Highspeed Downloads Via DTV

NYCadAdept writes " E-insight reports that Clear Channel Communications has begun to provide high speed downloads in Cincinnati, via the broadcast DTV signal of WKRC-TV. You have to use proprietary hardware/software; and you still need a modem for up-stream communications, but it is an interesting alternative for those beyond the reach of xDSL."I don't want to sound rigid, but these frequencies were given in exchange for the analog ones, so I don't see how they can do this without breaking thier agreement with the FCC.

Comments

Its easy ... Its not in the agreement

[MacRonin]

As sick as it sounds from a legal perspective its easy. If I remember correctly very few (if any) of the usage restrictions/promises were in the formal agreement. They were all just verbal promises.

Except for the bad publicity there is no downside for them. We can bitch and complain but since our wonderful leaders didn't see fit to put these restrictions in any formal agreement there is really nothing to enforce, Unfortunately this is exactly what the pundits said would happen.

Now if they take the bad publicity seriously enough we might convince them to actually do some of what they promised but I doubt they will do it all.

Re:Hmmm

[skullY]

Sorry, I was assuming that there was a 56K connection using v.90 technology (aka a 56k capable modem). In reality it would probably be something like 40-48k, I guess.

Er, no, the parent is still right. On a v.90 connection, you really get a 56k down/33k up connection, as the 56k only because your ISP has a digital line (ISDN PRI/BRI, T1, etc) so the signal only goes through one A/D connversion. If your local telco uses an analog connection between CO's (USWest did this around 1998 or so where I was at the time) then the signal will go A->D->A->D, which also ruin 56k downstreams and force 33.6 or lower.

So, unless you want to pay for ISDN or fiber to your home, you'll have to be satisfied with 33.6k and 200ms ping times.

Clear Channel, the MS of broadcasting

[Karl Cocknozzle]

I don't see how they can do this without breaking thier agreement with the FCC.

For many years now, Clear Channel has been the powerful, overfunded bully who runs the radio and television industries by owning TONS of stations. That they would operate one of their stations outside the public interest isn't that surprising to me.

This is the company that bought up stations across the country, gutted their staffs, doubled the number of commercials, and started automating stations left and right. Result? Bland, boring, programming (worse than before!) with 25-30 commercial units in an hour becomes acceptable in big markets because, "Clear Channel has more."