Electronic Media 

Published: 08-07-95 



FCC PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES ON SPECTRUM USE    



Byline:  Joe Fedele 



 The Federal Communications Commission has been looking into

expanded use of the video portion of NTSC transmissions for

digital data insertion.

  The agency's action is an extension of an ongoing quest by

many who wish to use the existing TV broadcast spectrum for the

transmission of data services.

 Some of the new services envisioned could include electronic TV

listings, promotional information and home shopping.

 The commis-sion's current  rules allow for transmission of 

services such as closed-captioning and the ghost-canceling

reference signal within the first 21 lines of video, more

commonly known as the vertical blanking interval.

 Recently, two other methods have been proposed to the FCC for

hiding data. One involves using line 22, the first active line

of video immediately following the VBI. The other consists of

hiding data within the picture itself.

 The FCC has already authorized the use of line 22 for

electronic verification of broadcasts that convey information

about the date, time of day and length of commercial messages,

as well as the presence of audio and video.

 However, the commission is somewhat reluctant to  authorize any

additional ancillary services for fear that it might, in some

ways, detract from the development of advanced television

services such as HDTV.

 In its notice of proposed rule-making, the FCC says that

allowing data services might ``provide a disincentive for the

public to readily accept and upgrade to the digital service that

we expect will be introduced in the near future.''

 The notice goes on to say that ``enhancing NTSC service in the

manner described herein could slow or create a disincentive to

the recovery of the spectrum currently used by NTSC stations.''

 What the FCC is referring to here is that part of the

conversion process to HDTV requiring stations to give back their

existing spectrum for reissuance by the FCC to other developing

technologies such as personal communications services.

 But then the FCC turns completely around by saying that the

proposed notice ``is consistent with the commission's general

policy to foster more efficient use of spectrum and improve the

diversity and quality of the telecommunications services

available to the public.''

 So the commission wants to have it both ways. With one hand

it's carrying out its obligation to get the most efficient use

of the spectrum, while with the other it's retreating slightly

to protect another agenda: promoting HDTV. In the process,

maximum efficient use of the airwaves may take a back seat to

the politics of spectrum recovery.

 In recent months Congress has pressured the FCC in an attempt

to balance the federal budget and reduce the deficit. To that

end, some at the agency and in Congress hope to sell the

spectrum rights to recovered television channels.

 What this all boils down to is that the FCC must make some

tough decisions. Spectrum efficiency and spectrum recovery are

two distinct subjects each with their own time frames and

problems.

 Playing political games won't help the FCC secure the most

efficient use of the airwaves.

 In the process, the public could lose out on new digital

services that enhance TV viewing, and broadcasters could lose

out on new sources of income.