The FCC should exempt all DTV receivers from an NTSC requirement so manufacturers...

DTV tuners from a requirement they get analog signals affirms (CD July 16 p6) an NTSC requirement that predated U.S. full-power stations’ digital transition and “granted only a very limited waiver,” the company said. It asked the commission to review and expand the bureau’s ruling to say NTSC tuner requirements of Section 15.117 of the agency’s rules don’t apply because of the analog cutoff. “The rule is no longer necessary to ensure that customers can receive all full-power local television stations and the rule does not mention analog stations” such as low-power ones, Elgato said. “Even if the Commission still believes the NTSC tuner requirement continues to serve the public interest, there is ample basis for waiving the rule for devices like Elgato’s computer peripheral DTV receivers. Elgato’s request for an expanded waiver was unopposed and would affect a relatively small number of devices and consumers.” Approving the company’s expanded waiver request, it said, “would be another step forward toward the final transition to digital broadcasting, discontinuance of analog broadcasting, and the clearing of valuable spectrum for wireless and other high-value uses."