[mythtv-users] What FCC ruling requires OTA digital unencrypted?

[Michael T. Dean]

On 07/28/06 13:06, Cory Papenfuss wrote:

>On Fri, 28 Jul 2006, Kevin Kuphal wrote:
>
>>Cory Papenfuss wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>	Hey all... starting to play with HDTV and digital with the arrival 
>>>of a QAM-capable HDTV set.  After auto-tuning, it found a few digital 
>>>channels, but with "unusable signal."  I suspect the local Adelphia is not 
>>>providing anything unencrypted.
>>>
>>>	According to what I've read around here, the FCC ruling requires 
>>>that OTA-receivable signals are provided unencrypted, no?  Can anyone cite 
>>>chapter and verse of the ruling that requires it so I can go bust some 
>>>
>>You could just call and ask them.  Instead of assuming them the devil, I 
>>called Comcast and they simply told me that I would receive all the OTA 
>>HD channels unencrypted even with basic basic cable service.  No extra 
>>payments, nothing.  All included in my meager $15/mo. service.
>>
>	I actually did call them.  The first 5 people I talked to 
>confessed nothing about anything, and the 6th eventually said that they 
>provided only analog for basic.  Digital required a settop box.  When I 
>suggested that they were required to provide OTA digital unencrypted, I 
>was met with silence.  I offered to provide the requirement rule.... thus 
>my search.  :)
>

You may want to give them the regs requiring firewire-enabled ports on 
HDTV receivers--which many cable companies have (mis-)interpreted to 
mean they must actually output HDTV over those firewire ports.  :)  
Unfortunately, though, it would require your paying for the HDTV receiver...

text format:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=47&PART=76&SECTION=640&TYPE=TEXT

PDF:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=47&PART=76&SECTION=640&TYPE=PDF
(mirrored at
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/12feb20041500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/pdf/47cfr76.640.pdf 
)

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/part76.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-225A1.pdf

Search for "IEEE" as in "IEEE 1394".

Mike