I'd like to see a proposed timeline with an explanation of how they intend to defy the laws of physics and human nature. I can't see any way that this effort could be coordinated chronologically even if there were a congressional mandate. If I recall correctly, the FCC demanded dual tuners in
all TVs offered for retail two years before the ultimate transition. Larger TVs had to include DTV tuners in July 2005 and all TVs 13" and larger had to feature a DTV tuner by March 2007.
http://www.dtvprimer.com/timeline.html
The cost to consumers for this mandate isn't easy to pin down, but the DTV conversion cost for broadcasters was estimated to be around $10 Billion ($1-2 milllion per station). Once the DTV transition was completed, the broadcast tower refitting industry that allowed it to happen largely moved on to wireless. In a
study commissioned by the NAB last year, they found that where there were 7 manufacturers of transmitters during the DTV transition, there are now three. There used to be 30 qualified antenna and line installation crews and now there are 13 and they figure another three could be assembled. All the while the wireless industry is going to be using some of the same kind of talent to begin to take advantage of their newly acquired bandwidth.
The mandated transition, based on 85% consumer conversion, didn't happen until June 12, 2009; 13 years after the bill was signed into law (more than 29 months after the original deadline). From what I can gather, there are still some NTSC translators and other low power transmitters in use today (with an indefinitely postponed shut-off).
At this point in time, the market penetration of ATSC 3.0 capable tuners in TVs of any size would appear to be zero and the FCC's desire is to complete the repack in 39 months after the end of the auctions (some in the industry predict 8-12 years). At that point the ATSC 3.0 conversion to the repacked TV band must presumably be done and simulcasting ended as there's clearly not enough room for simulcasting in the repack goal bandwidth.
Because the public has to keep up somehow, we need a timeline, thresholds and the metrics upon which those thresholds are based. It seems to me that this can only come from some entity calling the shots at the highest levels. This will be especially important to develop the economies of scale necessary to make both the broadcast and consumer equipment affordable.
