Pentagon's Video Working Group Challenges 8-VSB Standard, Calls for FCC Debate on COFDM

Pentagon stirs up 8VSB row

The Department of Defense's Video Working Group (VWG) has single handedly stirred up the debate between COFDM and 8VSB modulation standards for DTV. Citing concerns that 8VSB will require large, highly directional, outdoor antennas that could be knocked down in a national disaster, the VWG has requested that the FCC consider a public debate on the question of continued use of the 8VSB modulation standard. This is the first time that a major government entity has gone public with a statement favoring the COFDM standard that is already in wide use in Europe.

Will portable DTVs like Nokia's MediaScreen prototype render 8VSB obsolete?

The repercussions of VWG's request will be felt on both sides of the DTV modulation standard debate. The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has lobbied hard for the FCC to adopt the 8VSB standard. In October 1999, the ATSC, along with the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA), issued a statement of solidarity endorsing the use of 8VSB in the US. "The ATSC DTV standard was carefully designed to meet the requirements of the American DTV broadcast market, and it will do so brilliantly," said Gary Shapiro, president of CEMA.

But just how brilliant would 8VSB be in an emergency environment? The VWG has the responsibility of employing DTV broadcasts to the public during civil and defense emergencies and it believes that large outdoor antennas will be the first to go during a major storm. While the current US analog transmission system has the ability to operate in poor signal conditions, the VWG has to account for DTV receivers. VP of Corporate Relations for Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Mark Hyman, is optimistic that the DoD's request will cause the FCC to consider emergency applications of DTV when making modulation standard policy. "The DoD has addressed concerns that the FCC may not have even considered, such as the use of television for civil and national emergencies," said Hyman.

In addition to the national emergency scenario, the DoD is concerned that 8VSB cannot support smaller electronic devices. Hyman believes that, since the consumer electronics industry is moving in that direction, so must the DoD. "One of the many things that I understand the Pentagon is focusing on is the fact that all electronic devices are getting smaller and more mobile. Since that's the way the consumer electronics industry is moving, they were shocked that we've designed a system that would require a receiver to be attached to a cable, sattelite dish, or outdoor 30-foot directional antenna," said Hyman. "It doesn't make any sense. It's like building a car with half a gas tank."

The DoD's position regarding modulation standards has alarmed the ATSC. Mark Richer, who will take over as Executive Director of the ATSC in January, believes that the DoD has no business getting involved in the modulation debate. "I have not seen any results of technical analysis and the DoD should make that public," said Richer. "I think it's incredibly late for the DoD to step in. To have the defense issue even potentially override decisions by private industries is ridiculous."

The VWG chairman said that technical improvements have recently been announced to improve 8VSB receiver designs and that they will be fairly evaluated as part of the proposed open debate. The ATSC no doubt hopes that this is simply not government rhetoric, but a sincere effort on their part to level the playing field for fair competition between the two standards. Stay tuned.

Mark A. Aitken
Advanced Technology Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group