WASHINGTON-“Many of the key elements of the digital TV transition are beginning to fall into place,” said Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, as he announced the efforts of the cable, broadcast and satellite industries to move forward on the DTV transition.
“The next year may prove to be a watershed for the [DTV] transition. . The missing piece of the DTV puzzle is the consumer electronics industry. We have not yet received a final response from the manufacturers on the phased-in inclusion of DTV tuners in new sets,” said Powell.
The pace of the DTV transition is important to the wireless industry because after Jan.1, 2007, once 85 percent of a broadcaster’s viewing area is capable of receiving a digital signal, the broadcaster must give back its analog spectrum. The wireless industry was largely successful in recently convincing Congress to delay the auction of the 700 MHz band spectrum until a more concrete idea of when broadcasters will leave is determined.
