FCC Considers Options in Troubleshooting DTV Transition

by KYW's John Ostapkovich

The FCC is taking new approaches to try to deal with problems from the digital TV transition (see related stories).

There's been no breakthrough in dealing with ineffective digital reception of some TV stations, notably Channel six, according to FCC spokesman David Dombrowski, but he says a number of options are being discussed. 

One is a transmitter power increase, but that's more than just turning a dial. Detailed measurements would be necessary to rule out interference with other TV or radio stations. 

Also being considered, whether firms under contract to provide free digital converter box installations might expand their duties to do in-home troubleshooting. 

Dombrowski says there's been limited success with a do-it-yourself converter box memory wipe, by having it scan with the antenna off, power it down, power it up and scan again with the antenna on.