SKY and local/regional digital TV

vigilant

I know you're all Sky fans (almost!) but I thought you should know about this. There's a discussion on the Digital Terrestrial forum if you find it of interest, Thanks!

Did you all know that Etain Doyle is about to hand a monopoly over an important segment of the broadcasting spectrum to Rupert Murdoch? At least, that's what it looks like from her response to Southcoast Community TV's application for a digital terrestrial broadcast licence. I don't know if any of you have read the 'consultation document' which the ODTR issued last September, dated 31 August, but it makes interesting reading indeed. ( www.odtr.ie )

Basically, in her discussion document, the regulator raises the question of whether the 11.7 to 12.5 Ghz band is suitable for DTT broadcast and for local/regional services. There were two inter-related aspects to this.

The first question is: Would DTT broadcasting in the 12.5Ghz band interfere with reception of satellite signals?

The second is: Should Ireland implement a decision by the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) which reserves the 12.5Ghz band to fixed and satellite broadcasting?

While ITU regulations allocate the band to fixed, broadcasting, and broadcasting-satellite services, the discussion document states: “The ERC Decision proposes that the band be used for satellite reception. There would therefore be potential for interference from a terrestrial transmitter to satellite receivers operating in the same section of the band.”

First question: SCTV’s tests show no interference with satellite reception. SCTV’s experts, Professor Ray Hills and Dr Eddie O’Gorman, were categorical on this point. And the US Federal Communications Commission, after extensive testing, recently concluded that the provision of DTT by MDS America, same as proposed by Southcoast, does not interfere with satellite broadcasting in the 12.5Ghz band.

In its First Report and Order, the FCC states: “A new terrestrial fixed multi-channel video distribution and data service can operate in the 12.2-12.7Ghz band on a non-harmful interference basis with incumbent broadcasting satellite services (BPS) and a co-primary basis with non-geostationary fixed satellite service (BSS) providers.” It continues that MDS “could be used to deliver a wide array of video programming, including local television and data services, in both urban and rural areas”.

Other independent tests, carried out last July by consultants LCC International, support the FCC’s conclusions and indicate no interference takes place.

Second question: Iceland is a signatory to the ERC and has ratified the ERC Decision which seems to worry the Regulator. Yet Iceland has become the first country in Europe to issue a licence for DTT using the MDS hypercable system. Clearly, implementing the decision is no barrier to issuing a licence; and, conversely, if the ODTR issues a licence to SCTV, this will not preclude Ireland from ratifying and implementing the decision.

However, there is no need to implement it, and Ireland could follow Denmark’s lead and decide not to implement it: all we are obliged to do is observe ITU rules, which do allocate this band to DTT among other uses.

To implement the ERC decision and interpret it to mean that it could not be used for DTT, only for satellite, would be to hand a monopoly over this waveband to BSkyB, which the ODTR elsewhere in the document acknowledges is an external, unregulated provider. And there’s not likely to be an Irish satellite to compete with Sky, which now has over 140,000 subscribers here yet does not carry two of the main UK channels which Irish providers are obliged to offer.

Or are there actually secret plans by an Irish company to broadcast digital satellite? Does the ODTR know something we don't? Oh, no! Not another exclusive monopoly! Please, give us relief.