The FCC adopted a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) April 29 into the adequacy of the digital signal strength standard and testing procedures used to determine whether households are eligible to receive distant broadcast digital television (DTV) network signals from satellite communications providers.
The inquiry, which is in response to the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA), requests information about whether revisions are needed to laws and rules regarding the digital signal strength standard and testing procedures for identifying households that are unserved by local network TV signals are necessary.
The commission will use information from responses to the inquiry to prepare a report for Congress by Dec. 8, 2005.
This NOI seeks information on:
- Whether the commission should account for different antenna installations and orientation;
- Whether the commission should revise measurement procedures for DTV signals to determine if a location is unserved;
- Whether a standard that does not rely on signal strength should be used;
- Whether a new methodology to predict whether a household will be unserved should be developed;
- Whether the commission should account for DTV set receiver variation in the ability to receive and resolve over-the-air signals when setting a standard;
- Whether the commission should account for external interference sources.
The FCC released the NOI May 3. Comments are due to the commission 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments are due 45 days after publication there.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
