pradike
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- May 22, 2003
- Messages
- 51
Today, the FCC got court concurrence that they can continue to push forward with their plans for an HDTV mandate in the next few years. Here are the specifics. This can only help motivate HDTV content providers to comply:
Dow Jones Business News
Court Upholds FCC Mandate for Digital Tuners in TV Sets
Tuesday October 28, 12:55 pm ET
By Mark Wigfield
WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a government mandate that new television sets should be equipped with a digital tuner starting in 2004.
The Federal Communications Commission "is not crying wolf" when it found that a "logjam was blocking development of digital television," wrote Judge John G. Roberts for the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
"Widespread ability among consumers to receive DTV signals is a prerequisite to meeting Congress' 2006 target date for the completion of DTV conversion and the cessation of analog broadcasting," Judge Roberts wrote.
The mandate had been challenged by the Consumer Electronics Association, or CEA, whose members include manufacturers like Sony Corp. (NYSE:SNE - News) , Toshiba Corp. and Matsu****a Electric Industrial Co. (NYSE:MC - News)
"We are obviously going to follow the letter of the law," said Jenny Miller, CEA spokeswoman. "At this point, all eyes should be turned on the broadcasters now that consumers will have the tuning capability in their television sets. They're going to want something to watch." Ms. Miller said the association hasn't yet ruled out an appeal.
The group estimates the cost to consumers to average $250 per set, a figure contested by the National Association of Broadcasters (News - Websites) , which supports the mandate. The NAB has said consumers will see no price increase given the rapid drop in prices of digital TV sets.
NAB President Eddie Fritts said, "The court's decision today upholding the FCC's DTV tuner requirement is a milestone towards completing the DTV transition. Consumers buying TV sets will know that the receivers they buy will continue to receive all broadcast signals, even as broadcasting changes to digital."
FCC Chairman Michael Powell "and the FCC deserve congratulations for their strong leadership in advancing the digital transition," Mr. Fritts said.
The CEA says only 13% of viewers receive television over the air using an antenna. The FCC has already endorsed a digital equipment standard reached between electronics manufacturers and the cable industry.
Congress in 1997 provided broadcasters with extra spectrum to make the transition to digital television. The much-sought spectrum was to be returned to the government by 2006.
The deadline is expected to be delayed, however, by a provision that allows the FCC to grant television stations an exception if 15% or more of the television households in a market can't receive digital programming from cable, satellite or over the air.
-By Mark Wigfield, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-828-3397; [email protected]
Dow Jones Business News
Court Upholds FCC Mandate for Digital Tuners in TV Sets
Tuesday October 28, 12:55 pm ET
By Mark Wigfield
WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld a government mandate that new television sets should be equipped with a digital tuner starting in 2004.
The Federal Communications Commission "is not crying wolf" when it found that a "logjam was blocking development of digital television," wrote Judge John G. Roberts for the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
"Widespread ability among consumers to receive DTV signals is a prerequisite to meeting Congress' 2006 target date for the completion of DTV conversion and the cessation of analog broadcasting," Judge Roberts wrote.
The mandate had been challenged by the Consumer Electronics Association, or CEA, whose members include manufacturers like Sony Corp. (NYSE:SNE - News) , Toshiba Corp. and Matsu****a Electric Industrial Co. (NYSE:MC - News)
"We are obviously going to follow the letter of the law," said Jenny Miller, CEA spokeswoman. "At this point, all eyes should be turned on the broadcasters now that consumers will have the tuning capability in their television sets. They're going to want something to watch." Ms. Miller said the association hasn't yet ruled out an appeal.
The group estimates the cost to consumers to average $250 per set, a figure contested by the National Association of Broadcasters (News - Websites) , which supports the mandate. The NAB has said consumers will see no price increase given the rapid drop in prices of digital TV sets.
NAB President Eddie Fritts said, "The court's decision today upholding the FCC's DTV tuner requirement is a milestone towards completing the DTV transition. Consumers buying TV sets will know that the receivers they buy will continue to receive all broadcast signals, even as broadcasting changes to digital."
FCC Chairman Michael Powell "and the FCC deserve congratulations for their strong leadership in advancing the digital transition," Mr. Fritts said.
The CEA says only 13% of viewers receive television over the air using an antenna. The FCC has already endorsed a digital equipment standard reached between electronics manufacturers and the cable industry.
Congress in 1997 provided broadcasters with extra spectrum to make the transition to digital television. The much-sought spectrum was to be returned to the government by 2006.
The deadline is expected to be delayed, however, by a provision that allows the FCC to grant television stations an exception if 15% or more of the television households in a market can't receive digital programming from cable, satellite or over the air.
-By Mark Wigfield, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-828-3397; [email protected]
