AfterDawn: News

FCC turns down 123 requests to stop analog service on February 17

The FCC has finished reviewing requests from US broadcasters with plans to switch off their analog signals and go all-digital on February 17 as originally planned. Out of 491 stations, the FCC plans to force 123 to maintain analog broadcasts, allowing just 368 to actually make the switch.

According to the agency's official decision, released earlier today, the stations which will be forced to continue analog broadcasting must do so because "early termination poses a significant risk of substantial public harm." Their decision was based on the availability of alternate sources for local news and public affairs programming, as well as major network coverage.



The stations whose reqests were denied have until 6PM EST to file an appeal with the FCC if they wish to contest the decision. If they choose not to contest the decision or lose their appeal they will have to wait until June 12 to go all digital, as mandated by the DTV Delay Act of 2009.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 12 Feb 2009 12:47

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• 12 comments

• engage16

  "allowing just 368 to actually make the switch." that's roughly 75% of the stations... i don't think 'just' is the proper word to use there...

  12.2.2009 12:52 #1

• grkblood

  I dont think they should stop stations from the switch simply because the government isnt prepared. If thats the case then the government should pay the stations the necessary fees to maintain the analog signal.

  12.2.2009 13:19 #2

• vurbal

  Originally posted by engage16: "allowing just 368 to actually make the switch." that's roughly 75% of the stations... i don't think 'just' is the proper word to use there...
  I suppose that depends on your point of view. It's less than 10% of the total number of full power TV stations regulated by the FCC, but somehow I doubt that's any consolation to their management or ownership.

  12.2.2009 13:41 #3

• kenneth1

  I dont think its the goverment fault, look at how long this has been flashing on tv, it's the consumer who got coupons and didnt use them or waited till the last minute to get them, to damn bad, everybody know it was coming, and in the goverment case they are making tv stations pay more then they need to cause they cant make up their friggin mind about shit, let the tv stations switch and let the shit fall where it may.

  12.2.2009 13:43 #4

• vurbal

  Originally posted by kenneth1: I dont think its the goverment fault, look at how long this has been flashing on tv, it's the consumer who got coupons and didnt use them or waited till the last minute to get them, to damn bad, everybody know it was coming, and in the goverment case they are making tv stations pay more then they need to cause they cant make up their friggin mind about shit, let the tv stations switch and let the shit fall where it may.
  The problem with your plan is it assumes government officials are motivated by solving the problem. Nearly everyone involved, from the President to Congress to the FCC, was in the loop and fully aware of what a mess things were for at least the last couple of years. If they wanted to fix it they would have done so a long time ago. What they are doing is called cover your butt. Now they can tell people "we tried to do fix the problem created by the guy responsible so don't blame us." In this case the "guy responsible" is former FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who in fairness should get a lot of blame - just not all of it.

  12.2.2009 13:56 #5

• blueboy09

  For the AD users I have a list of TV stations from around the nation that will go with the 2/17 DT transition, and the ones that will not it is a must see: Address as shown -
  http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A5.pdf
  The most up-to-date one that I could find. . .

  12.2.2009 16:34 #6

• vurbal

  Originally posted by blueboy09: For the AD users I have a list of TV stations from around the nation that will go with the 2/17 DT transition, and the ones that will not it is a must see: Address as shown -
  http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-221A5.pdf
  The most up-to-date one that I could find. . .
  Fixed the link for you. But if your local station is on the not-approved list I wouldn't assume anything until next week. There may be some stations from that list that appeal and move to the switching-on-Feb-17th list.

  12.2.2009 16:47 #7

• etinkerer

  Did the broadcaster's reps in congress promise
  to send them money through this 'stimulus'
  (porkulus) bill to reimburse them for the
  money they will be losing by being forced to
  continue broadcasting in analog, especially
  if they are ready to make the switch?
  If not, what's the holdup?
  Who's the winner here?
  Isn't that like being ordered to do something
  that you are physically or financially
  not capable of doing, and then being
  threatened with 'contempt' if you don't do it?
  Look what happened with the mortgage lenders.
  To really screw up good ideas, folks, you have
  to look to the 'Left'! They don't think what
  they're doing is wrong, they just don't think
  they've been allowed to do enough of it yet!

  14.2.2009 20:18 #8

• ads

  if you have a new tv you dont need anything its built in.. but i can understand why people are pissed off about it.. why should I go buy a new iteam just to watch tv full of adds... I mean I pay for tv and every single channel has commercal after comercal I mean you pay for the service why should you watch adds on top of it..

  15.2.2009 15:48 #9

• etinkerer

  Given the money these services are being
  forced to pay to the government in taxes
  and fees, and to keep the service a value
  to the consumer and still be profitable,
  they almost need the revenues generated
  by selling time slots to advertisers.
  It's either that or raise subscription
  fees, which would also piss consumers off,
  even though a small increase would still
  give consumers value with the service.
  The bottom line is that the companies
  providing the services have to at least
  break even, or else go belly up.
  We can't have the government running
  everything. It just wouldn't be efficient
  that way. And there would be nobody to
  compete to keep prices in line!

  15.2.2009 21:03 #10

• IguanaC64

  The broadcasters aren't ready either. Every channel in my area that was watchable is no longer watchable on a converter box that got excellent reviews. My new 42" LCD TV can't pick up anything watchable either. Until broadcasters quit using high compression signals and/or boost up their signal strength (or find other ways of repeating their signals), many people in suburban and rural areas will no longer be able to pick up broadcast television.

  17.2.2009 11:33 #11

• etinkerer

  Makes you wonder what it was like back in the days
  when Marconi was the only one on the air!

  17.2.2009 20:44 #12