WASHINGTON-A response by the Consumer Electronic Association regarding the pace of the digital TV transition was met with derision by Michael Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
“The [consumer electronics] industry’s response on DTV tuners is so limited, and loaded down with so many conditions that I believe it amounts to no commitment at all. Not only does the CE industry demand that certain issues be resolved before they will act, they demand they be resolved to their satisfaction. Other industries could have made similar demands. Thankfully, they did not,” said Powell.
Powell on July 11 said the consumer electronics industry was dragging its feet on the DTV transition while other industries were moving forward. CEA told the FCC on July 12 that “a successful DTV transition is dependent on the adoption and implementation of a nationwide standard for sending high-definition TV over cable.”
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.
