The question, of course, is whether or not it’s being received – and the standards for a passing grade are very high in this test. We’re looking for nobody left behind, or 100%. Speeches were made, thanks were strewn about and backs were patted for the better part of an hour and a half before FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Wilmington NC Mayor Bill Saffo flipped the switch at noon. Now comes the waiting and monitoring part.
All parties expressed confidence that homework had been done properly and that things will go just fine, despite the additional challenge of Tropical Storm Hanna, which was mercifully weak. Hanna was also kind enough not to hang around for a prolonged period of time, taking a potential major complication out of play for the most part.
RBR/TVBR observation: Now the learning curve truly begins. If everything did go as planned and few to none are left without television service, it may not mean much. Success can be credited to the focus of all government and stakeholder attention on this one market. Can the feat be duplicated in over 200 markets at once? Our bet: Absolutely.
