Summary

The Association of Local Television Stations called on the FCC to open public comment on Sinclair Broadcasting's petition to allow COFDM as an alternative to the 8-VSB digital TV modulation standard. Station groups representing nearly 400 outlets backed Sinclair's argument that 8-VSB performs poorly for indoor antenna and mobile reception.

Source document circa 1999 preserved as-is

 

 

    Association of Local Television Stations Urge FCC To Seek Public Comments

    The Association of Local Television Stations Wednesday urged the FCC to seek public comment on Sinclair Broadcasting's request to change the digital TV modulation standard. ALTV said the agency would be "irresponsible" to ignore Sinclair's request. "Commission disinterest in the Sinclair petition would signal manufacturers that off-air reception is, indeed, a low priority," ALTV said in a release. Sinclair argues that the current modulation standard, 8-VSB, is unacceptable for indoor antenna reception and for mobile applications and that broadcasters should have the option of choosing the European standard, COFDM. Station groups representing almost 400 outlets have backed Sinclair's petition or have made separate calls to study the issue. Last month, several FCC staffers said they were skeptical that Sinclair's worries will remain valid with the advent of improved 8-VSB receivers. Since the FCC's digital TV roll-out deadlines applied only to major market network affiliates, most ALTV members have not yet built out their digital systems.

 

Copyright 1999

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