ugg, Wikipedia. Not facts.
STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN
In the Matter of Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 76 of the
Commissions Rules
Importantly, in the item we adopt today, we do not dictate how cable operators must fulfill their statutory requirement to make all broadcast signals viewable to its subscribers. Rather, we give them a choice. Accordingly, the Commission is not forcing consumers to purchase or lease a set top box to
continue watching their favorite channels. This decision lies in the hands of the cable company. They can avoid the need for new boxes by choosing to downconvert the digital signal into analog at their headend. This downconversion would permit analog cable subscribers to continue watching broadcast television just as they do today without disruption.
Of course, to the extent that a cable system is all- digital, like DBS systems are, all consumers are given a box that allows them to watch all of the broadcast stations.
PDF info:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-170A1.pdf
We also proposed that the cost of any down conversion rendered necessary by these rules be borne by the
cable operators.41
18. We adopt these proposals, and note that they apply to all operators, regardless of their rate- regulated status.42 In sum, cable operators must comply with the statutory mandate that must-carry broadcast signals shall be viewable via cable on all television receivers of a subscriber which are connected to a cable system by a cable operator or for which a cable operator provides a connection, and they have two options of doing so.43
First, to the extent that such subscribers do not have the capability of viewing digital signals, cable systems must carry the signals of commercial and non-commercial must- carry stations in analog format to those subscribers, after downconverting the signals from their original digital format at the headend.44 This proposal is in line with the approach already voluntarily planned by many cable operators, as described in testimony byTime Warner CEO Glenn Britt before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.4
To fulfill its must-carry obligations in cases where a cable operator uses digital-to-analog converter boxes that do not have analog tuners, the operator can deliver a standard definition digital version of a must-carry broadcasters high definition digital signal, in addition to the analog and high definition signal, or use boxes that convert high definition signals for viewing on an analog television set, or use other technical solutions so long as cable subscribers have the ability to view the signals.
17. In the Second Further Notice, we sought comment on proposals that would ensure the viewability, for all subscribers, of signals carried pursuant to mandatory carriage. To that end, we proposed that cable operators must either:
(1) carry the signals of commercial and non-commercial must-carry stations in analog format to all analog cable subscribers, or (2) for all-digital systems, carry those signals only in digital format, provided that all subscribers with analog television sets have the necessary equipment to view the broadcast content.40
f a cable operator authorizes subscribers to install Additional receiver connections, but does not provide the subscriber with such connections, or with the equipment and materials for such connections, the operator [is only required to] notify such subscribers of all broadcast stations carried on the cable system which cannot be viewed without a converter box and . . . offer to sell or lease such a converter box to such subscribers at rates in accordance with section
623(b)(3).59
