FCC Not Buying Cable's Digital TV Promise

Cable Industry's "Trust Us" Campaign Met With Skepticism By FCC Chairman

(AP)  Here is the proposal from the American cable TV industry: One way or another, all U.S. subscribers will still be able to tune in their favorite shows when broadcasters shift to digital-only transmission in 2009.

Seeking more than a promise, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin wants commissioners to require cable companies to provide that service.

"Unless the commission acts, some cable customers may actually be harmed by the transition and lose the ability to view some of these channels," Martin told The Associated Press on Monday.

The FCC, which is scheduled to meet Tuesday, has been split over such a proposal in the past but may be moving toward a compromise.

The greatest impact of the digital conversion will be on viewers of non-digital televisions who receive their signals over the air. Beginning Feb. 18, 2009, they will be forced to buy a special converter box, subsidized by the government, to receive their channels.

The impact of the shift on America's cable subscribers is less certain.

Today, cable television system operators receive broadcast feeds in analog and digital format. Come Feb. 18, 2009, broadcasters must stop supplying the analog signal. That creates a problem for the cable industry's 32 million analog subscribers.

Cable operators can either convert the digital signal to analog at the point where their cable signal originates, or they can supply customers with a "down converter" device that will change digital signals to analog at the TV set.

This is essentially what the FCC wants to force the industry to do, under Martin's proposed rules.

Last week, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association launched a $200 million advertising campaign to assure customers that the shift won't affect them. "Every TV set you have that's hooked up to cable will work just fine," happy customers intone in a TV spot.

What the commercials do not say is how the industry is going to manage the transition, something that concerns Gene Kimmelman, federal affairs chief for Consumers Union. "It is astounding that they're telling their customers 'don't worry, we're taking care of you' without telling them at what price."

NCTA spokesman Brian Dietz said analog consumers will not be charged more when the transition occurs. Nor will they be forced to sign up for a more expensive digital service.

The NCTA has committed to doing what the FCC is asking, but is resisting the mandate, a position Kimmelman calls "disingenuous."

The NCTA says what the FCC is doing violates the industry's constitutional rights.

"We've said we will voluntarily take care of our customers, which is different than a government mandate," Dietz said.

Dietz said a government-ordered transition would deny the thousands of cable system operators the flexibility they need in managing the transition.

Kimmelman credited the industry with launching the ad campaign, but said the government should assume an oversight role.

"I think there are some sticks that can be placed over their heads to try to ensure that they don't take advantage of their customers," he said.

[joesooner69]

These same cable companies that are going to take care of us are the ones who were going to reduce prices due to competition and provide more channels to us if the FCC left them alone. I get fewer channels at about twice the price vs 5 years ago. I am not a big fan of the government getting involved, but I trust the FCC more than the cable companies.

[lizardbate]

I guess the American public is about to be "fleeced" by the cable industry with the blessing of our own government. If you think our regulators are going to look out for us, boy do you dream!!!!! We don''t have the money to buy our own regulators, but the cable industry does. Money talks, Americans get screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gotchaa]

I recently checked into having digital service through my local cable company ( a cox cable company). While it is true that "all you need is an hdtv tuner" That is not the whole story. If you want what I presently have in analog, which is expanded basic, I have to have three separate digital packages and that includes many channels I do not want and all of which costs more. I cannot get my present array of channels from my local cable company. I am waiting until 2009 to see what choices I can get. While the "picture" may look better on HDTV, all I see is green going out the window and that does not look pretty.

Richard in New Orleans

[feelfree1]

Here is a very funny song about the FCC:

http://getintheirface.blogspot.com/2006/08/***-you-very-much-fcc-eric-idle.html

[Syndicate]

How does a buisness granted special franchises by the government have constitutional rights? Seems to me if they Pi$$ the government off they loose their monopolistic service area. We should allow all cable companies to compete everywhere. then cable TV would be affordable.

omega39: It will be the same as now. You can receive digital signals over the air waves if you have a ATSC tunner. You don''t need cable just an HDTV.

[olgreyghost]

Government created the problem and now government will fix the problem. Righhhhhhht...

Why does anyone send out broadcast signals either through the air or over cable? To send commercials! Think anyone who buys airtime for commercials wants to miss any potential customers? No! Business will solve the problem if the government will get out of the way...

[walt1944-2009]

Anyone who thinks the cable TV industry is going to give anything away "free" doesn''t know about how business works. Right now, Comcast charges RENT of $5 per TV a month for a converter to get digital service. When 2009 arrives, you can bet Comcast is going to raise its rates "AGAIN" to cover any revenue it loses having to provide digital service for "free".

IT''S JUST BUSINESS!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[klingon69]

My cable company now provides a down-converter, for those who purchase the additional programming of digital cable. However you pay an extra $8.95 per month for it. I wonder in 2009 if the cable company will have to stop charging that extra fee.

[omega39-2009]

Another question that I haven''t heard addressed is what happens to the Broadcast decency standards the right is always pressing when everything comes through cable? Does this mean that cable will now become regulated?