FCC wants to eliminate analog video transmission

[tman_ndsu08]

http://www.cedmagazine.com/ced/2005/0605/06cc.htm


At least, that seems to be the jist of it according to this opinion article.


I think it's interesting that consumer level video technology, and information technology in general, has changed from analog to digital so quickly when digital is so much easier to copy at the consumer end.

With a government that is walking hand in hand with big corporations looking to decrease "piracy", it seems weird that the push over to digital was made with such haste.

There's no doubt that digital is much more efficient for transmitting large amounts of data at high rates, but it certainly can be done analog. Perhaps it's also easier for the government to keep tabs on us this way with just a simply click of the mouse.

[Mr.Vicchio]

Good thing too, Analog sucks, time for HD digital baby!

[RVonse]

According to the article they are only talking about satelite transmission, not over the air (OTA) analog. From what I can see they are trying to blow away C-band satelite apparently so there is more space for other digital formats. Digital is certainly a more up to date technology but the bad news is that there currently are a lot of C-band users (100,000 or more) out there right now and they are picking up free signals. This proposal obsoletes all that equipment over night and I don't think it will be at all air to those users.

Furthermore, since digital is almost always encrypted, CSPAN1 and CSPAN2 will likely go away as free and clear services which they are today. For example, if you have a C-dish you can watch the Senate and House hearings in free and clear analog today. So I believe there would be a very valid argument the general public good will not be served as well with this proposal.

I'd rather use lower technology that is already in place free and clear than not have anything at all. Buts thats just me.

[Morgan_Freeman]

Who the hell cares about those technological/economic arguments?!
Where does the FCC get the power to tell us what we can/can't broadcast?
The FCC is tyrranical, unconstitutional, and in the pocket of corporations!

[lsbskins1]

My friend who works as an engineer at a DC area station told me essentially the same thing about a week ago. This is my guess, look at the cost of a TV today v. 30 years ago. How much does TV and related (VCR's, Camcorders) equipment cost in relation to real percentage of income now v. then. If you have to replace it all, with "higher" technology equipment, the manufactures (big business) have a built in justification for an increase in that cost. On one hand, having worked for a small electronics company, and knowing the near impossibility of staying above water, I do not mind so much. Despite what some people might think, I do not consider profit to be a dirty word. On the other hand, this will be, if it happens, harder on those of us who are in lower income brackets and a boon for those of us who already have googles and googles of money, and not much more than an annoyance to those in the middle. Just like everything else in the world.

[tman_ndsu08]

From what I can see they are trying to blow away C-band satelite apparently so there is more space for other digital formats.

But, you see, C band is already transmitted digitally! Didn't you read the part where Motorolla put out the 4DTV set top box so that BUD owners could decode the encrypted digital C band transmissions?


You've missed the overall message of the article: the big cable companies have pressued the FCC into eliminating the option for non cable business to use the C band to receive analog transmissions. A lot of cable systems still use analog receivers because they were so expensive to implement. The cable companies simply want the ability to use this band for themselves, forcing people who use BUD's now to get cable!

[Chris]

heh, just call me "necromancer" :)

The cable companies got rid of the analog boxes long ago.

I do not doubt that they will benefit from this decision but the local OTA television stations - they get paid anyway from advertisments. You will see a whole lot of converters (boxes) for over the counter sale in places like Wal Mart. Also mostly every tv made now is at least a SDTV (the new digital standard) and will not be affected by the Feb 17, 2009 switchover. If you currently have a SATbox or cablebox, your old analog tv will still be able to render an image.

[Osborn F Enready]

F the FCC.

[Century 25]

In Japan they had HDTV long before we did.. here, the broadcast lobby bought off the FCC in order to delay the expense of jumping into digital. They've been draggin' their asses waaay to long..!!

[Chris]

Europe (and a lot of other countries not including Japan) enjoyed a higher resolution TV than America from 1963.

Also, HDTV shouldn't be confused with ATSC.

[Compugasm]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 The cable companies simply want the ability to use this band for themselves, forcing people who use BUD's now to get cable!

I think you nailed it. Additionally, cable companies offering digital service like this, will naturally provide telephone and internet access. Somehow, I find it sadly ironic that I have to censor my hatred for the FCC.