DTV Tuner Waivers Sought By 2 Makers of Mirrors with Built-In TVs
Two companies want temporary waivers of the DTV tuner mandate so they can make mirrors with TVs built in. The mandate, which took effect March 1, requires that TV sets sold with analog tuners also have digital tuners. Kohler, a Wis.-based maker of bathroom products, wants until Jan. 1, 2008, to build DTV tuners into a line of bathroom mirrors with optional integrated TV receivers, said an FCC notice published Fri. Electric Mirror of Edmonds, Wash., makes mirrors with built-in TVs for use by hotels with closed- circuit video systems and seeks a 6-month waiver, the notice said.
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Electric Mirror said it deserved a waiver “because it would facilitate the DTV transition for this niche product,” the FCC said. Getting a waiver would put the company “in a similar position to the other small manufacturers of niche TV receivers that received longer 12-month waivers,” it told the agency. One company given a waiver makes hospital video systems; it wanted a full, permanent exemption from the DTV mandate. The FCC refused, but gave it an extra year to comply.
Kohler said “granting it this waiver would not compromise the Commission’s goal of ensuring that consumers have the ability to view off-the-air DTV after the Feb. 17, 2009, end of analog TV service,” the FCC said. “It submits that these products are specialized TV receivers intended as a bathroom accessory and consumers will most likely have a primary TV receiver in their residence which will be capable, or made capable, of receiving DTV signals.” Kohler filed Jan. 26 and Electric Mirror, Feb. 28, the notice said. Comments to the FCC are due April 30 and replies May 15.