WASHINGTON-The transition to digital TV is progressing, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission told a gathering of broadcasters Tuesday.
“Comparing today with where we were one short year ago, we see great strides made toward getting to the digital side of television migration,” said FCC Chairman Michael Powell.
Powell was speaking at the DTV update conference sponsored by the Association for Maximum TV.
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.
