Following 75-min. session with FCC Chmn. Powell, MSTV board late ...
Following 75-min. session with FCC Chmn. Powell, MSTV board late Tues. “unanimously and enthusiastically” endorsed proposals to go ahead with plans to establish digital technology and research center, as expected (CD Oct 3 p4). Powell went to Four Seasons…
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Hotel in Washington for meeting and reportedly stressed ways govt. and industry could work more closely together to benefit HDTV development, as well as consumers. “It was an excellent session,” participant said: “He was very open, frank and clearly has a desire to work with us.” Project also will seek to improve ATSC standards and signal transmission and reception. “We are finally at a point that we can stop pointing fingers” as to who’s responsible for slow rollout and public acceptance of DTV and “work together to accomplish common goals,” said MSTV Chmn. Gary Chapman of LIN TV: “We're going forward… with various ideas of how to make it work… I think we now have a better understanding of how industries and the government can work together.” As first step, MSTV dirs. met Wed. with other FCC officials and communications leaders in Congress. Assn. official said it was prepared to put up $1.4 million in “seed money” to start project and Chapman was authorized to appoint task force to seek outside financing -- with NAB expected to provide large share of funding. Set manufacturers also will be approached to participate financially and in other ways. Another proposal being considered is for TV stations to set aside small portion of their ad revenues to help finance project. CEA spokesman said manufacturers were “obviously very interested in anything that may help speed the transition.” He said set makers already had spent billions on DTV, but “certainly we will listen and if it makes sense I am sure the association or the manufacturers will be willing to do their part.” Source said MSTV Senior Vp Victor Tawil had been charged with responsibility of “coming up with something more concrete to get us going” for presentation to NAB Exec. Committee Oct. 25. Left for future discussion, we're told, was what to do about TV digital signals on cable systems without mandatory must-carry. Also in talking stage is possibility of including digital radio as part of technology center.