To most of us the term "9-11" connotes the terrible events surrounding the infamous date of September 11, 2001. However, to all of us who salute HDTV, the date of September 11, 2007, is one of celebration. For on that date the FCC adopted a significant ruling affecting not only HDTV but also the digital transition in general. In short, the FCC (unanimously) ruled that after the digital transition date (February 17, 2009), cable systems must carry broadcasters' HDTV digital streams. In addition, for at least three years after the transition, cable systems also must continue to carry the stations' main digital signal in an analog format. Exempt from this analog requirement are cable systems that employ an all-digital format. Further, the ruling applies only to traditional cable distribution systems. It does not address other types of television multi-channel distribution systems such as those offered by Telephone companies, etc.

Aside from the obvious advantages of easing the transition burden on cable subscribers with analog only receivers, it assures that the approximately 65% of US TV households that depend on cable for TV signals will have a source for HDTV. However, the ruling does not address cable carriage of the stations' "secondary" digital multicasts. Since the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) supported this ruling, very possibly there was a significant amount of pre-ruling negotiations that precluded the multicast issue. (Ya think?)

The apparent losers as a result of the ruling are the smaller cable companies that simply do not have the bandwidth to support both digital and analog channels or have the financial resources necessary to supply their customers with digital-to- analog converter boxes. No doubt there will be several waiver requests from these small systems. Also, the ruling applies only to those stations that select the cable "must-carry" option. "Retransmission consent" agreements with local cable systems almost always include the carriage of HDTV and some secondary (multicast) services.

What the 9-11 ruling signifies in the on-going spectrum "chess game" is the second codified regulatory nod that paves the way for the eventual migration of HDTV carriage exclusively to multi-channel distribution systems. So, sometimes 9-11 means something good.

Ed