IP: HDTV, spectrum allocation, etc.

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Denis,


I agree but to pull this off you will have to first eliminate the
substantial influence of the NAB and their PACS on the Hill 


Dave




To: David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
From: Dennis Allison <allison () sumeru stanford edu>




If you are asking for votes, I would suggest we should phase out broadcast
TV entirely over a three or five year period in favor of DSS and cable as
the TV delivery mechanisms.  If DSS were mandated to provide a small number
(3 to 6) of free channels I don't think there would be much uproar from the
public.  DSS receivers are now selling at reasonable prices and are likely
to drop.  Presumably DSS could manage both HDTV and the current LDTV, and
do it without converters.  The VHF and UHF portions of the spectrum used by
broadcast TV would be better put to other uses.  As I remember, the current
TV broadcasters were given the right to use a channel in the spectrum
because they were providing a public service (their licenses are at risk if
they don't).  If, in its wisdom, the FCC were to decide to eliminate
broadcast TV because that would begetter serve the public, the broadcasters
would certainly complain, but I doubt if they would be able to block the
transition.  Some mechanism to allow local TV stations rent or buy a DSS
channel might be the right way to maintain some local content; if the cost
of doing that is roughly the same or less than the ongoing cost of
maintaining a TV transmitter, stations might actually prefer it because it
would increase their potential viewer base.


In fact, it seems to me that the FCC might do well to do a total rethink
all spectrum allocation and the rules about spectrum use.  Perhaps it's
time we move away from the concept of a single frequency channel being
allocated to a single use and embrace more complex models which give better
spectrum utilization.