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In 47 CFR 73.624(b)[1], the FCC requires that broadcasters have at least one over-the-air video program signal at no direct charge to viewers. That one channel

• gorkish 3y ago
  Thanks; yours is the only explanation so far that explains where there is a possible economic motivation for the broadcast stations. I find it a little hard to accept that the original intent was to allow such a thing, but that doesn't mean that subsequent changes and standards updates didn't unintentionally allow a loophole. If this is indeed what is happening, there is a very compelling argument to be made to fix it. My worry is since it doesn't appear that anyone got to the root of the problem before going full-media-circus, that all of the complaints to the FCC are now asking for the wrong solution. Honestly, I personally think it's good to get encryption into the ATSC standard; there are applications that can benefit from that. But if what you suggest is true, the stronger argument is to stop allowing a station to receive retransmission revenue for a station they are not broadcasting free-to-air.