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NAB Proposes Notification Tweak to HD Exemption Rules
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Broadcasters have asked the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider part of a rulemaking that exempts certain cable operators from signal degradation standards, an effort that includes a broadcaster proposal meant to be limited in scope and consumer-friendly.
In a filing sent to the FCC earlier this week, the National Association of Broadcasters asked for reconsideration of an earlier agency order granted to small cable operators that face capacity constraints due to the transition to digital TV and delivery of high-def signals. In its petition, NAB proposed that the commission require cable operators to notify consumers, affected must carry stations and the agency about the company's intent to utilize the so-called HD exemption.
The broadcast association said its proposal ensures that "consumers have the facts necessary to make informed decisions and that only qualifying cable systems reap the benefits of the new exemption."
NAB added, "A cable subscriber who is considering whether to purchase a costly HD set, for example, should be made aware that some television broadcast signals may not be available in HD on their particular cable system. The availability of particular channels in HD is undoubtedly relevant to the consumer's decision about whether to invest in an HD set."
Under the exemption, qualifying systems are not required to carry high-def signals from must-carry broadcast stations in HD. Operators that qualify for the exemption must have a system capacity of 552 MHz or less, or serve 2,500 or fewer subscribers and are unaffiliated with a cable operator serving more than 10 percent of all pay-TV subscribers.
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Broadcasters have asked the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider part of a rulemaking that exempts certain cable operators from signal degradation standards, an effort that includes a broadcaster proposal meant to be limited in scope and consumer-friendly.
In a filing sent to the FCC earlier this week, the National Association of Broadcasters asked for reconsideration of an earlier agency order granted to small cable operators that face capacity constraints due to the transition to digital TV and delivery of high-def signals. In its petition, NAB proposed that the commission require cable operators to notify consumers, affected must carry stations and the agency about the company's intent to utilize the so-called HD exemption.
The broadcast association said its proposal ensures that "consumers have the facts necessary to make informed decisions and that only qualifying cable systems reap the benefits of the new exemption."
NAB added, "A cable subscriber who is considering whether to purchase a costly HD set, for example, should be made aware that some television broadcast signals may not be available in HD on their particular cable system. The availability of particular channels in HD is undoubtedly relevant to the consumer's decision about whether to invest in an HD set."
Under the exemption, qualifying systems are not required to carry high-def signals from must-carry broadcast stations in HD. Operators that qualify for the exemption must have a system capacity of 552 MHz or less, or serve 2,500 or fewer subscribers and are unaffiliated with a cable operator serving more than 10 percent of all pay-TV subscribers.