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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!unccvax!dsi
From: dsi@unccvax.UUCP (Dataspan Inc)
Newsgroups: net.dcom,net.video,net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Satellite viewing "freedoms"
Message-ID: <293@unccvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Sep-85 10:31:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: unccvax.293
Posted: Sun Sep 15 10:31:49 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Sep-85 04:49:51 EDT
References: <779@vortex.UUCP>, <262@mot.UUCP>
Organization: UNC-Charlotte
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Xref: watmath net.dcom:1298 net.video:1515 net.ham-radio:3247


     The solution for CATV companies to "get into satellite TV" is a very
sticky legal issue. About 5 years ago, some podunk CATV ma-and-pa operation
wanted to essentially open a ColorTyme or U-Rent franchise. Then, for one
monthly payment, you'd get cable TV and the receiver(s) to watch it on.
(From a technical standpoint, this isn't a bad idea. I'd much rather see
the Zenith Z-TAC decoder inside the tv set instead of the demod-remod thing
on top of my TV; then I'd get BTSC stereo sound at home!!!!!)

     However, someone pitched a holy conniption fit over this, and it is now
standard practice to include an "anti equipment leasing", directly or otherwise,
in franchise agreements with communities/CATV state boards/whatever. This
includes repair, sale, leasing..... (This may even go further back, coming
to think of it - I seem to remember something about the Greensboro, NC
people wanting to adjust IF amplifier response in certain receivers for a 
fee (because the people had sloppy sets back then with poor trapping) and
that was thumbs down, also!)

     I think it was in New York that the state's goody-goody CATV commission
tried to achieve the same objective (make sure that delivery of video was 
over the air or through duly licensed CATV operators) by making illegal 
the construction of earth stations and SMATV facilities, even though some
of the SMATV operators were duly licensed by the service(s) they carried!
This didn't work, either, ol' Charlie Ferris's boys stepped in.

     The real solution to this whole mess is to leave the electronic media
alone, deregulate the heck out of it (except for technical matters such as
harmful interference and so on) and let good old American engineering solve
the problem of "freeloaders" with a profit motive!  Things could be worse;
most of the "network" stuff on Anik (ITV, BCTV) is scrambled anyway! Last
I looked, you could only get CBC.

David Anthony
DataSpan, Inc
.


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