I was snooping around here:
http://www.w9wi.com/tvdb/tvdb_qth.htm
and looking at info for my state, and noticed quite a few construction permit applications.

Does anyone have any enlightend insight on why the government that wants to shut down analog broadcasting in favor of digital is still allowing new analog construction permits? Or am I reading things wrong?

Tom

From what I have seen, analog TV broadcasting is supposed to shut down in July 2007. I guess since analog TV is still a licenced standard that CP's are still being granted for it, but it would seem to make better economic sense for new stations to be digital only.
Many of the CP's at least in Texas appear to be translators for religious stations and the stations may feel it easier to get an analog translator on the air than digital? Maybe some stations are hedging their bets that analog will end up continuing past 2007?

I stumbled across that site once before & was surprised how many little stations there are out there (or are supposed to be/potentially out there). My area has quite a few that I've never heard of but I guess the reach is just so small. There is a PBS translator (or some such) in the next town that has been on the air for decades but I have never been able to get a real watchable picture of it here. Some of these stations I have to wonder-why even bother? A low power station in a small town would be a neat hobby but the coverage is so limited & would seem to be hard to justify if you were trying to make an economic case for it.

I guess later on there will be tons of analog equipment available for sale as stations abandon it. That could put some new stations on the air cheap for awhile, maybe.

The goal may be really to get the translator carried on the cable system in the area. This would expand its reach far over the weak over the air signal, however I'm not sure if translators are required to be carried on cable systems or not.
There appear to be groups such as religious organizations that will apply for many translator availabilities whether they be FM radio or TV even in some very remote locations. There are only certain windows of time where the FCC allows new translator applications so there may have been a rush to get a lot of them in.

HD or Digital would be most effective if BACKWARD compatible to analog, reaching the largest audience. This may still happen still as most effective for advertising market for television. In 1954 NTSC proved backward compatible to B/W TV. I hope Smart TV stations are looking into this so their audience's will not have limited demographics( Only people with HD or digital Sets to receive programming). Also limits ADVERTISING markets for TV which affects $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

:D