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Wildlife
Change From Analog TV to Digital Off to a Controversial Start
By Javier Córdoba Morales

The step from the analog television system to digital television in Costa Rica had its first controversies after the government formed a commission to analyze which is the most convenient platform for the country, without taking in to account the University of Costa Rica (UCR). On November 5th the Minister of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias, announced the formation of the Special Mixed Commission that will be headed by the vice minister of Telecommunications, Hannia Vega. This commission must provide a report by March 30th 2010, with the end result to make a decision of which of the five available technologies the country will adapt.

WHAT IS DIGITAL TV?
Digital television is a new transmission technology that transforms the television signal in to digital pulses (a binary code like that of computers), which allows for a better signal and opens a series of services that are not possible with traditional technology. The digital signal permits you to communicate directly with the producer of the program you are watching, order specific contents of a channel (such as a movie) and even browse the Internet from your television.

The step to digital television, known as the “analog black out” has already been provided in many nations, above all, the developed ones. UCR Channel 15 engineer Mario Mora explained that 5 standards exist for the new television being used in the world: the United States (ATSC), Europe (DVB-T), Japan (ISDB-T), China (DTMB) and Brazil (ISDB-Tb), which is a variant of the Japanese system.

The change requires the purchase of televisions with digital tuners, or a “decoding box” that permits analog televisions to receive the digital signal, which most people already have.

UCR REQUESTS SPACE
The UCR expressed it’s discontentment with not being taken in to account in the formation of the digital television commission, since it is the only state house that forms communication professionals and the only one that has its own television channel (Channel 15).

UCR chancellor Yamieleth González explained that the topic of digital television is of interest to the entire society, as it opens up possibilities to greater democratization of television and could be the opportunity for the country to make a leap toward better content quality. Channel 15 director Ana Xochild Alarcón criticized the fact that they have been selling televisions with digital tuners in the country for the past 4 years, without even defining which technology it is going to use.

In agreement with Alarcón, this change has been difficult in other countries. In the case of the United States several million homes were left without the possibility to adopt the new technology in time, even though they were provided with decoding apparatuses.

University students hope to be included in the commission, but for the time being the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET) has not given an official explanation as to why it has not accounted for UCR, nor expressed the possibility of including it in the future. the boundaries of main routes are set.

More Regional News

The Fine Line Between “Eco” and “Tourism”

Costa Rica is a small country rich in biodiversity and natural beauty that has done a commendable job marketing itself as a premier ecotourism destination. The country is teeming with wildlife and endangered species such as the leatherback turtle find refuge on its secluded beaches as other habitats are ruined by development. More >

Sámara A.S.A.D.A. Prepares for 2010 - Water Board Enters the New Year with
Inadequate Budget and One Less Member

On Saturday November 21st Members of Samara’s Water Board met for the Annual Sámara AyA Assembly in Samara’s community hall to announce and analyze Board Member reports, hear motions and agreements, and elect 2010 Board members. The assembly presented the 15-20 attendees with the 2009 annual budget, aquifer water level records and the opportunity to voice questions and commentaries of the community. More >

Municipalidad approved the start of operations of the Gas Station

On December 21st, eight years of disputes between the Nosara Civic Association (NCA) and the gas station’s owner, Roberto Suárez Villalobos, were left behind as the Consejo Municipal (Town Council) granted the operation permits for the gas station; six out of the seven councillors were in favor of granting the permits – José Antonio Méndez was the only one who opposed–. More >

Ruling Threatens Water Board Finances

The water board, or Asada, for the American Project must comply with a regulatory order to sharply reduce its rates to levels charged by other Asadas in Costa Rica, and while an appeal will be successful, it must lower its rates for the months during the repeal, it was reported at an emergency meeting Dec. 16. More >

According to the Sala Constitucional not everyone will have to leave Ostional

The most recent ruling issued by the Sala Constitucional ordered the Ministerio Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (Minaet) and the Dirección Regional del Área de Conservación Tempisque (ACT) to evict only the individuals or corporate entities that may affect the massive nesting of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle at the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional. More >

The “Mujeres de Matapalo” Project receives government help to start Micro-Business

SAMARA – Officially registered with the Nicoya Municipality Women’s Office in January 2009, “Women 2009 Matapalo” is the formation of 12 local women who have come together “trying to seek new alternatives to face the economic crisis and the multiple obligations that we manage for the great responsibility of moving our children ahead and creating a favorable atmosphere”. More >

Nosara's Periferal Bus Service is still not possible

The 30 kilometers that separate Nosara from Samara have become an ordeal for those who use this road on a daily basis to travel to Nicoya and vice-versa, using mainly the bus service for doing so.

According to Eliecer Rojas, General Manager of the Traroc, the bus company currently in charge of providing the Nicoya-Nosara bus service, it is pitiful that the service cannot be provided in an adequate way, since road conditions do not allow the company to make use of top class vehicles. More >

Nicoya City Urban Area Routes Come to Stand Still

The traffic disorder experience in the city of Nicoya during the last few months continues to bother and worry residents, who urgently require a new code. Absent, fallen or poorly placed road signs, blurry or nonexistent boundaries, vehicles parked in yellow zones or taxi stands and cars going the wrong way any hour of the day are some of the irregularities seen in the case of colonial Nicoya’s urban city center.
More >

 

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