NAB Opposes ACA-Requested HD Carriage Exemption Extension
The FCC should extend an exemption for small cable systems from requirements to carry HD broadcast signals, said the American Cable Association, NCTA and WTA in comments in docket 98-120 on an ACA petition requesting the extension. “We agree with…
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the Commission’s tentative conclusion that the public interest would be served” by extending the HD carriage exemption until June 12, 2018, NCTA said. The exemption is to expire June 12, 2015. If it isn't extended, “consumers in rural areas could experience service disruptions and discontinuations,” WTA said. NAB opposes a blanket extension. “Downconverting an HD broadcast signal to standard definition (SD) digital or to analog materially degrades that signal,” NAB said. “If a small cable system carries other signals in HD, then permitting it to carry HD broadcast signals in a lesser format pursuant to a continued exemption improperly discriminates against broadcast signals,” NAB said. If the extension is granted, the FCC shouldn't apply it to cable systems carrying other signals in HD, and should re-examine what it considers a small system, NAB said.