To:
ceo@echostar.com
Subject: 1280 by 1080i is NOT High Definition
Date: Jan 10, 2006 12:13 PM
The standards for high definition are set and rumors are that the plans are to send
the new HD channels in a resolution lower than these HD standards/definitions.
FCC 01-22 released January 23, 2001, FIRST REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE
OF PROPOSED RULE RULEMAKING, paragraph 71 (and footnote 204).
http://ftp.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/Orders/2001/fcc01022.pdf
States the definition of HD:
The Executive Committee of the Advanced Television Systems Committee has approved
for release the following statement regarding the identification of the HDTV and
SDTV transmission formats within the ATSC Digital Television Standard: "There
are six video formats in the ATSC DTV standard which are High Definition. They are
the 1080 line by 1920 pixel formats at all picture rates (24, 30 and 60 pictures
per second), and the 720 line by 1280 pixel formats at these same picture rates.
All of these formats have a 16:9 aspect ratio."
Regardless if the source is providing a reduced resolution or Dish Network provides
the down-conversion, in the end this is not high definition and should not be marketed
as such. In fact, doing so is a breach of contract for the HD pak or DishHD service
since Dish Network is not delivering on the agreement.
-[My Name Here]
A Dish Network customer