NAB responds to the "Ferree Plan"

NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton had a few things to say on behalf of his organization concerning the DTV transition plan put forth by FCC Bureau Chief Ken Ferree.

"We appreciate the suggestion that 2009 is a more realistic date for completing the DTV transition, "said Wharton. "Nonetheless, NAB remains concerned that the Ferree initiative is simply a spectrum reclamation plan that would strand both consumers and broadcasters who have collectively spent billions embracing the best television technology on the planet."

"The notion that cable companies could down-convert DTV signals to analog - - and count those customers towards the 85% DTV penetration test - - would seriously hinder the transition to digital and high definition television. A fundamental question is this: How would allowing a cable operator to degrade a local broadcaster's high quality HDTV signal into analog further the DTV transition?"

"Put simply, this plan makes a mockery of 15 years of government-industry partnership in advancing the digital transition. It should be immediately rejected."

"Finally, we have been asked to respond a comment that Mr. Ferree apparently made today, claiming that broadcasters 'would eat their children to hold onto spectrum.' Our response: That is a comment so utterly ridiculous that it does not deserve a response."