[MacDV] Re: What's the frequency Kenneth?

[Timothy Luoma]

On Jul 21, 2005, at 8:55 AM, Richard Gilmore wrote:

> I've been following this thread with interest and I was wondering  
> what was
> going to happen with the analog frequencies? But I think this has been
> answered? I was kind of hoping once the networks left the analog  
> air that
> those frequencies would be free for private individuals to use a  
> bit like
> the way AM radio is becoming. I could see a flourishing underground  
> backyard
> low power analog TV broadcasting revolution in the making with the  
> airwaves
> literally given back to the people. With billions of analog TVs  
> floating
> around it's something that could last for decades. But will those
> frequencies be open?

Reply 1: My you are an optimist :-)

Reply 2: Oh hell no. The whole reason this is happening is that the  
gov't wants to be able to sell that air space:

"Uncle Sam is eager for the transition - going so far as to set up a  
DTV promotional website - since they stand to make an estimated 30-70  
billion dollars off the resale of the spectrum. That spectrum is  
freely loaned to broadcasters, and would be re-used for high-speed  
wireless voice and data services."

cite: http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/65479

No secret at all, the government wants the "free" airwaves back so  
they can sell them.

It'll be interesting what, if any, problems this causes with  
regulations (what you can/can't say/show on TV) now that the airwaves  
are no longer "free" ...  Part of the ability of the gov't to control  
what is said/shown has been based on the fact that these are "public  
airwaves entrusted to the networks" which will no longer be true (if  
I understand the future situation correctly, which I may not)..