Industry Experts: Analog Off by '09, With Complications

INDUSTRY EXPERTS: ANALOG OFF BY '09, WITH COMPLICATIONS
[SOURCE: Multichannel News, AUTHOR: Ted Hearn]
Television-industry leaders last week predicted the cutoff of analog over-the-air TV in February 2009 would occur as planned. But, aware the issue is as politically sensitive as a lost Social Security check, they suggested that just about anything could easily cloud their forecast. the termination of analog TV is more complicated than the flip of a switch on Feb. 17, 2009. Postponing the deadline would delay the return of 84 MHz of TV spectrum to the federal government, including 24 MHz earmarked for police, fire and emergency crews for mobile broadband interoperability. The other 60 MHz of spectrum has been designated for auction to commercial wireless broadband providers. Proceeds from the sale, which by law must start next January, are expected to top $10 billion. If Congress is going to change the 2009 cutoff, it has to act sooner rather than later, presumably because auction bidders need to know whether they will take control of their Federal Communications Commission licenses immediately after the DTV transition.
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6407432.html?display=Policy