|  On
February 10, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on whether
to require cable must-carry status for multicast digital broadcast programming.
Multicasting allows a broadcaster anywhere in America to take a digital TV signal
and create multiple streams of local programming to the benefit of consumer. Using
digital technology, a single "channel" might be able to have 2-3 broadcasts at
the same time. Multicasting will allow local stations to collaborate with local
business and community to create better local programming. Grange members should
contact the FCC and urge them to require must carry status for multicast digital
television programming.
Broadcasters
in a number of markets have begun to offer digital multicast programming services.
Many of these new services focus on matters of local concern, such as weather,
school sports, politics and government, and other areas of local interest. Denying
cable must-carry status at this juncture will effectively kill these new services
before they have a chance to take root and flourish. It will effectively let cable
companies, rather than consumers, choose what local programming is created and
what their subscribers may see. The
cable TV industry recently announced a private agreement to carry local multicast
programming from public television stations. However, most public television stations
do not have news, weather and other local content services in place the way that
commercial TV stations do. There are also far fewer public television stations
than local commercial television stations. Agreeing to carry multicast programming
from public television stations is a step in the right direction for the cable
industry. However, Grange members and the FCC should ask if carrying public television's
digital multicast TV programming benefits the public, why shouldn't ALL local
digital multicast programming be carried on local cable systems as well? Since
the analog TV set will no longer receive signal from January 1, 2009, rural Americans
who mostly depend on free, over-the-air television service already have a burden
to buy expensive new digital TV sets or find vendors to sell them "set top" boxes,
at a market price yet to be determined, that will convert digital signals to display
on their analog TVs. If rural Americans will have to buy all new digital equipment
they should be able to access ALL of the benefits of the new technology such as
local multicast programming. The
National Grange agrees that the digital broadcasting is the inevitable future
of television but also believes that the transition should be done in a right
way so that all consumers, especially those in rural areas, can fully join the
digital television era. Action
Needed:
Please contact the FCC to urge them to require cable must-carry
status for all multicast digital broadcast signals and team up with Congress to
consider all of the issues surrounding the digital television process in a comprehensive
fashion. Contact
the FCC:
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington,
DC 20554 Chairman
Michael K. Powell: Michael.Powell@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: Kathleen.Abernathy@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
If
you want to file your comment on the FCC website, Go to FCC
Electronic Comment Filing and put the docket number "98-120" Sample
letter: (please feel free to copy and paste this letter in your e-mail) RE:
Docket No. CS 98-120 - Digital Television Transition Dear
Chairman and Commissioners: At
the upcoming February 10 meeting of the FCC please vote to accept cable must-carry
status for multicast digital broadcast signals. The multicasting will allow local
stations to collaborate with local business and community to create local programming
such as local weather, school sports, politics and government, and other areas
of local interest. These services are vital to local communities for their economy
and well-being. Consumers, not cable operators, should be able to control the
quality and quantity of local programming available. I also hope you collaborate
with Congress to consider all of the issues surrounding the digital television
transition process in a comprehensive fashion. Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by e-mail: chwang@nationalgrange.org
by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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