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| 7/8 |
| 2005/11/4-6 [Politics/Domestic/911, Consumer/TV] UID:40439 Activity:low |
11/4 "Senate Sets 2009 Digital TV Deadline"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051104/ap_on_go_co/congress_digital_tv
"The move to all-digital will free valuable radio spectrum, some of
which will be allocated to improve radio communications among fire and
police departments and other first responders."
What I don't understand is: why don't they make the first responders
go digital instead? It'll impact fewer people, and the first
responders will surely appreciate clearer reception.
\_ because first responders, when the shit hits the fan, probably
prefer equipment with known behaviour where all the bugs are
either worked out or well understood. all-digital may sound
better, but I wouldn't want to be stuck with 1st gen gear in
an emergency wondering if it was goign to wig out on me.
Let the debugging cycles happen in the consumer market.
Also consider this, the big thing is not the digital but
the freeing up of radio spectrum that may be more useful
to first responders (police, fire, ems, sar). For instance
certain frequency bands perform better for low-power usage
(such as a handheld radio or even a car mounted unit) than
say for high bandwidth high power usage (d-tv), and vice
versa. Also, you still run a digital signal over that
versa. Also, you can still run a digital signal over that
"older" frequency band should you want (and someone makes
the gear, etc). We can get into a discussion of trunking
as well if you want. |
| 7/8 |
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| news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051104/ap_on_go_co/congress_digital_tv AP Senate Sets 2009 Digital TV Deadline By JENNIFER C KERR, Associated Press Writer Thu Nov 3, 7:57 PM ET WASHINGTON - The Senate moved the digital TV transition one step closer t o reality on Thursday, setting a firm date for television broadcasters t o switch to all-digital transmissions. Lawmakers gave broadcasters until April 7, 2009, to end their traditional analog transmissions. The so-called "hard date" was included in a sweep ing budget bill. The bill also would provide $3 billion to help millions of Americans buy digital-to-analog converter boxes for their older television sets so t hose consumers will continue to receive a signal once the switch is made permanent. Legislation approved last month by the House Energy and Commerce Committe e calls for a Dec. Differences between the measures would need to be worked out in a House-S enate conference. In the Senate, an amendment by Republican John Ensign of Nevada that woul d have reduced the converter box subsidy to $1 billion was withdrawn. Sp okesman Jack Finn said Ensign was concerned that the $2 billion in savin gs would be spent on other projects instead of deficit reduction. Digital television promises sharper pictures and better sound than analog TV. National Association of Broadcasters president Eddie Fritts said the 2009 deadline "represents a victory for millions of Americans who could have been left stranded by a premature end to analog television service." The move to all-digital will free valuable radio spectrum, some of which will be allocated to improve radio communications among fire and police departments and other first responders. Public safety officials had pressed for the earliest possible transition. "We would have preferred an earlier date, but the most important thing is that we have a firm date so that people can start the planning and fund ing process," said Robert Gurss, director of legal and government affair s at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. In addition to the hard date, the Senate measure also set aside an additi onal $1 billion for public safety to buy new radio communications equipm ent. The original digital television bill was sponsored by Sens. Federal Communications Commission moved up by four months the date by which small TV sets sold in the US, those 13 inches to 24 inches, must have tuners to receive digital signa ls. Sets under 13 inches will al so have to have digital tuners by that date. The commission had previously ruled that mid-sized sets, screens from 25 inches to 36 inches, be digital-ready by March 1, 2006. The informati on contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewr itten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associ ated Press. |