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Department of Defense Suspends 8-VSB from Digital TV Specs Amid COFDM Controversy

1999

Mentioned: Robert Decherd

Summary

The U.S. Department of Defense temporarily suspended 8-VSB from its digital TV technical specifications pending review of the ongoing industry debate over the American DTV standard. Univision petitioned the FCC to allow broadcasters a choice between 8-VSB and COFDM, while Belo's chairman warned that changing the standard could be fatal to the DTV transition.

Originally published at www.ilovehdtv.com/hdtv/dod8vsb.html. View in Wayback Machine →

11/22/99

Depart of Defense Not Sure About 8-VSB

The Department of Defense Friday confirmed it has temporarily suspended inclusion of the 8VSB transmission component in its digital TV technical specifications, pending further review of the industry controversy over the U.S. standard. Sinclair Broadcast Group said the move reflected the Pentagon's concern that "8VSB does not support the future of TV as they see it.'' Also this week, Univision Communications petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to give broadcasters the choice of using 8VSB or COFDM. Sinclair says the latter is better than 8VSB for transmitting signals to indoor antennas and for portable use. But in a letter to the FCC, Robert Decherd, Belo chairman, said modifying the existing standard could be "extraordinarily harmful, if not fatal, to the agency's DTV transition plan."