If you live in a large city or within about 50 miles of a broadcast tower, you probably already know that you can receive digital and HD content OTA for free with the right antenna and tuner. But what do you do if you live out where I do? I’m 75 miles from the closest tower which means because of the mountains in the region, I’m boned. I have no choice but to pay for cable because the digital signals simply won’t reach this far.
It looks like the government may be willing to help people like me.
The DTV Cliff Effect Assistance Act would supply $125 million for the building of translator towers where needed. One thing I like about the act is that towers that get subsidization would be required to serve as needed to help with the rollout of national broadband saying that gear "shall reasonably facilitate the collocation of any wireless communications or broadband equipment.” That means that these towers could be used to bring wireless to rural communities in the near future.
I hope this is something that goes through. With our economy the way it is, I can’t see small market affiliates springing for towers any time soon and there are people who can’t/won’t accept the cost of satellite or cable. Nor should they have to if they only want network programming. I’m sure it’ll be some time before we see any movement.
