DTV Migration to be Pushed to 2009
According to a post on another list I’m on, the manditory migration for over the air broadcasters will be moved to April 7, 2009 as part of a bill to be introduced in the coming weeks. It was initially planned for the end of next year. What that means for us pro audio types is we’ll still have to do the bounce between analog and DTV in some markets. That also means a delay in what the impact of the existing UHF spectrum used by some pro audio wireless gear (UHF 52-69) as it is returned to non TV use. Part of it is meant to be allocated for “emergency communications” (UHF 60,61,68,69) though AFAIK there are no radio sets and it’s not clear what the penetration will be, considering a push toward 3G sat bands after UHF failures during Katrina and Rita. Terrestrial radio or cell technology won’t be much good if there is no antenna infrastructure in the affected area.
In the end, could it be that UHF 68-69 may be underutilized and left for unlicensed entertainment technology? Well, wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first.