MSTV picked AGC Systems to manage MSTV/NAB’s digital converter box project. AGC will oversee development, evaluation and production of a complete digital-to-analog converter box that will allow analog receivers to play digital broadcast signals, MSTV said. Last week, MSTV and NAB, saying they had funds to help develop a prototype DTV converter box, began soliciting proposals from the consumer electronics industry and others (CD June 17 p6). AGC was tapped because of AGC principal Aldo Cugnini’s role in developing ATSC HDTV systems, knowledge of the CE industry and strong technical skills, MSTV said.
CEA and the Consumer Electronics Retailers Coalition (CERC) unholstered their big guns last week in meetings with FCC Chmn. Martin and others to press their petition to scrap the July 1 deadline by which 50% of 25-36” TV sets must have ATSC tuning, it was disclosed in an ex parte filing.
The FCC will likely start strict enforcement of its DTV tuner requirement after dismissing the CE industry’s petition to eliminate the July 1, 2005, deadline for DTV tuners in 50% of new 25-36” sets (CD June 3 p7), several industry sources said. But it’s unclear how the FCC will force manufacturers to meet the deadline. “Conceivably they can use their field agents that are all over the country. This is going to be tough enforcement,” a broadcaster said.
The FCC will decide at its June 9 agenda meeting whether to grant a CE industry petition to eliminate the July 1, 2005, DTV tuner mandate deadline on 50% of 25"-36” sets, officials said. The CE industry also wants to advance by 4 months, to March 1, 2006, a deadline by which all such sets must have ATSC tuning. Broadcasters oppose scrapping the 50% deadline, urging the FCC to advance CE’s March 2006 deadline to Nov. or Dec. 2005 to take advantage of TV sales during the holiday and Super Bowl selling season. July 1, 2007, is the deadline by which all TV sets and CE devices with TV tuners must include DTV functionality. Draft legislation would accelerate that deadline by a year. With much talk about moving forward with the DTV transition, it’s unclear whether the FCC would grant the CE industry petition, a Commission source said. The 2nd media item on FCC’s agenda is a notice of proposed ruling making on how to streamline obtaining radio licenses. The FCC also will act on 2 wireless items: (1) Petitions seeking reconsideration of the Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) order (CD May 23 p3), the Commission said. Petitions were filed by CTIA, Verizon Wireless, Research in Motion, Rural Telecom Group (RTG) and several TDMA carriers. (2) A declaratory ruling and an NPRM to carry out provisions of the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act and to update competitive bidding rules and procedures. The Act, signed by President Bush in Dec. as part of a wider HR-5419 legislation, created the spectrum relocation trust fund, which guarantees that advanced wireless services auction revenue can be used to move govt. users off the 1710-1755 MHz part of the band.
Given public objections by House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.), the MPAA is unlikely to push to include a broadcast flag component in DTV legislation establishing a 2008 hard date, an MPAA spokesman told us Mon.
Budget pressures are among forces prompting a proposed Dec. 31, 2008, transition date in a House Commerce Committee draft bill (CD May 23 p1), as Congress eyes a potential windfall from spectrum auction, sources familiar with the process said. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has advised the committee to hold the 700 MHz auction in 2008 so as not to compete with a 3G auction in June 2006.
Draft DTV legislation released late Fri. by the House Commerce Committee would set Dec. 31, 2008 as the analog cutoff date, according to a copy we've obtained. Moreover, we're told the committee has tentative plans for a hearing to be held Thurs. on the bill.
CEA continued to pressure the ATSC to avoid creating standards for standards’ sake, saying standards should be set by consensus, as did not occur in development of the Enhanced VSB (EVSB) standard, the association said. Speaking at a FCBA breakfast, CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro said the ATSC issued a standard networks and manufacturers opposed. Earlier, at the ATSC annual meeting, Shapiro said EVSB, an enhancement to the DTV system’s technical standard, will serve only to strand existing DTV products. Shapiro’s criticism of ATSC is part of his plan to address tough issues in coming weeks, sources said. Those may include CEA pulling out of ATSC, sources said. ATSC couldn’t be reached for comment. Meanwhile, at the FCBA breakfast, Shapiro said he is frustrated with broadcasters not promoting their services: “Broadcasters have done zero to promote free over-the-air broadcasting.” NAB’s push for regulating cable, satellite and consumer electronics is a Washington, D.C., strategy, not a marketplace strategy, Shapiro said. An NAB spokesman called Shapiro’s comments a “total crock” and noted numerous TV ads that promote the industry.
Enormous growth in shipments of DTV sets with integrated ATSC tuning will occur through 2008 if Congress acts this year to set a hard DTV transition deadline, CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro told House Commerce Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.).
Delaying DTV tuner mandate rules will put off the digital transition, NAB Pres. Eddie Fritts said. Speaking at the ATSC annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Fritts said he couldn’t resist commenting again on CEA’s request to delay DTV tuner mandate. “If we are talking about ending analog TV, it makes no sense for manufacturers to flood the market this Christmas with millions of analog TV sets,” Fritts told attendees, including CEA Pres. Gary Shapiro. CE makers told the FCC earlier this month that accelerating to late 2005 the date when 100% of 25"-36” TV sets must have built-in ATSC tuners isn’t achievable (CD May 4 p2). Fritts suggested that rather than seeking delays in the tuner mandate, manufacturers should label analog sets indicating their imminent obsolescence.