INGLEWOOD, Calif., March 3 -- FCC orders to cease analog television broadcasts have left the networks scrambling to ensure
complete airwave coverage by the February 2009 cutoff date. The new broadcast type—digital TV, or DTV—promises to bring vastly superior picture,
sound and channel selection to the airwaves free of charge. However, ensuring everyone currently receiving old-style analog broadcasts
can receive the new digital broadcasts is proving to be problematic to major television networks.
Typical network broadcast signals can be blocked by land features such as buildings and mountains, potentially plunging some
viewers into TV darkness. This can be a real problem for those who can't afford or don't wish to pay increasing monthly fees for cable or satellite
television.
To help solve this quandary, companies like Empower RF have stepped up efforts to develop miniaturized DTV transmitters that
can strengthen weak signals and beam them into broadcast voids. This promises to make the new DTV broadcasts available to residents of outlying,
mountainous and rural areas.
"DTV retransmitters allow everyone to enjoy free, high-quality TV and help advertiser messages reach as many people as they
always have. It's a win-win situation for all," said Effi Bainvoll, president of Empower RF, Inc. Bainvoll also said that Empower RF's retransmitters
actually rebuild weak or faulty signals so viewers will get the crisp picture and loud audio that cable and satellite subscribers enjoy.
Empower's DTV products are also suitable for use as stand-alone transmitters for lower-power, environmentally conscious
broadcasters, or where broadcasters would like to reduce airwave congestion.
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