analog shutdown maybe delayed

[Sid Schweiger]

>>You just KNEW this would happen

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/consumer&id=6592603<<

Problem is, the public has been all but beaten over the head with the February 17th drop-dead date for analog and TV industry budgeting and scheduling have been built around that date ever since Congress set it in concrete.  There are many TV stations nationwide who are losing the leased tower space for their analog antennas after 2/17 and must take them down.  No matter how anyone tries to finagle this, there will still be some people who won't understand what's going on, and some who won't get their coupons or redeem them in time...and no delay for any reason is going to change those facts.  Predictably the last thing Congress will be placing on their agenda anytime soon is more money for digital converter coupons.  Methinks they have just a few other, more important things to worry about.

The FCC floated a proposal a few weeks back to have stations keep their analog transmitters on after 2/17 with a message about the switchover and what to do about it.  However, they quickly found out that an awful lot of analog transmitters will have no place to transmit from after 2/17.  I don't know if that proposal is officially dead, but if you think about it, if the FCC decides to pursue it (or even just ask nicely) one station per market would probably be enough to get the message out.

Sid Schweiger
IT Manager, Entercom New England
20 Guest St / 3d Floor
Brighton MA  02135-2040