WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday required TV manufacturers to include digital tuners in all television sets by July 1, 2007.
It is hoped the requirement will speed up the digital TV transition, which FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy said, is stalled.
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.
