FCC Takes Up DTV Transition Review, Part Two

Scores of trees will have been sacrificed next week when the FCC issues its Report and Order on the Second Periodic Review of the DTV transition. The commission will issue the review at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting Aug. 4. ¶ The resulting document is ..., covering everything from simulcasting, PSIP, signal replication, V-chips, closed captioning, channel election, translators, satellite stations and what to do with those pesky stations in the 700 MHz beachfront band. ¶ There are indications that the FCC may abandon all or part of the simulcasting provision that requires stations to simultaneously transmit their analog programming in digital format. Stations are currently required to simulcast 75 percent of their schedule in both analog and digital formats; with a 100-percent quota kicking in April 1, 2005. Full-schedule simulcasting is antithetical to the development of the type of alternative services that just may induce people to watch over-the-air television. ¶ The end of simulcasting may, however, mark the beginning of cranking up the amps. ... TVTechnology link