Poll: should DTV laws include "must-carry" provision?
There are several issues pending DTV legislation, but it's a safe bet that we can predict the outcome of most. A hard transition date of early-2009 is highly likely. Some type of subsidies for analog-to-digital converters are almost a "gimme" too. That leaves something very interesting to debate here: a "must-carry" provision for cable and satellite operators to provide local digital channels.
The biggest losers if this isn't part of the law: folks in rural areas that can't receive OTA digital channels. On the other hand, if the provision becomes law cable and satellite companies have to use precious bandwidth to carry these channels. The likely effect: lower quality DTV signals across the board as they squeeze the required programming into the pipe.
With just a few days before the expected DTV legislation proposal details, we want to hear what you have to say. Should the legislation mandate the "must-carry" provision? Is it even constitutional for the government to dictate what programming the cable and satellite industry must carry?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris @ Oct 14th 2005 3:40PM
Of course they should! If the only way to get local channels is via a digital signal and the cable companies want to carry the local channels, then they should carry the digital signals as well. If they need bandwidth, I can easily do without 30 or so crappy analog channels and about 10 digital channels that I never watch.
Dean W. Armstrong @ Oct 14th 2005 4:58PM
The cable companies won't lose any bandwidth, since they will no longer be transmitting the analog channels because of the digital changeover. Must-carry must continue.
Robyn @ Oct 15th 2005 10:11AM
I think they should continue just like earlier.
Steven Sande @ Oct 17th 2005 7:27PM
What's being debated is *multicast* must-carry: Should cable companies carry multiple streams of programming from each local station?
You won't stop getting the "main" feed from your local stations. No one is suggesting ending must-carry completely.