Response from Maine Assoc. of Broadcasters regarding poor digital TV signals

Suzanne Goucher from the Maine Association of Broadcasters responded to an email I recently sent that inquired about the poor digital signal strength in some parts of Maine and if anything could be done about it. I have posted some excerpts from that response below:

We certainly share your concerns, as we want to ensure continued delivery of TV signals to the widest possible audience.

Most stations in Maine are operating their digital transmitters at full power right now (there are a few exceptions, such as WPFO-TV in Portland, which ran up against a Canadian interference problem on its proposed "borrowed" DTV channel and thus cannot turn on its digital transmitter until the transition date of 2/17/09).

Stations cannot arbitrarily increase their transmitter power above the FCC-permitted limits without risking fines that run into the several thousands of dollars for operating above their licensed power output.

It's not that the digital signals are weaker; in fact, the predicted Grade B contours of digital signals match up pretty closely with their corresponding analog signals.

Through our DTVforME.com website, TV station websites, one-to-one contact with viewers and other outlets, we are urging Mainers to get their converter boxes now and begin the conversion process sooner rather than later, so that they have time to experiment with different configurations before the transition date. If people are able to receive analog signals, the physics suggest that they should be able to receive digital signals. It may take an antenna booster, different antenna position, or other alternatives to address the issue. For households close to TV transmitter sites, it may even take a switch from a rooftop antenna to rabbit ears, because "too much" digital signal can pose problems too.

As you say on your blog, people need to "think about their particular situation and make changes where necessary." What works in one household may not work in the household next door or down the street. There's no one-size-fits-all answer; it may take a little try- this, try-that.

So that's the response in summary. I am concerned with the following statement from one section above:

If people are able to receive analog signals, the physics suggest that they should be able to receive digital signals.

As we all know, this simply isn't true

I was a bit disappointed. I'm glad I got a response but unfortunatley got no answers. Maybe I am expecting too much from some of these "associations" who are really nothing more than lobbyist organizations operating solely for their own benefit.

Well, I'm going to keep trying, keep plugging away at it, until maybe someday I can find someone to address the issue of poor signal strenght for Digital TV. I could use some help; there is power in numbers. I anyone is interested in helping, please let me know.

Hang in there folks.