Someone You Should Know…

Posted on February 1, 2016 in ATSC News

Jeff Hamilton, Principal at HTI

For more than three decades, Jeff Hamilton has been actively involved in the development of digital television systems, and he’s worked with ATSC technologies off and on for more than 25 years.  The industry veteran is the Principal of Hamilton Technologies Incorporated and also serves as chairman fof the ATSC’s TG3-8 Ad Hoc Group focused on MVPD (cable, satellite, telco) Delivery Solutions.

“My introduction to ATSC 3.0 was at the May 2015 ‘Boot Camp.’  I said ‘wow this is great.  There is a lot of wonderful work I can contribute to’,” said Hamilton.  “I saw a diverse group of people cooperating in very positive ways to bring beneficial new technology and new, better entertainment services into people’s homes.’”

Hamilton received his Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Connecticut College and Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Yale.  He started his career working as a concept engineer and member of the technical staff for Times Fiber Communications and ITT Semiconductors.  In 1990 he joined General Instrument (GI) just as digital TV was taking off.  He became Director of Technology and New Business Development for GI, which later became Motorola is now Arris.

“I am a video guy,” he said.  “I have been involved in digital television since 1983 when I went to work for ITT Semiconductors.  That was exciting because I find the intricacies of both video and digital signal processing fascinating.”

Jeff was principal architect, author and proponent of the 64/256-QAM Cable Transmission Standard (ITU J.83B and ANSI/SCTE 07) which delivers both video and data on cable systems.  He also played a key role in establishing AC-3 as the world standard for audio and was a member of the Moving Picture Experts Group where he helped create the MPEG-2 Systems standard, the transport backbone for TV broadcasting, digital cable, and direct broadcast satellite.

Ushering in a new era

“I like working on things when I can see how they affect peoples lives,” said Hamilton.  “Consumers choose to watch a lot of TV and having it be better TV – more audible, visible, the colors staying where they are supposed to be, simply looking more like life, making the content more realistic and compelling – ATSC 3.0 takes that to the next level.”

Now, through his ATSC work, Hamilton is helping lead the transition to the next generation over-the-air broadcast standard, specifically working with broadcasters on the physical layer and the Ad-Hoc group he chairs is working on cable and satellite redistribution of ATSC 3.0 broadcast signals.

“ATSC 3.0 is a great opportunity to keep working on things that I find exciting.  It is just fabulous and full of wonderful ideas and technologies,” he said.  “If you have seen a good demonstration, you think ‘wow it is more compelling imagery.’  It looks more like life. You will want it, and broadcasters are providing that through ATSC 3.0.”

“How you make TV pictures is pretty amazing and it hasn’t gotten any less exciting over the years.”

Getting to know Jeff

Jeff is a father of four – three boys and a girl.  He and his wife, who is a high school cross country coach, spend much of their free time outdoors around their home in Laporte, PA. 

An avid hiker, he takes advantage of the 2,000 foot mountains of northeast Pennsylvania.

Posted in ATSC News