CRTC Public Proceeding on DTV in Canada: May 6, 2010

[stampeder]

Call for comments on issues related to the digital television transition

In this notice, the Commission calls for comments and seeks further information on the number of Canadians that could potentially lose service as a result of the transition to over-the-air digital television (DTV), on its proposal to authorize the provision by broadcasting distribution undertakings of a free package consisting of all local and regional conventional television signals currently available over-the-air in a given market, on possible regulatory measures to educate consumers regarding the DTV transition, on the implementation of one or more trial market(s) for DTV conversion and on other related matters. The deadline for the receipt of comments is 6 May 2010.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-169.htm

If you intend to intervene just use the easy to follow instructions in the Procedure for filing comments section of that page.

This is mostly an info-finding expedition to determine if/whether/how many Converter Boxes would be required to transition present analogue OTA users to DTV.

We can discuss this here but if you have complaints or strong opinions about the government possibly giving out such boxes you'd better be prepared to submit an intervention or we'll have to just ignore you here.

[stampeder]

My intervention will include my strong opinion that any Converter Boxes to be distributed by a government-led plan must have the following technical features in order to properly accommodate the needs of Canadian consumers:

• HDMI A/V (or else TOSLINK audio output (coax and/or optical) with HDMI video)
• Composite
• S-Video
• Component
• Dolby Pro Logic II over analogue RCA R-L jacks

I'm also of the opinion that retailers would have to charge a predetermined price or less.

[timlocke]

What price range do YOU think the box should be in ?

I'd say $85 so that it would be $100 or less including sales taxes.

[JamesK]

HDMI A/V

Given that most of those converters will be used with old analog TVs, why is HDMI necessary? S-video & composite are already capable of better than what NTSC supports. In the U.S., the plan was to subsidize only "basic" converters.

[classicsat]

I am of the same mind as those that have designed the specs for the US converter program, in that the converters that need to be available for those in that need them should only serve the basic features they need, not have features that cost extra money and they cannot use.

Those that want (and I am right in saying want) the extra features can very well afford the existing market price for those features, or afford to upgrade their own receiving equipment.

[JamesK]

^^^^
Quite so. Those coupon program converters were intended only to replace the function of the now useless tuner. A digital signal, connected via composite or S-video, will already result in an improved picture on most sets.

[hugh]

Why should the price of a converter box be mandated and why should the government pay people so they can watch digital television?

If a converter box retails for $50, $100 or $500 in a competitive marketplace, then that is the price it should sell for.

Cripes we have government supported the cartels that artificially raise the price of milk, wheat, beef and butter in this country but we want to subsidize the cost of watching television?

[PrinceLH]

Originally Posted by JamesK

Given that most of those converters will be used with old analog TVs, why is HDMI necessary? S-video & composite are already capable of better than what NTSC supports. In the U.S., the plan was to subsidize only "basic" converters.

My first HD set, was and is a CRT and does not have a digital tuner in it. It would be great, to be able to use this set with a digital television signal.

[Dr.Dave]

stampeder, the problem with your proposal is that by mandating HDMI, you would specifically disallow every single model of converter designed for the U.S. coupon program. The U.S. program stated that any converter with a digital output was not eligible for a coupon.

I'm not convinced that Canadian taxpayers should be paying for such a program, but if we do it should allow the same minimum specs as the U.S. program. Given Canada's smaller population and lower percentage of analog OTA viewers, we would have a very limited choice of more expensive converters if we required HDMI.

[JamesK]

Why should the price of a converter box be mandated

The purpose of the coupon program was to replace lost function caused by the digital switch. That means replace the now useless analog tuner with a digital one with nothing more than that function. Other, more capable devices are available, but not covered by the program. I don't recall a mandated price for those converters, only that they were limited to basic function. If you wanted a converter that, for example, included a recorder, then you were on your own for the entire price.

As it is, the basic converters provide some improvement over the analog tuners.

[stampeder]

I posted this earlier:

I'm also of the opinion that retailers would have to charge a predetermined price or less.

and I should have elaborated that what it means is a price cap so that any shortages do not result in price gouging.

[JamesK]

It would be great, to be able to use this set with a digital television signal.

A basic converter, connected via RF, composite or S-video, will give you reception comparable to what you had prior to the digital conversion. That was the entire purpose of the coupon program in the U.S. There's nothing to stop you from buying a better converter to give you more than you had before, but don't expect me to help you pay for it.

[stampeder]

classicsat and Dr.Dave: I'm completely underwhelmed by the U.S. CECB boxes, so my goal is to set the capability bar much higher for Canadian ones if this goes ahead.

Hugh, JamesK: Each year the Canadian government pours millions upon millions of seed money and other forms of corporate welfare into Tech Industry R&D (of which I am a part, btw) and an horrendous amount is simply burned up as part of that process. So, concerns about taxpayers picking up the tab for converter boxes mean nothing to me.

Having said that, I fully expect the U.S. CECB spec to be rubber stamped for Canada and either a coupon or tax refund system put in place.

[rlongfield]

Originally Posted by hugh

Why should the price of a converter box be mandated and why should the government pay people so they can watch digital television?

I can give you a simple reason why basic digital converter boxes should be subsidized. Currently those people who cannot afford cable or sat subscriptions rely on OTA for some level of news and entertainment. Once the switch over to DTV has been completed those people will no longer have access to free TV.

This is a case in which the government is causing an extra expense for something that is currently free. I'm not saying that the switch isn't worth it or that it isn't needed just saying that by making the switch a segment however small is being denied something they currently enjoy.

Please keep in mind that this was one of the arguments used in support of the US coupon program, I don't know how many Canadians will be affected, I suspect that most of those affected have already gotten a digital box when the US made the switch.

[ScaryBob]

A basic converter, connected via RF, composite or S-video, will give you reception comparable to what you had prior to the digital conversion.

A basic converter will simply convert digital RF to analog RF. Nothing more is required to replace an analog tuner. IMHO, providing anything more will raise costs and create abuses in the program.