Sinclair Broadcast Group, backed by several hundred stations, formally petitioned the FCC in October 1999 to allow broadcasters to use COFDM modulation alongside 8-VSB for digital television transmission. The petition cited 8-VSB's poor real-world reception performance and argued COFDM would enable mobile DTV services and align the U.S. standard with global DTV systems.
"After listening and responding to questions raised over the last several days, I thought I would give everyone a better idea of the basic direction of our petition. We have several hundred stations "signed on". After reading the following, perhaps there are others that will (want) to step forward?"
Mark Aitkin, Sincliar Broadcast Group
What Sinclair Is Asking the FCC To Do
1. Modify the digital modulation standard so broadcasters can transmit their digital signals using Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM).
2. Appoint a COFDM Task Force that would be assigned two responsibilities:
A. Conduct a study and issue recommendations to the Commission regarding the integration of COFDM digital modulation technology into the ATSC DTV standard; and
B. Conduct a rigorous scientific analysis to determine the interference ratios for COFDM transmissions into existing NTSC and 8-VSB DTV signals.
3. Adopt rules implementing the recommendations of the Task Force.
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What Sinclair Is Not Asking the FCC To Do
1. Abandon 8-VSB as a digital television modulation standard.
2. Delay any of the time deadlines for the DTV rollout.
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Why Should the FCC Allow Broadcasters To Operate Using COFDM Technology?
1. Use of COFDM digital modulation technology will permit reliable and robust over-the-air reception by viewers using simple antennas in broadcasters' core business areas.
2. Use of COFDM would enable broadcasters to provide mobile and portable DTV video services.
3. By permitting COFDM operations, the Commission will allow the marketplace to play an appropriate role in the development of broadcast technology.
4. Permitting use of COFDM would make the U.S. DTV system compatible with the DTV technology adopted in the majority of countries around the world.
5. A decision by the Commission to permit COFDM operations would accelerate the development of DTV in the United States and speed the recapture of NTSC spectrum.
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What's Wrong With The 8-VSB Digital Modulation Standard?
1. The ATSC 8-VSB standard does not currently permit reliable over-the-air reception of DTV with simple antennas in broadcasters' core business areas, or permit portable or mobile services.
2. Given the reception problems, continued reliance on the 8-VSB standard would diminish viewing functionality and impose unnecessary costs on U.S. consumers, both during and after the DTV transition.
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Are There Legitimate Technical or Economic Reasons To Preclude Broadcasters From Operating Using COFDM Technology?
1. There is no legitimate technical reason precluding the use of COFDM modulation technology.
A. COFDM signals can be used to provide HDTV over 6 MHz channels.
B. The greater coverage predicted for 8-VSB signals in a laboratory environment does not hold up under real-world conditions.
C. The Commission should not perpetuate exclusive reliance on the 8-VSB standard based on any speculated improvements in 8-VSB receiver technology.
2. Broadcasters, manufacturers, and consumers would incur only minor costs if the Commission decided to permit use of COFDM in the U.S.
A. Any additional costs for broadcasters would be borne voluntarily, and would likely be inconsequential.
B. Grant of the instant petition would not impose significant costs on DTV receiver manufacturers.
C. The prior sale of 8-VSB receivers to a tiny fraction of consumers should not prevent the Commission from permitting broadcasters to use COFDM technology.
Following the live webcast (14:00 - 16:00EST) a replayit will be available starting at 17:00EST.
See www.sbgi.net (DTV) for details
Mark A. Aitken
Advanced Technology Group
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