Local TV stations have been airing a
PSA warning that lawmakers might be cutting back on free antenna TV's ability to provide local news, emergency information, and entertainment. It's hard to believe, isn't it? We just got DTV and all its extra features, and now they want to impose limits? What the heck is going on?
What's happening is called "spectrum management," and it all started when the
American Recovery And Reinvestment Act was signed into law last year. Under the act, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was given until February 17, 2010 to come up with a
National Broadband Plan, a way to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, high-speed broadband service.
Unfortunately, to put the U.S. on par with other nations, some experts think the radio spectrum in this country needs reapportioning. To make more airwaves available for wireless use, the FCC and the
(NTIA) are reportedly considering taking some frequencies away from local broadcasters and auctioning them to wireless providers.
Broadcasters strongly oppose the idea, and sources say both sides are now in the process of lobbying the Obama administration and member of Congress.
Those in favor of frequency reallocation assert that only 10 percent of U.S. households still rely on over-the-air television, suggesting that spectrum used for free, over-the-air TV is a waste of resources. Broadcasters, who have just spent millions upgrading their facilities for DTV, have a different view. They think -- how shall I put this delicately? -- they're being screwed.
To compensate broadcasters for the loss, the FCC has proposed sharing the proceeds when the reclaimed spectrum is auctioned, but most of the major TV groups have rejected the offer, saying its too speculative.
In most markets, spectrum reclamation would eliminate the ability of local stations to deliver high-definition programming over-the-air. Each local station would only be allotted enough bandwidth to support standard definition. Multicast programming, such as the
Fox 8 Newschannel replay service, would also go out the window -- as would mobile DTV, which most stations haven't even started to deploy.
As such, viewers who currently enjoy everything free, over-the-air DTV has to offer should let their representatives in Congress know that reclaiming spectrum from local broadcasters will make for unhappy voters.
The
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the
Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) assert that there are better alternatives. Both organizations contend that 750 MHz of spectrum that could be freed up for wireless without diminishing the allocations currently granted local broadcasters.
It's a complicated issue, so complex, in fact, that the FCC recently asked Congress for more time to submit the plan. The deadline is now set for
March 17th.
Nevertheless, many viewers of free, over-the-air TV are unaware that their ability to receive high-definition programming and have more program choices are in jeopardy. The NAB's
PSA doesn't identify what's going away, only that limitations might be imposed.
Most people have cable TV or satellite. That's true, especially in this area. Nevertheless, limiting the capabilities of antenna TV can have serious social consequences, such as widening the digital divide, so it warrants a thorough, fair and open discussion.
Now that you know the score, you might feel inclined to get on the phone, fire-off some emails, or start knocking on doors. Thankfully, there's still time.
