Federal Communications Commission FCC 08-256
SEPARATE STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS
Re: Digital Television Distributed System Technologies; MB Docket No. 05-312
Anyone looking for an example of how the digital television transition would have 
benefited from a national commitment on the level of Y2K need look no further than this item 
approving the use of distributed transmission systems (DTS).  The Order notes that DTS “will 
provide broadcasters with an important tool for providing optimum signal coverage for their 
viewers.”  In particular, DTS can help provide service to viewers at risk of losing service due to 
challenging terrain or other factors such as the digital “gap” issue highlighted in the Wilmington 
test last September.  
The problem is not the technology but the timing.  Had we identified these coverage 
issues earlier, we could have approved DTS months ago and given broadcasters enough time to 
build out before the transition.  Now that generally will not be possible.  Would a truly 
comprehensive and coordinated DTV effort have identified these issues earlier?  We will never 
know for sure.  What we do know is that, in the absence of such an effort, we never gave 
ourselves a chance.