NAB Approaches FCC on DBS Delivery of Locals

[Gregg Lengling]

Officials with the National Association of Broadcasters approached staff with the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau on DBS carriage of local digital TV signals, addressing "carry one/carry all" mandates DBS providers face along with satellite TV's capacity constraints.

The NAB officials told commission staff that satellite's capacity constraints continue to improve with advances in technology, although they did not offer any specifics in a FCC filing detailing the meeting.

"We recognize that some of these or other new technologies may have to be implemented in new satellites before some gains in capacity can be realized," the NAB said. "But that fact is all the more reason that the commission should continue to explore with the DBS providers the issues of available technology and increased capacity expectations, so that full signal carriage of all DTV signals without material degradation can be achieved in markets where DBS chooses to provide a local DTV signal."

The possibility of satellite TV providers using a common platform to deliver local TV also was discussed by association officials, the filing said. And they suggested that the Media Bureau use face-to-face meetings to inform those tied to the issue about technology that can address capacity constraints for the next generation of satellites.

The NAB/Media Bureau meeting took place earlier this week.