Rural Groups Back Retrans Quiet Period

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Rural Groups Back Retrans Quiet Period


More backing for the so-called retrans quiet period tied to the nation's digital TV transition surfaced this week.

A group of rural telecom interests wrote the Federal Communications Commission endorsing a proposal that would suspend retransmission consent negotiations between pay-TV services and broadcasters during the same time the digital TV transition takes place next year. The groups said a retrans quiet period "would avoid unnecessary consumer confusion surrounding the digital transition that would likely result from signals being dropped during retransmission consent disputes."

The groups also told the FCC that the quiet period should start no later than Dec. 31 and continue through March 31, 2009. "A quiet period that began after Dec. 31would leave many consumers exposed to the possibility of losing signals due to an impasse in retransmission consent negotiations around the critical time of the DTV transition, and would confer no real protection for these viewers," the letter from the organizations said.

Others also have called for a retrans quiet period beginning in December, including DISH Network.

The groups signing on to the letter include the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance, the Rural Independent Competitive Alliance and the Western Telecommunications Alliance.
 
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