Rob...your right...there is the 85% availability clause set up by the FCC. But heck...we're not far off from that now, are we? The sat. companies are already in compliance...and the majority of the cable companies have been making the transition to digital cable boxes for some time now...tho they aren't done with the digital cable box transition yet.
What I read the FCC DTV transition statement to say is...that the Dec 31, 2006 deadline may be extended until 85% of the homes are
able to watch DTV programing.
Does that mean that if digital cable or digital sat. is available to them...the requirements would be met? Making no mention of requiring that 85% of the households must have DTV actually in their home...it seems,to me, they're just saying that 85% of the households must be able to receive the DTV signal in their area. If they've got the ability to receive cable or sat...then you are
able to watch it...even if you don't subscribe. At that point...the FCC will mandate that the remaining areas will be forced to provide over the air digital reception available to all. Leaving open the option of when the individual companies will decide to stop the broadcast of their analog signal. Either way...if it is until 85% is simply able...or until 85% has it in their house (which would include Sat service, cable and OTA transmissions.)
I could, of course, be wrong in my translation of the FCC DTV transition...but that's how I understand it to be.
The entire DTV transition also has nothing to do with HDTv...other than HDTv is one type of DTV (Digital Television). There is nothing saying that broadcast companies will, or must, provide a high definition broadcast in the future. At least...they
must provide a digital broadcast at some time.
I do agree, that it would be great for us customers, if the broadcast companies provided us with the best possible product we could use (which would be a high-definition picture with DD5.1 sound). I also agree that we are likely to see more and more HD channels offered in the future. But, we have nothing saying that the broadcast companies
must provide us with Hi-def signals.
below is what the FCC says about the
DTV Transition...
When Will the DTV Transition Be Complete?
As of May 2003, more than 1,000 stations were on the air with DTV signals, and every major TV market was served by at least one DTV station. The target date set by Congress for the completion of the transition to DTV is December 31, 2006. However, that date may be extended until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. At that point, broadcasting on the analog channels will end and that spectrum will be put to other uses. Until the transition to DTV is completed, television stations are required to broadcast on both their digital and analog channels.
Oh...I have got HD-cable. Right now, they give me a total of 10 HD channels. The picture and sound are both great! Sure...one specific channel or show may be better (or worse) than another...but the potential for how well they could broadcast the picture and sound...is amazing! Most of the HD shows are pretty darn good
...and most of the decent ones are broadcast in 16:9 wide screen. But I'd agree...I can't understand why in the world a lot of the DVD's are still letterbox???
Progressive DVD what?
take care>>>>and don't forget to read the entire FCC DTV transition link above, if you haven't seen it yet.
