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FCC To End Exclusive Cable For Apartments
spiffyman writes "The New York Times is reporting that on Wednesday the FCC will end exclusive contracts to provide cable service to apartment buildings. Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin is quoted as saying that cable prices have risen 'about 93 percent in the last 10 years' and that the FCC hopes to see more competition out of this move. This is a step in the right direction. In my apartment, for example, I have (dead) outlets for one cable company but am forced to go with the higher-priced firm. Moves like this will help those who live in areas where competition — even minimal competition — exists. The article also discusses the impact this may have on low- to middle-income families, who disproportionately live in apartment complexes."
What's the status of Over-the-Air Broadcast TV? Is that still available?
Yes. Analog up to 2012 and digital thereafter.
Do the rabbit ears still do the trick?
Depends how close you live to the stations, but I'm sure it still works as well as it ever did. If it's a long-term situation a permanent antenna is always an option too.
Will I need to upgrade to a "digital broadcast" receiver when the government cuts off the broadcast of TV (which I think is scheduled for 2008)?
I think that was originally scheduled for 2009 but the broadcasters don't have their acts together, so that was recently pushed back to 2012 if I recall. By then high-def TVs with internal tuners will probably be nearly ubiquitous. Eventually they are supposed to switch, but they keep pushing it back, so I wouldn't bet on them switching by 2012.