Re: FCC Orders All TV's To Have Digital Tuners By 2007

["Chris Beckwith" <beckwith@ime.net>]

>  I guess today's FCC vote should speed things up as far as stations getting
digital facilities up and running and TV manufacturers starting to
> include digital tuning capabilities in TV's. They now have a deadline looming
along with TV broadcasters.

The NAB is, not surprisingly, a major proponent of this requirement; thus far
their members have nothing to show for their (forced) DTV investment.  But the
biggest push is coming from Congress; they're drooling all over that estimated
$70 billion in spectrum auctions that is already factored into the federal
budget.  The Consumer Electronics Association is going to appeal the ruling;
they say only 10% of viewers receive DTV signals over-the-air and the mandate
would amount to a $250 tax on new TVs.  David Coursey of ZDNet has a great
article on this issue in today's Anchordesk:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?O3A622A71

My question is; where does the Hollywood push to copy-protect digital TV enter
into this equation?  Something will have to be decided on very soon given the
timetable the FCC has laid down.

Take care,
Chris