only cable and satellite. Some of the broadcast engineers recognize this and do care. Most seem not to. Not their problem.
The present nationwide February 17th cutover date should be abandoned. Then cutovers by market. Smaller ones first, a month apart. Didn’t Wilmington, Delaware teach anyone anything? Or are they just putting the best face on it? No, you can’t retreat entirely on the conversion. It is the right thing to do. But more assistance has to be available, and a nationwide cutover isn’t going to do it.
What is congress going to do when hundreds of thousands of people start calling? They will probably try to undo the cutover. But it will be too late. Some broadcasters are jumping back on their original channels at cutover and can’t fall back.
Broadcasters need to wake up. The FCC needs to see what’s happening. And congress needs to look at the true warnings from Wilmington before the cutover. Barack…… where are you?
—-David S. Calef
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