NAF Plan to Speed the DTV Transition
Policy Paper
May 12, 2004
There is a general consensus that accelerating the digital TV transition -- thereby freeing up the 108 MHz of “beachfront” spectrum corresponding to TV channels 52- to-69 -- is clearly in the public interest. Because transmissions at this frequency range pass easily through walls and trees, the 700 MHz band could jumpstart the deployment of more affordable wireless broadband connections, particularly in rural areas. Although Congress has already reallocated a portion of these TV channels for public safety agencies (to address interoperability problems) and for auction to licensed cellular services (which could yield $30-to-$40 billion in federal revenue), the DTV transition is badly stalled, with no fixed deadline for redeploying these precious frequencies from analog broadcasting for the few to productive broadband for all. The controversial question is how to do it without stranding the roughly 15 percent of consumers still relying on analog over-the-air reception for their “free” TV.
For the complete document, please see the attached PDF version.