The FCC’s plan to accelerate the DTV tuner mandate deadline is sc...

1, 2007, when all sets 13” and larger must have DTV tuners built in. CE has said March 2007 is the earliest date manufacturers can meet, while broadcast interests have urged the Commission to adopt deadlines as early as Nov. 2006, so analog-only sets no longer could be sold for Christmas next year. Broadcast and CE interests lobbied hard at the FCC in the days immediately preceding publication of the agenda item. Regardless of how the Commission rules on that deadline, several CE makers urged the FCC not to change the July 2007 date when so-called “peripheral TV equipment” -- such as VCRs and DVD recorders -- must also have DTV tuners built in. Maintaining the July 2007 date on peripheral devices “is appropriate in light of technological limitations,” CE makers told the FCC in a position statement. The state of technology for DVD recorders and DVD/VCR combos “has not yet advanced” to HDTV program recording “because of uncertainty surrounding a high-definition disc format,” the statement said. “Such uncertainty is expected to persist for a year or more.” CE also said House DTV legislation doesn’t mention peripheral equipment when it calls for sets larger than 13” to have DTV tuners by March 1, 2007 -- the date preferred by the CE industry. Meanwhile, CEA Vp-Technology Policy Michael Petricone declined comment on plans by Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) to include an import ban on analog sets as a component in a forthcoming DTV policy bill. Supporters of such a ban say it would reduce the need for large expenditures on DTV converter box subsidies. Sen. Ensign (R.-Nev.) cited such a proposed ban among reasons he soon would introduce an amendment reducing the $3 billion allocated by the Commerce Committee for converter box subsidies (CD Oct 27 p1).