demand: broadcasters & cable fund call centers for DTV

[Force Commander]

http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/12/10/daily.12/

Obama Puts Squeeze on TV Industry
By Kim McAvoy
TVNEWSDAY, Dec 10 2008, 3:24 PM ET
The Obama crowd is not waiting for Inauguration Day to begin managing the FCC-regulated media
At a meeting in Washington last Friday, Obama transition team officials demanded that broadcasters and cable operators establish or help fund call centers to handle the anticipated flood of complaints and questions in the wake of the analog cut-off on Feb. 17, 2009.

The transition officials, led by one-time National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Tom Wheeler, had invited representatives of the broadcast, cable and consumer electronics industries to the meeting to discuss what needs to be done to ensure a smooth and successful DTV transition.

According to industry sources, Wheeler, who heads the Obama review group looking at the FCC and other agencies, suggested that it makes sense for the various segments of the TV industry to pick up the tab for the call centers.

Broadcasters are the beneficiaries of billions of dollars worth of free spectrum and cable operators are gaining more subscribers because of the DTV transition, he said. He also noted that the consumer electronics industry is reaping billions of dollars from the sale of DTV products.

In addition to NCTA, Wheeler once headed the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association. Today, he is managing director of Core Capital Partners, a high-tech investment firm.

He was joined at the meeting by fellow transition members Larry Irving and Larry Strickling.

Irving is the former head of Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and he serves on the transition's Commerce Department review team.

Strickling comes from the Obama presidential campaign and was the FCC's Common Carrier Bureau chief under former FCC Chairman Bill Kennard. His role on the transition is unclear, but his name has surfaced as a possible FCC chairman.

Sources say that Wheeler, Irving and Strickling ran the meeting.

However, FCC transition team leaders Susan Crawford and Kevin Werbach were also on hand. Crawford is a professor of law at the University of Michigan, teaching communications law and Internet law. Werbach is an assistant professor of legal studies and business ethics at the University

Broadcaster representatives at the meeting included David Rehr and Jonathan Collegio of the NAB; Kurt Wimmer of Gannett; Scott Blumenthal of LIN TV; Maureen O'Connell and Dianne Smith of Fox; Susan Fox of Walt Disney Co.; Anne Lucey of CBS; Brian Brady, president of Northwest Broadcasting; and Margaret Tobey of NBC Universal.

Representing cable was National Cable & Telecommunications Association President Kyle McSlarrow.

The Consumer Electronics Association sent Michael Petricone and Jamie Hedlund.

None of the industry organizations or individuals at the meeting would comment on the record. The transition team officials did not respond to repeated phone calls.

However, the transition team asked the industries group to submit ideas and comments about the DTV transition and said it would post them on the Obama-Biden transition Web site.

Setting up and operating one or more DTV call centers is an expensive undertaking.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has promised to dedicate much of the additional $20 million Congress gave the agency for DTV education to funding the agency's call center, which was tested in September when the Wilmington, N.C., market made an early shift to DTV.

NAB's Rehr wrote Martin in October urging the agency to use the extra congressional money to make the FCC call center as "robust and prepared as possible for the massive number of consumer calls that will come in during these last few months before the transition is completed on Feb. 17, 2009."

But whatever the FCC has earmarked for its call center, the Obama team apparently feels it isn't enough.

[Big Media]

I have heard of this from some of my colleagues. Television stations have a vested interest in doing everything possible to continue to inform the public, many of whom, hide under rocks when it comes to DTV because they don't understand it.

Many markets are doing a soft test. Not here. I spoke to the WVBA a couple of weeks ago and they say nothing has even been discussed.

It boils down to arrogance, IMO.

[The-Hammer]

Why should the TV stations and cable companies have to pay for this? The transition isn't their idea, it was Congress/FCCs. Let them pay for it.

[Arp2]

...Wheeler, who heads the Obama review group looking at the FCC and other agencies, suggested that....(b)roadcasters are the beneficiaries of billions of dollars worth of free spectrum....

See how these leftists think? Once, somebody had the idea of "auctioning" spectrum for the first time in our history...now, they look at what they are only to steward as their property for their profit or leverage....

And, even if broadcasters were to "provide" such call centers, how would viewers find out about them if they can't see the stations that are paying for them?? (rhetorical)

[genlock]

What do you think of this? cut/n paste from arrl web:



Earlier this week, the ARRL received a request from the FCC asking that ARRL members to provide technical educational assistance to their communities concerning the FCC-mandated digital television (DTV) conversion scheduled for February 17, 2009.

According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Amateur Radio clubs across the country are being asked to develop and implement plans to provide information throughout January and February about the DTV conversion in their areas. The FCC is leaving it up to the clubs to decide how to do this, as local groups understand the communities in ways that the FCC does not. Each community is a little different, Pitts said, so plans carried out by the clubs will vary from community to community. Interested groups should contact their ARRL Section Manager.

[Hoosier Daddy]

What do you think of this? cut/n paste from arrl web:

I think it's a great idea. An excellent way for Amateur radio operators to showcase their technical skills and knowledge, and help residents of their own communities maintain access to local television programming. And all done at no cost to anyone. Local Ham clubs might be able to get some high visibility publicity for their efforts from local TV and other media outlets.

[Arp2]

What do you think of this? cut/n paste from arrl web:


Earlier this week, the ARRL received a request from the FCC asking that ARRL members to provide technical educational assistance to their communities concerning the FCC-mandated digital television (DTV) conversion scheduled for February 17, 2009.

One question: how much is the FCC paying???

If it's nothing, then it's a horrible idea. If the gubmint intends to profit from the spectrum made available (and it does...as if "stewardship" is the same as "ownership"), then it needs to pay those enabling their profit for their labor!

Never work for the gubmint for free! Never!!

And never confuse "the people" with "the government!"

[Ace Purple]

Why should the TV stations and cable companies have to pay for this? The transition isn't their idea, it was Congress/FCCs. Let them pay for it.

My thoughts exactly.