Last week Harris released the results of its survey of broadcasters making the switch to DTV. U.S. broadcasters said they expect to meet the FCC-mandated Feb. 17, 2009 deadline. That frees up a whole lot of spectrum—60 MHz in the 700 MHz band—with companies like Apple and Google, gobs of cash in hand, to grab a chunk once it hits the auction block.
This is the kind of stuff that usually flies under my radar, but it got me thinking. Should Google, Apple, or even Micro-hoo! opt to build a nationwide WiFi network, opportunities for independent video distribution will abound. Devices like the iPod Touch will make mobile video a reality as 3G operators like AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon cling to outdated broadcast models for mobile video distribution.
more »
Frank Capria was an editor and post production director at WGBH in Boston for 15 years, receiving credits on series such as American Experience, NOVA, and FRONTLINE. He's also worked on several independent documentaries, most notably Eyes on the Prize.