The Obama administration is considering a postponement of the DTV transition, which is scheduled to occur on February 17, 2009. If the extension is granted, consumers would benefit, but at the expense of several public service agencies and corporations.
The FCC has provisioned parts of the analog broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads), after the switch to digital television. These Government agencies are preparing to use the analog frequencies based on the Feb 17th, 2009 transition date. If an extension is granted, it would also force public safety agencies to postpone use of the “valuable analog specrtum“.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council) sent a joint letter (Jan. 9th), asking that the analog frequencies be allocated to public safety agencies and emergency responders inspite of an impending deadline extension. The letter was signed by the chiefs of each orgnization.
The FCC has already auctioned off billions of dollars worth of analog spectrum to mobile phone, wireless internet carriers, and Google to provide more advanced services.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has voiced concerns that a delay would not only cost the U.S. Government more money, it would also delay telecom and internet corporations from utilizing the old analog frequencies.
-written by acwriter
Ref: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6628361.html?desc=topstory
