MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-05-01 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Digital TV
|
FCC Seeks More Data on Digital TV Rollout Thu May 1, 2003 05:56 PM
ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission will
seek more information from television broadcasters, cable operators and
electronics manufacturers about their efforts to speed the transition
to digital signals, according to a letter released on Thursday.
The agency plans to ask how broadcasters are using a swath of airwaves
they were given to air digital programming, on what cable systems
digital signals are being carried, and what more needs to be done to
ensure television sets can receive the digital signals.
The requests for information will help "assess the impact of past policy
initiatives and to inform our future efforts in this area," FCC Chairman
Michael Powell said in an April 29 letter to the U.S. Congress released
on Thursday.
About a year ago Powell proposed a series of steps to kick start the
transition to digital signals by broadcast television stations because
the move had become bogged down over what steps should be taken first
and by whom.
The television networks began airing more programs in digital while cable
systems began passing through more digital signals to consumers. The
FCC also mandated over time including tuners that can receive digital
in new television sets.
Now Powell wants to know whether broadcasters are fully using their
spectrum for a mix of digital programming or "are they using it to
do the minimum amount of programming possible -- a single stream of
standard-definition digital programming -- and permitting much of their
digital spectrum to lie fallow?"
The FCC will also ask where digital broadcasters are not being carried
on cable systems and why not, whether additional FCC involvement is
necessary to ensure television set makers are including the latest
advances in digital reception capability in new sets.
Powell also wants to know what further steps are needed to help inform
consumers about the transition. A recent congressional report found about
40 percent of Americans had never heard about the digital television
transition while another 43 percent said they were only "somewhat aware."
"These findings are sobering but not unsurprising," he told
lawmakers. -- __________________________ Brooklyn Linux Solutions
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