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Well, I see Obama got his wish! The Senate has granted a 4 month extension to the implementation of HDTV! Go figure! Now to see if the stations quit running the adds about having to switch.....or they extend it again!

If I read it correctly, stations can still turn it off after the Feb date but all have to do so by June.

The bill would allow broadcasters to turn off analog signals before the June 12 deadline, and public safety agencies would be allowed to use those airwaves as soon as they are available. The bill would also allow consumers with expired coupons to re-apply for new ones.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which is running the coupon program, has hit its $1.34 billion funding limit and is now sending out new coupons only as unredeemed vouchers reach a 90-day expiration date. Nearly 3 million consumers are on the waiting list for coupons.

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

KOIN down here said they will continue with shutting down their analog transmitter on Feb 17th.

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Mt Wave SAR member
Support Search & Rescue: Get Lost!
http://www.mwave.org

Implementation of digital tv. HDTV is not being forced on anyone. ;)

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

No one seems to be "In Line" to use the 700 Mhz Spectrum -- except for the Puget Sound Regional Transit System. And the FCC and cellphone companies are proposing that Public Safety users SHARE the 700 Mhz "Public Safety Band" with some type of regional or nationwide cellphone company. Might as well just give it back to broadcasters. The general public would be better off. More "over the air" TV and the public wouldn't have to pick up the cost of new 700 Mhz band radios -- . Does the Metro Seattle - Tacoma area or Portland - Vancouver area NEED any more spectrum ?? The State of Idaho would be better off, if they would have taken over one or more "UHF T Band" channels (TV channel 14 to 20) and merged with the existing 450 - 470 Mhz band operations - Statewide. Less costs and much better coverage and better "interoperability". Lack of planning and control at the FCC. And way too much input from Radio Equipment Companies trying to grab those big bucks from "homeland security".

Cell phone companies and public safety users sharing the 700 MHz Public Safety Band...

Sounds like another re-band nightmare. Didn't they learn from the Nextel fiasco? It will get to a point where re-banding will not fix the problem, assuming (there's that word again) the current re-banding is the solution.
There is no way the Public Safety budget can compete with the money and coverage of private for hire (IE. PCS) cell phone provider. Thus possible interference issues?
I agree with your view completely.

Vince.

Now for Part 2! The House of Representatives [defeated] the bill! Now we'll see how much time they spend battling over what is going to happen!