Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 76 of the Commission's Rules

概要

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on the obligations of cable operators under Sections 614 (establishing mandatory carriage rights for local commercial television stations) and 615 (establishing mandatory carriage rights for noncommercial educational television stations) of the Communications Act of 1934 concerning the carriage of digital broadcast television signals after the conclusion of the digital television ("DTV") transition. The Commission reiterates that broadcast signal delivered in high- definition to a cable system must be carried by that system in HDTV and requests comment on exactly what constitutes material degradation. The Commission proposes to provide more detail on the material degradation requirements adopted by the Commission in 2001 and requests comment on two alternatives. The Commission also offers for comment two proposals for ensuring that cable subscribers with analog television sets can continue to view all must-carry stations after the end of the DTV transition.