Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down on FCC DTV Plan

THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN ON FCC DTV PLAN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The National Association of Broadcasters Wednesday praised the Federal Communications Commission for passing the viewability/dual-carriage rule that will require cable operators to deliver a viewable signal to both their analog and digital customers. The cable industry has problems with the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment (taking of property) implications of mandated carriage, but it had already decided that it could voluntarily provide that carriage for three years, with the National Cable & Telecommunications Association saying that it was in an effort to help smooth the transition to digital. Some small cable operators will have to shut down if they are required to deliver must-carry TV-station signals in analog and digital. That's according to American Cable Association president Matt Polka. Concerning possible waivers, Polka said, "This offers little meaningful relief, requiring these systems to engage in, and pay for, yet another process at the FCC, with the outcome far from certain."
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* Small Cable Operators Diss FCC’s Carriage Decision
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