FCC to Study DTV's Analog Impact

FCC TO STUDY DTV'S ANALOG IMPACT
The Federal Communications Commission is planning to examine the obligations of cable operators to ensure that consumers with analog-TV sets can view digital signals of local TV stations, an agency source said Monday. FCC chairman Kevin Martin is trying to round up support to launch a rulemaking that would establish federal policy well before TV stations must cease analog transmission Feb. 17, 2009, the source said. Chairman Martin is hoping to launch the rulemaking at the FCC’s June 15 public meeting and at the same the commission adopts rules that would allow digital-TV stations to demand cable carriage of every free programming services they transmit. FCC rules currently require carriage of just one signal per TV station. Broadcasters' transition to digital could prove costly to cable operators, depending on the substance of the FCC’s rules.
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* FCC's Martin Ready to Rumble
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