Analog TV

[peverett]

I think the best thing that Congress can do is simply repeal the law requring DTV only broadcasting. After realizing how crappy DTV is in poor weather, analog broadcasting will come back. Let the market decide.

As to the spectrum being sold, either give them their money back or do not take it. (I just recently read-not sure how true it is-that the companies wanting the spectrum now do not want TV channels 2-6, the antenna required to use it is too large for mobile applications).

I am not against broadasting DTV, just the forced stopping of analog TV. This is mainly due to DTVs unreliable operation in poor weather. Another reason is that many people now receiving broadcast analog TV (many whom are low income) will not be able to get broadcast DTV (due to their location relative to the transmitter) even if given a new ATSC ready TV and antenna.

FYI, a somewhat simliar localized situation occured in my home state of Oklahoma with corn based ethanol. It was forced on most of the gasoline stations there, but after people complained bitterly about the poor gas milage and the problems with small engines, many stations are now dropping it. The market is deciding.(As to this being one of the solutions to the long term energy crisis, that is another discussion).